Tag: ajay cleaners

How Dry Cleaning Keeps Viruses Away?
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 earlier this year, both scientists and the public have been scrambling to figure out exactly how the virus works. How does it spread, and what can we personally do to stop that spread?

Because of the novelty of this virus, there are many things scientists are still trying to figure out. We do know a few things about coronavirus contagion, however. The virus needs some water present to survive, and is largely spread in droplets created by our breath. It can live on various surfaces, but the material of the surface determines how long the virus can survive.

As far as current research shows, the virus can survive in the air for three hours, on copper surfaces such as coins for up to four hours, on fibrous materials like cardboard for 24 hours, and on plastic and steel for up to two to three days.

When it comes to various clothing materials, exact studies have yet to be done. However, the research implies that because most clothing is fibrous, we should assume the virus can live for one day on these materials. For items of clothing that include metal and plastic, the virus can live on these parts of the clothing, such as buttons and buckles, for several days.

The spread of COVID-19 continues in our public spaces. This is why it’s important to change and clean clothing regularly, especially if you have worn it in a location where you could have been exposed to the virus.

There are several ways to ensure that an item is clean and free of the virus. Methods known to kill coronavirus are:
- Heat above 140° Fahrenheit
- Soap and physical removal
- Disinfectants
When you take your clothing to be dry cleaned, it is guaranteed that the process will completely eliminate any traces of the virus. Temperatures used when dry cleaning are much higher than the 140° threshold needed to eliminate the virus. These temperatures are used at multiple stages of the dry cleaning process when the clothes are cleaned, dried and steam-pressed.

In addition, soap and physical removal, such as when you wash your hands, kills the virus. When dry cleaning, strong detergents and mechanical action perform the same job of physical removal as hand washing.

For delicate materials that require low temperature cleaning, additional disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide are used, which work in addition to the physical removal process to kill any remaining viral traces.

Although many areas are loosening quarantine restrictions, we are far from safe from the spread of COVID yet. That’s why it’s more important than ever to remain vigilant about your personal hygiene and cleaning. Regular dry cleaning can be an important step in maintaining the hygiene of your clothing.

We encourage our customers to take extra care if they believe a garment has been exposed to COVID. Bringing the item to be dry cleaned is a guaranteed way to ensure any traces of the virus are eliminated. Be sure to inform dry cleaning staff if you believe an item may be contaminated, so that they may take extra precautions. For more information on maintaining clothing hygiene during this time, check out our blog!
May 25, 2020
Getting Ready For Spring Cleaning With Ajay Cleaners

Spring is in full swing, and that means it’s spring cleaning time! You may have already wiped, dusted and mopped the dark and dirty corners of your household, but there are other areas that we often overlook when it comes to deep cleaning. Our wardrobes rarely get the attention they need when we’re cleaning and organizing. It’s understandably a daunting task, especially if you have a large wardrobe. However, these tips can help break down how to organize and sort your closet as well as maintain the cleanliness and longevity of your clothes.

Sort Regularly

Summer is nearly here, and that means many of us will be packing away our warmer clothes for long term storage. While you’re at the task of going through your wardrobe, try pulling everything out into the open and sorting garments into “keep,” “mend,” “discard” and “donate” piles. Then, bring garments that need it to your local seamstress and dry cleaners for repairs and laundering. Regularly paring down clothes we don’t wear, and taking note of clothes that need upkeep can prevent us feeling overwhelmed when it comes to our closets.

Organize Your Wardrobe Logically

After sorting, make sure that you put clothing back in a logical order in your closet. Your most worn and most seasonally appropriate clothing should be easily accessible. Store out-of-season clothing in storage bags/boxes or in a less accessible part of the closet, such as the top shelf. Keeping an organized wardrobe will help you recognize and appreciate the things you use often as well as reduce stress when you are getting dressed.

Keep a Running Clean & Repair Pile

As you notice garments in your wardrobe that require mending or dry cleaning, try to have a specific place that these items can be placed. When you accumulate a few items in your clean and mend pile, you’ll know it’s time to make a stop at the dry cleaners and seamstress. Making sure that clothes are cleaned and repaired promptly will help make the garments last far longer than if they are allowed to fall into disrepair.

Pay Attention to Special Materials

Garments made from special materials such as silk, lace, wool, leather or suede require skilled care. Taking these materials to the experts at your local dry cleaner can extend their life exponentially, rather than trying to maintain them with the tools you have at home. Most dry cleaners are very affordable, making it a worthwhile investment for special material garments which are often more valuable than others.

Don’t Forget Other Textiles in Your Home

We see our closet everyday, so it’s difficult to forget about its upkeep. However, there are other items in our home which often remain out of sight and out of mind such as table linens, sheets, blankets and wool rugs. You local dry cleaner can help you maintain these items as well. Add them to you running clean and mend pile to be cared for by a professional as needed.

