Shores Fine Dry Cleaning for Charity

Shores Fine Dry Cleaning has supported numerous local charities and non-profits during its 60+ years in business.  Most recently, our staff has been manning coat checks at many of the fundraising black tie events in the Piedmont Triad.  Working these events and interacting with other volunteers has provided our team an up close view of the important work that these organizations provide to our local community, which is why we are so excited about our Cleaning for Charity program.

We developed the Cleaning for Charity program to help give a little extra boost to the fundraising efforts of a few of the local charities we are partnered with.  Our partner charities for 2017 are:

• Winterlark, a Cancer Patient Support Program that helps patients and their families manage the distress and symptoms, navigate treatments, and develop and maintain a positive and healing outlook from diagnosis through survivorship.
• JDRF – Piedmont Triad Chapter, an organization that seeks life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat Type 1 Diabetes and its complications.
• Family Services of Greensboro, an organization that empowers individuals and families to restore hope, achieve stability, and thrive through quality support services, advocacy, and education.

The way it works is very simple.

1. New and current customers assign a charity to their account.  To set up a new account or assign a charity to an existing account, please email us at CleaningForCharity@ShoresCleaners.com, call, or speak to a customer service rep any of our 3 locations and clearly state which charity to assign to your account.
2. During the Cleaning for Charity season, January 1 - February 28, 2017, 10% of the gross cleaning charges will be donated to the charity of choice.  Gift cards redeemed during the program period will be included as purchases and eligible for the 10% donation.

Reporting and monetary disbursements will be made at the close of the business month following the conclusion of the program.  All customer information including purchases made during this program will be handled by our point of sales system.  Amounts raised will be shared on our social media outlets after the program concludes.

Our Cleaning for Charity program has the potential to raise thousands of dollars for three fantastic organizations that do so much to help those in our community.  Please consider getting in touch with us to get started raising money for your favorite charity.  If you don't already, please follow Shores on our social media outlets for updates and share information with your friends and family regarding these worthwhile causes.

Facebook @ShoresFineDryCleaning
Twitter @ShoresCleaners
Instagram @Shores_Cleaners
Include the hashtag #CleaningforCharity

Caring for your Table Linens

The fun part of a holiday dinner is the planning and preparation.  I love choosing a menu, finding special linens and table décor, preparing the food, and getting all dressed up.  But sadly all good things must come to an end, and after everyone leaves, I stand in the kitchen looking at all the dirty dishes to be washed and the pile of table linens that must be cleaned.  I always attack the dishes right away because I don’t want to wake up to a messy kitchen, but I will admit that I throw the soiled table linens in a basket in the laundry room to deal with later.  And many times, it’s a week or more later.

“That’s a bad idea,” Brian Harrell, General Manager of Shores, once told me.  “The longer a stain is left untreated, the harder it is to remove.”  Brian went on to explain that if a stain is left untreated for an extended period of time, it becomes part of the fabric.  That means it can react with the fabric causing the fabric itself to change colors, so when you finally get around to cleaning it and are able to remove the initial stain, the fabric where the stain once was will now be a different color.

Our advice is to either wash your table linens or have them professionally cleaned and finished within 2-3 days of your party.  For fabrics like polyester, pre-treat any stains, machine wash them in cold water, and while they are likely safe to dry on a low heat setting, we’d recommend that you line dry them.  But if your table linens are after a holiday dinner, then it is likely that they are part of your finer collection.  If that is the case, then we suggest you drop them off at one of our three locations where we will carefully inspect your linens, pre-treat the stains by hand, and use the latest in dry-cleaning and wet-cleaning technologies to restore them to the condition they were in prior to your big event.  After cleaning, we will then iron them, hang them with tissue in the folds to reduce creases or hand-roll them if you choose, and can also mend any holes or tears or repair any loose or missing embroidering.

For additional tips on how to care for your table linens, please click here.  For specific questions about your table linens, please contact one of our store managers.  They are always here to help.

