Spring is here, which means everyone is working out more! No matter where or how you exercise, your workout clothes always put you at risk for locker room syndrome… Locker room syndrome is when your gym bag, closet, car, and house smell like a high school boy’s locker from sweaty, damp workout clothes.

Instead, learn the proper way to care for your workout clothes so the garments (and your house) stay clean and fresh, no matter how hard you work!

Post-Workout
After the hardest workout, wash your clothing as quickly after vigorous exercise as possible. A quick rinse will help stop stains and smells from setting if you can’t get to the load quickly.

Instead of placing your sweaty garments in a heap on the floor (to become a breeding ground for mildew), lay out or hang the clothes to air out.

Gym shoes are often ignored, but can be the biggest culprit for damp, smelly gear. Always let your sneakers dry out completely between wears. If needed, use a tablespoon or two of baking soda to soak up moisture and odor from your shoes.

Washing
Gym clothing is often designed to be moisture wicking or water repellant to avoid becoming saturated with sweat as you exercise. But this also makes it more difficult to wash these garments as the water must penetrate into the fibers.

Even though gym clothes are often smelly or stinky, avoid the impulse to use extra soap and skip the fabric softener. Soap and laundry detergent can form a barrier that prevents the water from effectively cleaning the clothes. Follow the instructions on the garment for best results or call our experts for tips: 303-798-0515.

Drying
Workout clothes are often made from spandex and lycra fabrics. The heat from the dryer may damage the fibers in your garments, meaning they will lose their elasticity over time. Always use the lowest setting or air dry.
If you have the option, try line drying your clothing outdoors. Direct sunlight acts as a natural bacteria deterrent to leave your clothing fresher and cleaner for longer!

For the toughest stains, persistent smells, or advice on cleaning your favorite gym clothes, call Green Care Cleaners at 303-798-0515. Our clothing experts use precise wet cleaning methods to leave your garments cleaner, fresher, and healthier than ever.

Spring cleaning might have you turning your whole house upside down for the sake of a fresh living area, but that doesn’t mean you can’t seek help along the way. As your local dry cleaner, we’re here to help you clean the tough stuff that you don’t have time for. Here’s a short list of items you may want to consider dropping off at Green Care Cleaners this spring:

Bedding

Dry cleaning your bedding will prevent your comforter from puckering and shrinking, preserving it for years to come. Most comforters are simply too big for home washing machines, which means they won’t get completely clean if you run them through a normal cycle.

Curtains

Draperies and curtains collect a huge amount of dust over time, retaining everything that blows through the window throughout the year. Clean curtains are a necessary part of spring cleaning, and bringing them by a dry cleaners is integral to removing the oil and dust that degrades the fabric over time.

Rugs

Though a handmade rug can be a work of art, it’s still meant to be used in the household. We scuff them, spill liquids on them, and drag mud over them throughout the year. While spot-cleaning rugs is a great habit, the only way to completely clean and preserve your area rug is to have it dry cleaned by a professional.

Couch Cushion Covers

It’s easy to throw couch cushion covers through the wash when a stain occurs, but often this disrupts their shape, making it difficult to fit back on the cushion. When you have your couch cushion covers dry cleaned by professionals, they won’t just fit right—they’ll be preserved for years to come.

If you need help cleaning any of these items, don’t panic! Green Care Cleaners is here to help. Bring these hard-to-clean household items by so our gentle wet-cleaning process can preserve and protect them for the rest of the year. Call (303) 798-0515 today or visit our organic wet cleaners in Highlands Ranch.

If you came home from a romantic Valentine’s dinner only to find that your favorite dress or suit now has an unfortunate stain, you may be tempted to try a DIY remedy. Pre-treating stains can be a helpful mitigating factor until you bring your clothes into our Highlands Ranch shop for cleaning, but be careful to avoid these common DIY at home stain removal mistakes:

Seltzer – The main ingredient in seltzer is carbon dioxide. If not used appropriately, this can become carbonic acid and ruin the fibers in your clothes.

Hair spray – The same ingredients that allow hair spray to keep your hair style in check all day can leave sticky deposits on your clothing. Once the spray evaporates, your clothes could be left with glue residue, which could result in a much worse stain than the one you were trying to remove.