There are many benefits to good upkeep of your clothing and home textiles apart from organization and cleanliness. Maining the thing we already own is better for the environment, our wallets and our peace of mind as well. Find more information on our blog about how Ajay Cleaners can help you maintain your garments and linens!

April 17, 2020
COVID-19 Epidemic & Precautions

The current COVID-19 epidemic has led to a great deal of changes for our everyday lives. Most of us have followed the stay-at-home order for several months, and are eager to return to a degree of normalcy with the reopening of businesses and services. Several regions across the country are already reopening their economies, and the rest of us expect normal business to resume soon.

However, as businesses reopen and we return to our normal lives, we are left responsible for protecting ourselves from the virus and thereby protecting the vulnerable in our society. Business owners are the first line of defense against the spread of coronavirus in their establishments. As a result, businesses are having to plan and communicate their own regulations to keep their staff and customers safe.

Ajay Cleaners is no different. We have made a series of changes to protect the health of our valuable staff and customers. We plan to continue with extra precautions as long as necessary until the spread of the virus is contained.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stressed that the most important step establishments can take is rigorous and consistent cleaning of facilities and equipment. At Ajay Cleaners, we have implemented additional daily cleaning of our five Manhattan locations. We are giving special attention to areas of our facilities which come into contact with the public such as door handles, front desk areas and card readers.

The staff at our locations have been trained in additional hygiene practices throughout their workday, including regular hand washing after interacting with customers, helping customers maintain physical distancing, and staying home if they or anyone they live with has shown any signs of sickness. We are continually communicating with our staff as we transition back to normal business, and are prepared to adjust our policies in accordance with the most up-to-date guidelines.

In order to protect staff and customers from viral spread through the exchange of money, we are temporarily accepting card payments only. While the World Health organization has not issued specific advisories regarding the exchange of cash, recent research suggests that the virus can remain on fibrous surfaces such as banknotes for up to 24 hours, and on metal surfaces such as coins anywhere from several hours to several days depending on the metal. We ask that customers to please be prepared with a credit or debit card when collecting garments.

We are providing staff at all our locations with additional cleaning and protective materials including gloves, hand sanitizer and wipes. We are also providing hand sanitizer in public locations of our facilities for use by our customers.

While Ajay Cleaners is taking as many additional precautions as we can, we also urge our customers to take personal precautions as well. We encourage patrons to wash hands or make use of hand sanitizer provided after public exchanges and maintain physical distance from other customers and staff. We are all responsible for one another, so we encourage everyone to do their part in protecting their neighbor. With a sense of discipline and a community spirit, we are confident that we can get through this time together.

March 30, 2020
WHEN SHOULD WE DO WET CLEANING?

Many-a-times, one can determine when they need to wash their garments by simply having a look at them or smelling them. But let’s be honest, how long do you wear your jeans before washing them? Should you wash them every week or every month? Things were so much easier when we were young kids because our parents used to take care of all the washing. Growing up come with a lot of responsibilities and we have to adjust to the time.

How Often Should We Wash Our Clothes? – Scientifically Explained

Some reasons for getting dirty are so obvious because of all the external activities we do that may result in a stain here or there. But other dirt comes from a much nastier source, which is you! As humans, we are constantly shedding skin cells and oozing skin oils as we secrete sweat in everything we are wearing. Factually, it is proven that humans shed 500 million skin cells and a liter of sweat every day.

It is certainly not attractive when you see dark spots when you observe how it has changed from being clean. But on its own, sweat has no smell. The problem starts when the bacteria living on the skin gets involved by feasting on the sweat and skin cells and break down the proteins into smelly by-products.

For example, Staphylococcus Epidermis bacteria which live on your skin break down amino acids in your sweat into stinky Isovaleric acid. It’s the same acid that pops up in strong cheese and badly made beer. However, it’s apocrine sweat that really makes us stinky. Apocrine sweat glands are found in the genital areas, breasts, armpits, and even the eyelids. They mature at puberty and make a fatty sort of sweat. When this is broken down by bacteria, it really stinks!

Unfortunately, it’s not just the smelly products of the bacteria that we should be probably washing off our clothes, there are also bacteria and other harmful substances living on them that spread infection. For example, in 2006 an outbreak of MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) in an American college football team was traced back to the team’s habit of sharing towels.

How Can Washing Make Your Clothes Clean?

Modern laundry detergents are a mixture of various chemical cleaning tricks from biological enzymes that digest away stains to optical brightness that absorb UV, and reflect back blue light which makes your white cloth look even whiter.

At the heart of any detergent is the power of surfactants which makes stains soluble in water. A surfactant molecule essentially has two ends. A hydrophilic (water-loving part) and hydrophobic (which rather binds to fats). The hydrophobic part wants to be anywhere else but in the water, so it sticks out into the air.

