After a couple of years of hunkering down in our homes, we deserve it… it’s the summer season and time to pack those bags and get out of town! Or at the very least, take a day off, throw on those shorts and tank top and plop yourself outside with a good book. Farragut Dry Cleaners wants you to soak in that sun. We’ll equip you with the ability to keep your clothing in tip-top shape after a vacation’s beating.

It’ll be worth the wear and tear but at Farragut Dry Cleaners, we’re going to arm you with some info to manage your summer clothing catastrophes.

Common Stains and What to Do About Them

Farragut Dry Cleaners wants to suggest ideas to help triage the most common summertime stains. If the damage sustained extends beyond your control, give us a call. Be prepared to encounter these common stains and read up on how to combat them –

• Sunscreen - This one hits the travelers the most. It also can be one of the hardest stains to tackle. With a little determination, you may be able to keep it under control.
  • Wipe off any excess lotion as soon as you can. Make sure to pack baking soda and sprinkle it on the garment to wick out the excess grease. Soak your clothing in a water/dishwashing mixture for an hour. Wash as usual. (Bonus tip – if necessary, pick up a rust stain remover from the laundry aisle in the grocery store and follow instructions.)
• Grass - Soccer, football, or wrestling on the lawn promise to leave a green-stained memory on your kids’ once sparkling white top.
  • If you want to restore those threads back to brand-new quality, pre-soak the clothes with a few drops of dish soap concentrated on the discoloration. Take a soft-bristled brush and start scrubbing the stain in a circular motion. If the green doesn’t diminish, step it up and soak the garment in ½ part water and ½ part vinegar for 30 minutes. Then rinse the clothing and wash.
• Dirt and mud -Besides the lovely green colors you may gather on your garments, be prepared for dirt and mud to add a splash of brown to your wardrobe. It’s a losing battle keeping your kiddo from tromping through the deepest part of a mud pit after a rainstorm. Don’t fret, though… Farragut Dry Cleaners has some advice.
  • Here’s the hardest part… let the mud dry before doing anything. Once dry and crusty, scrape as much off as you can to remove the caked chunks of dirt. Place a couple of dishwashing liquid drops on top of the stain. Add some water if you need it to soak in better. After 20-30 minutes, add ¼ cup of laundry detergent to the affected area and scrub until sudsy. Then, rinse and wash as usual.
• Deodorant - The heat and humidity demand copious amounts of deodorant to be slathered under the arms. So much damage control of keeping you smelling like a daisy comes at a cost to your clothing. Farragut Dry Cleaners feels your pain.
  • If you encounter deodorant stains, rub the stain with baby wipes to remove the waxy consistency from the shirt. Soak the stain in lemon juice, sprinkle on table salt, and leave it to sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse and repeat as necessary. Then you can clean your top as usual.

What’s That Smell and How to Combat

Stains are one thing and there are tons of tips and tricks to scrub them out. But there’s also an invisible enemy… sweat odor. It lurks deep within our clothing and though we sometimes swear we can see those stink phantoms swirling out of the abused sportswear, it’s all in your imagination. However, the stink of sweat is very real. Farragut Dry Cleaners wants your clothing to carry the scent of a summer breeze. There are a few options you have when trying to remove the unpleasant odors.

• Wear once, wash right away - During the cooler seasons, it’s not a big deal to squeeze out a few days in the same jeans. But, for the sanity of your nose, consider washing your smelly threads quickly after wearing them. Leaving your sullied clothes in a heap will only lead to more stubborn stink.
• Leave the fabric softener out of the wash - This may sound counter-intuitive since fabric softener usually entices users in with its irresistible scent. The problem is that fabric softener leaves a slight film on the fabric, thus locking odors in.
• Less is more - Yes, it’s a cliché but it’s true. Keep control over how much detergent you use with your load of wash. If you try to add more detergent to scare off the stink, all it’ll do is add residue and trap the odors in.

Farragut Dry Cleaners hopes you take the time to relax and unwind during the summer months. Battling laundry and notorious stains and smells shouldn’t be a pain point during the longest days of the year. If you follow some simple instructions, your laundry will survive the battle zone of summer.

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Farragut Cleaners is your locally owned and operated full-service dry cleaner. From dry cleaning to alterations and wedding dress preservation to home textiles, we are here to keep you fresh, clean, and looking & feeling impeccable.

Call 865-966-9414 or visit our website.