Nail polish remover – These removers often contain acetone, which can harm certain fabrics. This can also leave an oily, smelly ring on your garment which may not wash away completely.

Lemon Juice – Though this can sometimes be effective, lemon can result in oxidation. This can be helpful for whitening garments but can result in discoloration of other fabrics. Over time, oxidation could leave your garments with a yellow or brown stain.

Color-safe bleach – Even bleaches labeled “color-safe” can have negative effects on your clothes, causing discoloration or damaging fabrics and dyes. Read labels carefully and never use bleach on garments with a bleach warning.

Not all fabrics respond the same way to stain removal methods, so always use caution with DIY solutions. Remember that pre-treating stains is only a preemptive method, and your garment should be brought in for our organic wet cleaning process to fully remove the stain.

Have questions about at home stain removal methods? Stop by 537 W. Highlands Ranch Pkwy #107 or call 303-798-0515. We look forward to serving you!

Winter in Colorado means layers to stay warm in unpredictable weather conditions. We love to wear our knit sweaters, scarves, and accessories – especially the handmade items with extra sentimental value. But cleaning those items can be tricky! You don’t want to damage the carefully crafted items in your washing machine, or risk shrinking, stretching, and ruining the yarn.

Before you clean your knit garments at home, keep these things in mind:

Type of Material

Yarn comes in as many fibers and materials as fabric, and each has different care requirements. Is your sweater made of cotton yarn? Wool? Acrylic? Check the label on the sweater. For handmade items, you can refer to the label on the yarn itself, if possible.

If you have a sweater without a label, an expert can help determine the material it is made from and recommend the best care options. Bring your hand-knit garments to Green Care Cleaners so our clothing care experts can offer advice or clean the item for you.

Risks to Hand-Knit Items

• Stretching – Natural elasticity can be damaged by normal wear and tear, but washing can expedite the damage. Never hang these items, but instead store folded in a drawer. Do not hang dry either, as wet fibers may stretch even more with gravity.
• Shrinking – Heat from the dryer can cause knit items to constrict and shrink. We recommend laying flat to dry whenever possible.
• Tearing – The agitation of the washing machine can cause some hand-knit items to pull apart, tear, or become damaged. For these items, wash by hand or take to a professional.

Proper Care

If you are going to clean the items at home, always follow the care instructions. If you don’t have instructions to follow, first test detergent on a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure it does not damage the material. Then use a gentle cycle or handwash the items carefully. For best results, bring your garments to our professional wet cleaners for advice on how to wash the item.

Never put hand-knit items like scarves in the dryer, as the heat and agitation can damage the fiber and the weave. Instead, lay flat to dry and reshape to prevent damage.

For advice on caring for your favorite knit clothing and accessories, bring them to Green Care Cleaners in Highlands Ranch! Our professionals will keep your garments and scarves looking their best, without the risk of washing at home. Call us at 303-798-0515.

We might be used to November snow here in Colorado, but winter seems to have arrived a little early this year, meaning it’s time to get out the hot cocoa – and your winter coat.

Unpacking your winter jackets and quickly throwing them into the wash can have dire consequences, including damaged fibers and musty odors.  The thickness of the jacket and its filling make the cleaning process different than other clothes, and our team at Green Care Cleaners wants to keep your winter coat in its best condition.

If your thick winter coat is dirty, dusty or just plain old, dirt particles can seep all the way through the layers of the jacket. The water and detergent take longer to soak through the jacket’s layers, which is why washing a winter coat takes longer than washing regular clothes.

To properly clean you winter coat at home you should…

1. Pre-treat any stains by rubbing in or applying stain remover on the affected area. Always test a new solution on a hidden area, like the inside hem, before treating the stain.
2. Add detergent to the washer and start the cycle so the machine begins to fill.
3. Put the jacket into the water. Turn the washing machine off and allow the jacket to soak in the soapy water for at least an hour.
4. After an hour, turn the machine on and let it finish the cycle.
5. Hang to dry or put it in the dryer on the lowest heat stetting. Avoid excessive heat while drying to protect the fabric and the filling from damage.

