Beware: Ashley Stewart Defective Blouse

The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute issued a warning for a defective blouse from Ashley Stewart.

The black beads on this blouse dissolve
during normal dry cleaning.

The Ashley Stewart blouse is white and made from a linen and rayon blend.  Around the neck is a trim made up of various beads.  

Despite the care label reading "Dry Clean Only" the black plastic beads actually dissolve during the normal dry cleaning process.  This in turn causes staining to the surrounding fabric.

Since 1972 the Federal government has required all manufacturers to provide at least one safe cleaning method. Since the blouse was unable to withstand the manufacturers recommended cleaning method the garment is defective and should be returned to the store or manufacturer.

DLI also pointed out that Ashley Taylor is not knowingly or continually producing defective goods.  While this particular skirt is defective, that does not mean any other garments from Ashley Stewart are defective.

A close up of the stains caused by the black beads.

New Ashley Stewart
Importer, Retailer, Mail Order
100 Metro Way
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Ph. 201-319-9093 or 1-888-520-6948
Fax. 201-863-2346
www.ashleystewart.com

The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute issued a warning today for a defective skirt from Anne Taylor Loft.

Most of the synthetic leather trim
peeled away when dry cleaned.

The Anne Taylor Loft skirt is a mix of wool, nylon, polyester, silk with 2% "other". There is a polyurethane (synthetic leather) black ribbon trim at the waistband. When dry cleaned the adhesive used to secure the polyurethane trim dissolves resulting in the trim peeling away from the skirt.  The care label states the skirt must be dry cleaned.

Since 1972 the Federal government has required all manufacturers to provide at least one safe cleaning method. Since the skirt was unable to withstand the manufacturers recommended cleaning method the garment is defective and should be returned to the store or manufacturer.

DLI also pointed out that Anne Taylor Loft is not knowingly or continually producing defective goods.  While this particular skirt is defective, that does not mean any other garments from Anne Taylor Loft are defective.

Ann Taylor Loft

1410 Broadway 27^TH Floor

New York, NY 10018

Ph. 212-730-5157 or 1-800-342-5266

Fax 212-730-5159 or 1-866-232-9266

www.anntaylor.com

Sun Fading

If you are practicing to become the next Tiger Woods, you may notice unusual discoloration on your golf shirts. Most often, this damage will appear as general fading and/or speckled spots on the chest, upper body and shoulder areas. This discoloration is commonly referred to as 'sun fading' or 'light fading'. It results from repeated exposure to bright sunlight. Moisture from perspiration accelerates the discoloration and contributes to the speckled appearance.   If you look at the underside of the collar or even the reverse side of the fabric, the original color is still there. Also, golf shirts are usually tucked in to the waist of pants and the lower areas will appear much darker when compared to the faded body of the shirt. This fading is not limited to shirts and may develop on pants, shorts and even on hats. Don't play golf or other outdoor sports? Your clothes can still be discolored by light fading. To minimize this damage: •   Don't leave your clothes hanging in the back window if you pick them up from ZIPS before you go to work in the morning. •   If you plan on being in the sun all day, such as at a theme park or working in your garden, wear lighter colors. They reflect the sun so you stay cooler plus the dyes will not fade as readily as darker colors such as red, black and blue. •   Be careful when selecting bright colored silk garments for outdoor events such as a summer wedding or party. The dyes in silk fabric fade more readily than the same color dye on a cotton shirt.  If you notice this type of discoloration on relatively new items, you should return them to the place of purchase. It is expected for your garments to be exposed to moderate light and the dyes should be durable to this normal condition of use.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at zipscustomercare@321zips.com.

Look Out for this defective Tahari dress

The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute issued a warning today to all dry cleaners and consumers for a defective dress from Tahari.

Black trim is bleeding onto the
rest of the dress 

This Tahari brand dress is tan & white with black trim made of cotton, polyester, and spandex.  The care label states “dry clean only”, but during the normal dry cleaning process in GreenEarth brand solvent (ZIPS does not use this solvent), the black trim bleeds out a rust color component onto the rest of the dress. 

