The O.F.A. - Ontario Fabricare Association

Whether you're wearing a designer gown, your favorite cotton t-shirt, a business suit, or a poly-cotton dress, you always want to look your best. While regular dry cleaning will keep your clothes looking fresh and extend their life, many garments can be safely cared for at home.

Protecting Your Investment !!

Invest wisely-check care and content labels before you buy clothing.

Keep the tags, care and content labels that come with your clothes and follow their recommended cleaning guidelines.

Buy a good clothing brush and brush your wool clothes regularly and thoroughly.

Knitted garments should be kept in a drawer or folded over a padded hanger to prevent them from being pulled out of shape.

Let your deodorant dry completely before putting on your garments.

Avoid getting perfume or hair spray on your clothes, as this could cause colour damage. Protect your clothes when using hair spray by wrapping a cotton towel over the collar and shoulders.

Air dry wet or damp garments before returning them to your closet

Stain Removal

If your clothes become stained, take them to your dry cleaner as soon as possible. Let them know what the stain is so that they can use the appropriate process to remove it.

Home do-it-yourself dry cleaning kits are to be used with caution, not as a replacement for professional cleaning.

Always test first on a hidden area of the garment to check for colourfastness.

Always blot or pat spills with a clean, damp, white cloth to absorb excess moisture. Never rub as this will spread the stain or damage the fabric.

Never apply direct heat, it can set a stain permanently.

Never use substances like nail polish remover to clean a stain (even if the stain is nail polish). Many synthetic fabrics could be ruined.

Stain Removal

The seasonal clothing exchange helps to keep our closets and dresser drawers from exploding under the weight of four seasons worth of clothing. But if you've ever lost a valued piece of clothing to mildew, insect damage, or fading, you know that garment storage is a serious business.

Store items in a cool, dry place. Moths and other insects increase in direct proportion to the temperature.

Clean, repair and thoroughly dry all items before storage. Be sure that all stains are removed. Remember mildew is caused by moisture and insects are attracted to stains.

To decrease wrinkles in sweaters, fold and wrap them in white tissue paper before storing.

Store clothes in a cedar chest or with cedar balls or moth balls to discourage insects.

To minimize the possibility of fading and damage due to light exposure, do not store items in direct light.

Atmospheric oxides produced by a furnace, heater or car exhaust can cause fume fading, which can permanently change the colour of clothing. To prevent this type of damage do not store items near the furnace or in the garage.

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