Real Bride Spotlight – Mackenzie’s Gown

Every Monday night, a group of girls at NC State would gather around the television to watch The Bachelor, but one night, several guys decided to join in, and that’s where Mackenzie met Logan.  Some mutual friends introduced them, and they quickly became friends thanks to a few group road trips for spring break and basketball games.  It was during one particular basketball road trip to Pittsburgh that Mackenzie realized there was something really special about Logan, and shortly after that trip, they started dating.  “We ended up only dating for 8 months before Logan proposed,” said Mackenzie.  “Graduation was less than six months away, and I was moving to Alabama for Optometry School in the fall, so we decided to have a summer wedding.  Even though we didn’t date all that long, we both knew we wanted to get married and start our lives in Alabama together.”

How did Logan propose?

“The day after Christmas, Logan was at my house and had planned a scavenger hunt for the day.  I had no idea about anything and was woken up by my mom who had a letter from Logan telling me where I needed to go first.  There were 8 different stops throughout the day, and I was surprised by friends and family members who gave me letters with the next clue.  The last stop was at my house where I found Logan standing on the pathway to the lake, which is where he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!"

Will you tell us a little bit about your wedding?

“We got married on July 30, 2016 at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina.  It was an outdoor ceremony with the reception inside. The main color of our wedding was mint, and the bridesmaids wore long chiffon mint dresses with different necklines.  The groomsmen wore gray tuxes ordered online from Xedo and had mint vests with the matching tie.  One special touch that I had at the wedding was my bouquet.  Wrapped around the stems of the flowers was lace from my mom’s wedding dress and attached was a pin my great-grandmother wore.”

What made you decide your gown was ‘the one’? 

“My gown was trumpet shaped with lace 3/4 of the way down.  The top was strapless and the back was low cut with buttons down the back. I also added a belt to my dress that was lace with pearls and some beading. I had been to four different stores before I picked mine and probably tried on around fifty dresses.  I chose my dress because it was elegant, it had lace, and I felt beautiful in it. I thought the shape was flattering and would go well with the vineyard theme of my wedding.”

Why did you choose Shores to clean and press your gown?

“I chose Shores to clean and press my gown because they are professional and dependable. They are also members of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists so I know they have high standards and will take care of my gown.”

Are you planning on cleaning and preserving your gown now that the wedding is over? 

“Yes, I am planning to get my gown cleaned and preserved because it is sentimental, and one day, I will be able to show my daughter my dress, and I want it to look as good as new in case she would want to wear it on her big day.”

Wedding photos taken by Anna Varnedoe at Anna Paschal Photography.  List of vendors includes: venue and catering by Childress Vineyards, cake by Maxie B's, videography by Adam Carroll, flowers by Simply the Best, hair and makeup by FaceForward, wedding gown from Elegant Bridal, tuxes provided by Xedo, and bridesmaid dresses from NY Bride and Groom.

Dry Cleaning Draperies

Have you ever been in a room that was expertly painted, exquisitely furnished, and well appointed – but it didn’t have draperies?  Somehow the room feels incomplete; there’s something about draperies that give a room unity, harmony, and warmth.  I tend to think of draperies as a décor item, but truthfully draperies serve a much bigger purpose.  In addition to décor, draperies provide privacy and help with temperature control, sunlight control, and soundproofing.

If you are like me, it took you forever to find just the right draperies for your living room, and honestly, they came with a fairly significant cost.  After they were hung, I stood back and admired my purchase and then moved on to the next thing.  Who really gives their draperies much thought?  But you should.  Draperies are exposed to all kinds of conditions every single day:

• Sunlight – which can cause discoloration and weaken the fabric
• Moisture – humidity, leaks, or condensation can cause dye bleeding and water rings
• Odors – cooking fumes and smoke tend to deposit on the fabric
• Dust – dust and airborne particles land on drapes causing fading and discoloration

To lengthen the life of your drapes, we suggest the following:

• Regularly vacuum your drapes with a soft-bristled attachment, which will remove surface dust that has settled on your draperies. 
• Have your window treatments and draperies professionally cleaned every 2-3 years, depending on their environment. 

One additional piece of information to consider.  Manufacturing industry standards allow 2-4% shrinkage in household fabrics, which could prove to be significant on floor-length draperies and may not occur on separate linings.

If your drapes are in need of some special attention, simply drop them off at one of our locations and let us take a look at them.  And of course, if you ever have questions or need help, please call one of our stores and speak with a manager.
 