Since 1972 the Federal government has required all manufacturers to provide at least one safe cleaning method. Since the dress was unable to withstand the manufacturers recommended cleaning method the garment is defective and should be returned to the store or manufacturer.

Rust color is a component of the black trim

Manufacturer:          

Tahari Levine LLC


 501 Broad Ave.


Ridgefield, NJ 07657


Ph. (201) 943-5000, Ext. 2208


Fax. (201) 943-3744

DLI also pointed out that Tahari is not knowingly or continually producing defective goods.  While this particular dress is defective, that does not mean any other garments from Tahari are defective.

What causes the random brown stains on the front of my shirts?

Yellow, tan and brown stains may 'mysteriously' appear on garments after they have been washed and dried or stored for a long period of time.

Invisible stains can discolor or turn brown with age through oxidation. Imagine spilling ginger ale on a white t-shirt. When the area dries, you really won't be able to see the stains. If you leave the stain for one week, it may appear pale yellow. After one month, the same stain may appear tan.  Six months later, you could be looking at a brown stain.

To view a short video from ZIPS TV on Invisible Stains or other education topics, Click Here.

Once discolored, it can be difficult to remove Invisible Stains.  When washing at home, pre-treat the area with common household stain removing products, and wash in the hottest water possible for the color of the fabric.

Next, try a specially formulated product for home stain removal, such as Carbona Stain Devil for beverage stains. These home care tips should only be followed for washable items.  DO NOT USE ON LEATHER, SUEDE, SILK, ACETATE, CARPETING OR UPHOLSTERY.  Before use, test for colorfastness on an inconspicuous area.

Of course you can take the garment(s) to your local ZIPS Dry Cleaner and let us do the dirty work for you.

- Chris Allsbrooks

What you need to know before storing your winter clothing

As the temperature heats up, most of us will start the semi-annual, dreaded ritual of switching out our closets. Before you switch out your clothes and put your winter items away, there are a few guidelines that you should follow.

• Clean all clothes before storing, never store dirty clothes. Stains can set with age, and dirty clothes attract bugs.  
• Always store clothing in temperature controlled environments, such as an extra closet or under your bed. 
• Use tight sealing, waterproof containers to keep the bugs out and prevent mildew.  
• If you need alterations or repair work done, have it done before storing the garment. 
• Before storing your garments, go through them and give away what you don't use.  

Should You Fold or Hang When Storing?
    Most garments should be folded for long term storage instead of hung. If garments are hung, there may be excess stress on the shoulder areas, which can cause thinning and fabric damage. Also, if you hang knit garments, they will start to stretch in the length, so they may be a few inches longer when you go to wear them next year. 
 


What Container Is Best?    There are many containers available for storing garments, just make sure you pick one that is air tight and waterproof. The easiest choice is plastic containers or tubs with locking lids. There are also structured cotton bags and boxes with waterproof liners that you can get from specialty stores. Another great place to store off-season clothing... in your luggage!  
 

Cedar Closets, Are They Worth It? 
Some consumers have cedar closets, hoping to avoid the insect issue when storing wool garments. This will work the first couple of years, but you need to sand and re-treat the cedar wood every two to three years to refresh the natural insect repellent qualities of the cedar. You can also use cedar blocks, balls, or strips in your closet to get the same benefit, but you will need to replace these annually.  
 


Moth Balls, Do They Really Work?
Everyone knows what garments smell like that have been stored with moth balls. But do they really work? The answer is yes, if used properly and in conditions where the vapors are allowed to turn to a gas, which brings out the repellent properties. However, most consumers do not like the lingering odor of moth balls, which is not easily removed from garments, even after cleaning several times. 


Are There Any Natural Insect Repellents?
There are many natural and fresh smelling dried herbs and plants available that repel insects. Lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, and mint are some of the most commonly used repellents. Purchase pre-made sachets, or make your own in scents that you like. The stronger the fragrance, the more it will repel insects. Make sure you replace the sachets as the fragrance diminishes for best results.  
 

Have a garment question?  Ask ZIPS for the answer, and we may feature your question.