When you wash your dirty t-shirt in detergent, the surfactant’s hydrophobic part binds to the dirt and grease on your top, then the hydrophilic part binds to the water and pulls that grime away from your now clean t-shirt.

So, now that we know how our clothes get dirty and how washing gets rid of that. So when should we be washing our clothes? The million-dollar question should be when should one utilize the dry cleaners? When not to go to the dry cleaner, and also what to look for in a quality dry cleaner so that you can protect your wardrobe investment.

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November 2, 2019
THE NEW YORK LOOK: HOW TO GET AHEAD

New Yorkers know that their city can be cutthroat, but is also the gateway to huge opportunities and potential success. In a city like New York, it can take a lot to stand out, especially in the workplace. After our skills, qualifications, and likeability, the next thing employers notice is how we present ourselves. For many of us, thinking about our “image” can be intimidating, but with some careful planning, it can be a great tool to impress others.

“Dressing to impress” doesn’t have to mean spending lots of money on designer clothes. Second-hand stores, designer-discount stores, and outlets are great places to find high-quality clothing at an affordable price. However, making these pieces look like a million bucks is where your tailor comes in.

Off-the-rack sizes rarely flatter every body shape perfectly, which is where a small investment in alterations can make a world of difference. Check out our blog to find out how a good tailor can make your clothes fit better, up your confidence while wearing them, and actually change your life!

Dressing for a Professional Image

You don’t have to throw out your personality to be professional! Having the right image is about understanding yourself and your surroundings. Here are some tips to get a professional image that will set you us for success in any workplace:

Dress Appropriately for your Job

If your workplace has a dress code, follow it. If not, check out what your coworkers wear to work to get a feel for how formal the environment is. Keep it simple; you can always add your own personality in color and accessory choices.

Wear Well-fitting Clothes

Overly baggy or tight clothing isn’t just unflattering, it’s uncomfortable! Feeling good in your clothes is essential for confidence. When in doubt about sizing, choose a larger size to make it easier for your tailor to cut it down to the perfect fit.

Accessorize Well

It’s important to pay attention to the bag and shoes you wear to work. These things will be used daily, so invest in high-quality pieces you love. It’s also good to keep jewelry, makeup, hair and even cologne or perfume fairly simple in the workplace to avoid distractions.

Wear Clean and Tidy Clothing

Making sure your workwear is clean, pressed and free of any stains or odors is vital to maintaining a professional image. A small investment in a professional laundering and dry cleaning service can upgrade your image as well as take the extra stress of laundry off your mind.

We’re here to help! It’s the little details that make a world of difference when it comes to dressing yourself. Check out our site to find out more about how to choose, care for, and get the most out of your wardrobe. See our services list to find out all the ways we can bring new life to your clothing, and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions!

October 7, 2019
HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD DRY CLEANER IN MANHATTAN
There are a lot of options for dry cleaning in Manhattan and choosing the right service can be overwhelming. Take a read through our top tips to help you choose the best dry cleaners in town.

Expertise

Expertise is crucial, and a quality Midtown Manhattan dry cleaner will be able to answer any questions you may have about garment care. The best services have professional dry cleaners on hand who can offer specific recommendations about how to keep your clothes looking their best.

Convenience

Finding the time to drop off your clothes can be a challenge, so convenience is a crucial consideration when picking a dry cleaner in Midtown Manhattan. We have five stores throughout Midtown, and each store offers a free pickup and dropoff service to any address within 500 meters.

Services Offered

If you’ve got a busy lifestyle, you might be looking for more than just dry cleaning.

The best dry cleaners in Midtown Manhattan offer a full range of garment care services such as:
- Shirt and laundry service
- Wash and fold
- Leather and suede cleaning
- Tailoring and alterations
- Repairs and European weaving
- Vintage clothing restoration
- Fur cleaning
- Ties and scarf cleaning and care
We offer a full range of garment care solutions at our five Midtown Manhattan locations, and we’re always available to answer your questions about our specialized services.

Professionalism and Customer Care

Customer care is vital when it comes to dry cleaning. Professional dry cleaners will carefully inspect your items when you bring them in for cleaning, taking note of any soiling or special garment care requirements.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions from your dry cleaning professionals! You can help by coming prepared with details of any damage, stains, or special requirements.

The hallmark of a great dry cleaner is care and diligence. So, when you choose AJ Cleaners our number one priority is to understand your needs. From there, we do everything we can to keep your clothes immaculate.

Pricing

You get what you pay for, and that holds true in dry cleaning. Be suspicious of dry cleaners offering bargain-basement rates. Dry cleaning takes skill and care, and the prices of the best services will reflect that. Think of dry cleaning as an investment in your style and professional image, and choose accordingly when it comes to picking a dry cleaner in Midtown Manhattan.