Caring for Your Suit

We’ve talked before about the importance of properly fitting clothing.  We’ve also talked about how no one, no matter their size, can walk into a department store, pull a suit off a rack, and expect it fit perfectly – everywhere.  Of course, that’s where expert alterations come in.  But once you’ve selected your suit, have had it expertly fitted to your physique, you can’t just wear it and then throw it in the closet.  You’ve invested some time and money into this ensemble, and you’ll want to keep it in peak condition for as long as possible.  Besides regular cleaning and pressing, here are few key things you’ll need to do to keep your suit looking like new:

• Keep your suit as a set.  Not only is it important to provide identical care to the pants and coat to help ensure consistent color and texture of the fabric over time, but you also want to wear them together, not as separates. 
• Avoid sunlight.  Try to keep dark suits out of bright sunlight.  For instance, if you take your jacket off, hang it on a hanger, and leave it in your car all day, it will cause the coat to become lighter than the pants over time. 
• Clean it regularly.  We typically recommend cleaning a suit after 3-4 times of wearing, but there could be a need to clean it sooner.  Here are some reasons why: it is an exceptionally hot day, you are outside a lot, and therefore you perspire more than normal; you wear it to a restaurant where food smells settle into the fabric; you spill something on it, even a clear beverage which will discolor over time.  Even if it doesn’t look dirty, there could be unseen dirt on it which will impact your suit’s appearance.
• Take off your jacket.  If you sit for long periods of time, the back of your coat will get overly wrinkled and worn.
• Handle with care.  Use a good quality wooden hanger to hang your suit, which will help maintain the jacket’s shape and keep the pants nicely creased.  Try waiting a day or two between wearing to give the fabric time to rest.

If you have questions about suit care, please call or stop by one of our locations.  We are here to help.

Shores is on Instagram

When I got married back in the olden days (1999), my source for inspiration was mostly magazines, but I always felt like no matter what magazine I looked at, their focus was always to try and sell me something – not help me figure out what I liked and what I wanted.  I sure do wish we’d had Instagram and Pinterest back then, two sources that are just chocked full of ideas.  Sure, there are plenty of folks out there trying to sell you stuff, but I feel like I get way more honesty and genuine ideas from these two sources than anywhere else.  But more importantly, I get a feel for the person sharing the ideas.  I get their story.

There are several reasons why Shores recently joined the world of Instagram.  Here are two:

1. We want brides, mothers of brides, future brides, and customers to see what an important role Shores plays in helping the wedding planning process run more smoothly.
2. We like stories.  We like hearing about people’s stories, and we like sharing those stores.

Unfortunately, if you don’t share those stories with us, we don’t have anything to tell.  That’s why we’d love some help getting this going.  Here’s what you can do:

• If your wedding gown needs to be altered, call one of our three locations to schedule a fitting with one of our skilled and experienced seamstresses.  When you come for your appointment, be sure to bring all of the undergarments you intend to wear beneath the wedding dress as well as your shoes, head piece or veil, and hair accessories.  When you come for your fitting, you will be asked about letting us snap a few photos throughout the dress alteration process and then letting us share them AFTER your big day.  Don’t worry, we won’t ruin any surprises you might want to have in store for your groom and guests, and we won’t share any photos that you haven’t approved.
• If your gown needs to be cleaned, pressed, or freshened up before your big day, bring it by one of our locations, and the Certified Gown Specialist at the location you visit will customize a plan for your gown and will treat it with tender loving care.  When you drop off your gown, we will ask you if we can snap a few photos while we freshen it up and then share them with our Instagram followers.  Again, we won’t share any photos until after the wedding day.
• Don’t forget to clean and preserve your gown as soon as possible after your wedding.  The longer you wait to have your gown cleaned, the less likely it is that all the stains can be removed.  When you drop off your gown, we will ask you if we can snap a few photos during the process and then share them with our Instagram followers. 
• Finally, if you have some photos of your big day that you’d like to share with us, we’d love to see them.  Just e-mail them to shoresdrycleaning@gmail.com with a little information about yourself, your dress, ceremony, venue, or any other tidbit you’d like for folks to know.  We’d be delighted to post them on our Instagram account.