For best results, or if you are unsure how to care for your jacket, bring it into Green Care Cleaners in Highlands Ranch. Our expert clothing care specialists will be able to determine the best way to clean and refresh your jacket, without the harsh side effects of dry cleaning or the risks of washing at home.

Winter will be here for a while, don’t get caught in the cold with a dirty winter coat. If you’re worried you may ruin your jacket by washing it incorrectly, bring it in to take advantage of our EPA wet cleaning service. Our professionals will preserve the life of your winter garments without the harsh chemicals of a regular dry cleaning process. Stop by our location in Highlands Ranch or call us at (303) 798-0515 and experience the Green Care Cleaners difference today!

It’s Halloween Season! If you have young children or are a Halloween enthusiast yourself, you’ve probably already gathered your costumes, props, wigs, etc. for the occasion; if you need to freshen up an outfit before this year’s party or want to clean and store at the end of the month however, here are a few tips for cleaning your Halloween costume:

Keep in mind that Halloween costumes are often made with inexpensive fabrics, cheap materials, and basic stitching.

Unlike your everyday clothing, these outfits are not designed to last but rather for the one time, once per year events of the holiday. However, with proper and gentle care, you can get the most out of your costumes and keep them looking fresher longer!

Bright colors and unique patterns could bleed dye from your costume – before you wash the garment, test for color stay by running a small area of the fabric under water (the same temperature that you would use to wash the costume). If it does bleed, bring the costume in for professional cleaning to avoid ruining the costume or other articles in the load.

Always check for washing instructions that come with the costume or on the label. Typically, it is best to hand wash your costume, inside out, using gentle detergent. Rinse well to remove all traces of soap. Hang dry or lie flat to avoid shrinking and pilling in the heat of the dryer.

If your costume just needs a little de-wrinkling, iron on low heat with distilled water. The inexpensive materials like rayon and polyester can be especially sensitive to heat, so check your settings before putting the iron to the fabric.

You could also try steaming with your bathroom shower or running a no-heat wrinkle release setting in your dryer.

Before storing your costume, make sure it is free of stains and moisture. Pretreat any stains and clean before putting away for the year. Sweat and body odor can cause stains and damage fabric if left untreated – you should always air out, if not clean, your costume before storing.

To have your garments looking their absolute best, drop them off for our organic wet cleaning service! For advice on your specific costume, a tough stain, or to schedule a pick-up, give us a call at 303-798-0515.

When it’s time to clean your clothes – if you are preparing for a big interview, returning from a wedding, or discovering a stain on your suit – bring your garments to Green Care Cleaners to get them fresher, cleaner, and longer-lasting via green dry cleaning!

Here are a few things you can do to prepare your garments for cleaning:

Empty the pockets – Check your garments for any belongings or scraps of trash that may have been forgotten in the pockets. Certain hazards like gum and makeup can damage your clothing, and even harm other garments in the same load. Be courteous, and check your pockets before you leave your clothes with us.

Identify stains – Before you drop off your clothing, it can be helpful to mark stains with a pin or masking tape. This will make the stains easy to find for the spotters at our shop, and can help you remember to ask about certain stains at drop off. It is also helpful to prepare a list of stain origins, if possible. This will again help our experts to clean the stains more efficiently and eliminate guesswork of identifying a stain, so we can use the best removal process for each specific stain.

Mark concerns – If you have noticed any loose buttons, appliques, or broken zippers, point them out before we clean your garment. Knowing these points of concern in advance, we can make efforts so they are not worsened by the cleaning process and can even fix them for you!

Ask questions – If you have questions about the care of your garment, the services we offer, or concerns about a specific stain, ask us when you come into the shop! We are happy to answer any questions and address your concerns.

Remember, never let a stain set. If you have a stained garment, it is best to have it cleaned right away. If you are cleaning separates, like a suit pants and jacket, it is best to clean all pieces at the same time for even wear. Green Care Cleaners is here to keep your garments cleaner, softer, and longer-lasting via green dry cleaning – call us at 303-798-0515 for more info!