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A Special Vintage

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3 Things to Do with Old Clothing

If you are like most of the clients that we’ve seen during our time as your dry cleaner in Minneapolis and the surrounding areas, you likely have plenty of old clothing that you just can’t throw away because it’s “too nice”. Maybe it’s a power suit that you haven’t worn since you changed careers, a bridesmaid’s dress that looked great on you but is a little too fancy for most cocktail parties, or clothing that is well-made but outdated. Whatever your closet holds, there are plenty of things that you can do with those items that don’t involve tossing them out.

1. Bridesmaid’s dresses make perfectly on-trend skirts.

For the last several years, fashion has been obsessed with the pairing of a floaty, romantic skirt with a cozy sweater or a tough leather jacket – or both. You could simply toss a jacket or sweater on over your dress, but if the wedding was more formal, a floor-length skirt may not be a practical choice for a night out. Instead of trying to hem the gauzy material, however, it may be much simpler to cut the skirt away from the bodice, and reattach to an elastic waistband. Simply cut further down to shorten the length, and gather the skirt when attaching the waistband.

Before performing these alterations, it’s a good idea to have the dress dry cleaned. This way, the skirt is in perfect condition and will look brand new. Even if you aren’t a great seamstress, the waistband will be hidden by your top; you’ll have a fashionable new look to wear out, and your dress won’t linger in the back of your closet for years to come.

2. Donate your business clothing to a good cause.

If you live in Minneapolis or the surrounding areas, there are several charities that accept donations of business clothes. They provide these clothes to unemployed job seekers who couldn’t afford to purchase new interview outfits on their own. Organizations like Ready for Success and Dress for Success, both located in Minneapolis, are helping people of all ages, genders, and experience levels ace their interviews.

While these services take special care to ensure that clothing items are in tip top shape for those who need them, it’s always awesome to go the extra mile. Have your business clothes dry cleaned with us first, and you’ll feel even better about the difference you are making in the lives of people who need it most.

3. When in doubt, store it – but do it properly.

If there’s something in your closet that you don’t really need, but you just can’t bear to part with – an item that used to belong to a deceased relative, or the dress you wore on your first date with your husband thirty years ago – you can always consider storing it. This helps keep the item in great shape so that it doesn’t grow dusty, or attract pests. If you choose this option, it’s important to store the item properly.

Always start with a good dry clean, so that you are storing something that is in its best condition. When you hire Mulberrys, let us know that you intend to store an item, and we can help you get it ready. After dry cleaning, you can choose to vacuum seal the item, or simply store it in an air tight container that pests and dust cannot get into. Keep it in a cool, dark, dry place for optimal storage.

Whatever you intend to do with those items that you can’t get rid of, it’s always a great idea to start with an item that is in its best shape. At Mulberrys Garment Care, we can help you with the dry cleaning services you need to achieve this first step in reusing, donating, or storing your old clothing.

Sources:
http://housekeeping.about.com/cs/garageandstorage/a/storingclothes.htm
http://readyforsuccessmn.org/
https://twincities.dressforsuccess.org/

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