If an everyday photo is worth a thousand words, then imagine how much a photo of your gown, you in your gown, or you in your gown at your ceremony is worth to a bride that is struggling to piece her big day together.  Perhaps one of your photos and your story could provide a bit of inspiration.

Tuxedo Rental by Xedo

Before I got married, I often wondered why brides purchased their gowns while grooms rented their tuxedos.  Then my husband and I got married, and he decided to purchase a custom-made Jhane Barnes tuxedo.  He considered renting one, but he didn’t have a style in mind and didn’t know of a reputable place to inquire.  While mentioning this to his boss, she thought a better solution would be purchasing as he never knew when he might need a tuxedo again.  The last time he wore it was our wedding day – 17 years ago.  Now it sits preserved in a beautiful museum-quality chest, next to my beautifully preserved wedding gown, thanks to Shores, in a storage room off his home office upstairs.  If only Xedo had been around back then; we would have saved a considerable amount of time, frustration, and space.  Our story, and countless others like ours, is exactly why Shores has partnered with Xedo to offer the ultimate solution to the tuxedo dilemma.

Over the next few months, we will share with you success stories, style tips, and inspiration, but today we wanted to give you the scoop on how their service works.

1. Pick your style – choose from a selection of pre-styled tuxedos or customize your own.
2. Once you’ve selected your style, complete the online questionnaire to order a free home try-on.  They provide a tutorial to assist in measuring for size.
3. After finalizing your selection, order your tux and add your groomsmen to your account. Xedo will e-mail them the details and request measurements.
4. Xedo will ship your tux to your home 2 weeks before the wedding date to give you plenty of time to receive a free size replacement.
5. After the wedding, simply box up your tux and use the pre-paid FedEx label to return it at no charge.

But not only does Xedo make the tuxedo rental process incredibly easy, they, more importantly, have partnered with top bridal and menswear designers like Alfred Angelo, Allure, Justin Alexander, Michael Kors and Mon Cheri.  You can rest assured that not only do those names mean fine fabrics and custom fit, they also mean the latest in styles that are guaranteed to compliment any wedding gown.  To learn more, click here or call any one of our locations and speak to the manager. 

Why Preownedweddingdresses.com Recommends Association of Wedding Gown Specialists Cleaners

In our May blog post, Your Wedding Gown – Cleaning versus Preservation, we just grazed over the cleaning aspects of a wedding gown and mostly focused on preserving and storing.  I think that’s because I am still of the generation that says you should preserve and store your gown, but according to Josie Daga, founder of preownedweddingdresses.com, the landscape of what a bride does with her wedding gown is changing.  Many brides these days are choosing to sell their gowns, and the reason for reselling isn’t because of money.  Here are a few reasons brides have given Josie regarding reselling their gowns:

• “Some memories don’t belong in a box”
• “It’s way too pretty to sit in a closet”
• “I want to share it with someone else”

During a recent conversation with Josie, the most interesting piece of information I took away was that brides, even after their wedding day and those that plan on selling their dress, are worried about their gown being ruined.  That’s one of the many reasons why preownedweddingdresses.com recommends dry cleaners that are a certified by the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists (AWGS), a non-for-profit trade association of specialty cleaners that has been around since 1987, for wedding gown cleaning, care, and alterations.  Why is that important?  Well, AWGS members clean wedding gowns using standard museum-quality practices.  We evaluate each gown individually and then customize the cleaning process accordingly.  Further, cleanings are only done by Certified Gown Specialists, who in turn provide a written international guarantee.  You can return your gown to any one of its members, and the gown will be inspected and pressed at no charge.

In addition to the cleaning, AWGS certified cleaners have been granted permission to certify the condition of the gown prior to listing it on preownedweddingdresses.com, which helps the bride because clean gowns appraise at a higher value.

Selling your wedding gown seems to be an up-and-coming trend.  Sharing your gown with another bride definitely has its benefits, and buying a pre-owned gown offers brides the opportunity to purchase a higher-end or designer gown at a more reasonable price.  Plus, besides getting a beautiful gown, a bride that wears a pre-owned wedding gown not only develops a friendship with the seller, but she also wears a dress that has a story and that is developing a personality of its own.