On the other hand, you don’t want to be “taken to the cleaners,” so we aim to be transparent and fair when it comes to pricing. We’re confident that we offer the best service in town, so call us now for a quote!
September 15, 2019
LEATHER CARE 101

Leather and suede can add a sophisticated touch to your style. However, proper maintenance is needed to keep your garments looking their best. The working life of a leather piece will depend on the quality of materials and craftsmanship as well as the level of care you put into it. The appropriate care will depend on the exact style and materials of leather or suede garment you own.

Basic Leather Care

For finished leathers, a quick wipe down with a soft, damp cloth will remove day to day soiling. However, unfinished leather is notoriously difficult to maintain and could be stained by contact with water. As such, dry cleaning is a great option to avoid damaging your treasured leather garments.

For effective long term care, there are are two main considerations for leather clothes, namely conditioning and waterproofing.

Over time and with repeated use, leather garments can become dried, leading to a worn-out look that may even progress to cracking. Leather conditioners are designed to keep your leather garments moisturized, supple, and looking great.

Leather conditioners are easy to apply – simply rub the product into your leather garment with a soft cloth, using as little as required to coat the whole surface. Wait for your leather to dry and you’re good to go!

Leather waterproofing treatments are designed to maintain the waterproof properties of conditioned leather. Options include creams, waxes, creams, and sprays.

While conditioning and waterproofing your leather isn’t difficult if you know what you’re doing, there are a lot of products on the market. It can be a challenge to choose the right one for your item if you don’t know what to look for.

You can ensure your expensive leather piece looks great and lasts a lifetime by leaving the job to the professionals. Leather dry cleaning will leave your garments clean, conditioned, supple, and looking like new.

Basic Suede Care

Suede is a special type of leather made from the underside of the animal’s skin. Due to its textured, or napped finish, suede requires specialized care.

To remove day to day soiling, you can gently brush the fabric using a soft clothes brush.

Like unfinished leather, suede can be damaged by contact with water.

While spray products which condition and waterproof your suede are available, they may not be suitable for all garments. Many a treasured suede piece has been ruined by customers looking to save on a dry cleaning bill.

Dry Cleaning Takes the Hassle out of Leather and Suede Care

Whether your signature style is leather or suede, a quality dry cleaning service is your best bet. The professionals at our four Manhattan locations are fully trained in cleaning and maintaining your expensive leather and suede garments. We’re always available to answer your questions, so call us now for advice or a quote.

September 7, 2019
HOW A GOOD TAILOR CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

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In a world of Instagram and fashion magazines, it’s easy to feel down on yourself or your fashion sense when compared to picture-perfect celebrities. However, a little-known secret is that few celebs and CEOs are wearing off-the-rack clothing like the rest of us. These elites commonly invest in alterations to their clothing to help it fit and flatter their body type perfectly.

Standard sizing is limiting when trying to dress our diverse and unique bodies, which is why a good tailor is your ally in making you feel great in your clothing. Alterations are a small investment that can make shopping mall clothing look like it’s straight off a designer runway. Even the most complicated alterations tend to run under $100, and the vast majority are less than $50. Considering the thousands of dollars people will spend on designer clothing, investing in a fine tailor is a far more affordable way to get a perfect look.

Signs of a Good Tailor

A Good Tailor Can Fix Just About Anything

No need to say goodbye to your favorite piece over a tear or a size change! Having a great tailor as your ally will help your favorite clothes last you for many years to come.

A Good Tailor Knows Body Type

A good tailor can work with your specific body type and make recommendations about which alterations will make clothes more flattering.

A Good Tailor Will Save You Money

Thinking about buying the perfect, brand-new piece for your wardrobe? Tailoring a similar second-hand piece is the more frugal option. Not only that, but your new piece will fit you perfectly!

A Good Tailor Communicates Well

A great tailor will talk to you about your style, the shape of clothing you prefer, your ideal look for a specific garment, and what is actually achievable with the material. Never be afraid to ask your tailor plenty of questions.

Common Alterations

Basic Alterations

Basic Alterations include simple fixes like button or zipper replacement, mending a simple tear, or raising or lowering a hemline. These are simple fixes, but can make a world of difference if your pant legs or jacket sleeves are too short! Most professional tailors can handle these fixes.

Mid-Level Alterations

Mid-level alterations require more consideration of what’s going to look good on your body. It’s good to find a trusted tailor to make adjustments like changing a neckline or sleeve type, tapering pants or adding darts to clothing.

Expert Alterations

It’s especially important to go to a trusted tailor for expert alterations. These require a solid professional understanding of the structure of clothing. Expert-level fixes include relining clothing, altering the shoulders or posture of a garment, rotating sleeves or reweaving to patch a hole.

We offer a full range of tailoring services at Ajay Cleaners. Feel free to contact us with any tailoring inquiries you may have. We’d love to work with you to make your clothes perfect!
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August 7, 2019