Selling your wedding gown isn’t for everyone, but if you decide to go that route, we definitely recommend using preownedwedddingdresses.com. 

Importance of Properly Fitting Clothes

We’ve all heard sayings like “Clothes Make the Man”, and we all know Coco Chanel’s famous quote “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” I have to say that I like this one the best – “Baggy pants were never, and will never be cool.”  You can put on an expensive dress or a designer suit but if it is too small or too big, folks will notice the fit and never notice your fancy frock or classy ensemble.  Most people cannot walk into a department store, pull a ready-to-wear garment off of the rack, and expect it to fit perfectly – no matter what their size.  Yet, we all spend so much time trying on multiple outfits, looking for that perfect fit, and then settle for a garment that mostly works.  But the truth is not only does the fit of your clothes determine whether it looks good on you or not, it also affects how you feel about yourself. 

• Clothes that are too big make you look sloppy and both bigger and older than what you actually are.  Furthermore, they tend to hide your best features.
• Clothes that are too small tend to accentuate every single flaw.
• Clothes that fit properly make you look thinner, and most of all, they make you feel confident.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on designer clothes or a custom suit to get that perfect fit or feeling of confidence.  If there is a garment that you absolutely love, and it is perhaps a little too long in the sleeve or too big in the waist, there is an easy solution – tailoring.  It is not nearly as expensive as you think, and it could possibly open up a whole new genre of clothing.  Once you recognize that, you can purchase a garment that accentuates your best feature and then have the other portions altered to flatter the rest of your shape.

All three of our locations are set up to handle any clothing alteration need – from a simple repair to an ornate wedding gown.  So if your clothes aren’t accentuating your best features, stop by or call for an appointment, and we will be glad to tailor your wardrobe to fit your needs.

Your Wedding Gown – Cleaning versus Preservation

You feel in love with it as soon as you put it on.  You couldn’t imagine wearing any other dress when you walked down the aisle.  As soon as your mom saw you in it, she immediately teared up.  But now the big day is over, and you need to decide what to do with your gown.  Are you going to share this treasure with someone else by either selling or donating it?  If so, then cleaning and hanging would be appropriate.  First, be sure to have it cleaned as soon as possible after your wedding day; the longer you wait to clean your gown, the less likely it is that all the stains can be removed.  Second, be sure to choose a certified wedding gown specialist that will guarantee and personally process your gown. 

Or do you want to preserve this timeless memory as a family heirloom or for future generations?  If so, then preservation is the answer.  When it comes to wedding gown preservation, there are lots of things to consider.  In the past we’ve shared tips like these on Facebook and Twitter:

• Never store your garments long-term in our plastic poly bags
• Our plastic poly bags are designed for short-term protection only
• Long-term use of our plastic poly bags will suffocate your clothes and possibly cause staining or mildewing problems

That same advice holds true when it comes to preserving and storing your wedding gown.  Not only do plastic bags trap moisture, they can also emit fumes that can cause your gown to yellow.  If you really want to hang your gown, placing it in a muslin or Tyvek bag will eliminate the moisture and trapped fumes issues.  But there are other issues associated with hanging your gown for long periods of time – like the possibility of shape distortion.  The weight of the gown pulling down against the hanger, even if you use the safety loops attached to the inside seams, could cause the gown to become misshapen.

For storing your gown long-term, after it has been cleaned, Shores recommends layering your gown with acid-free tissue, wrapping it in freshly laundered muslin, folding and placing it in an acid-free archival wedding chest, and sealing the chest with pest-proof tape.  Shores has so much confidence in this method, that we will provide a written, lifetime guarantee against yellowing or caramelized sugar stains, which is honored by the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists.

If your gown is in need of cleaning and/or preservation and you have questions, please bring it by one of our locations.  We will gladly take a look at it and offer recommendations.

Professionally Laundered and Finished Bed Linens

You know how you feel when you slide into bed at a fine hotel?  The king size bed has a nice, firm mattress, covered in high-quality, all-cotton sheets and a natural-fiber bedspread.  And the biggest thing that sets all that apart from other hotels or even your bed at home – is that they professionally dry clean and press their linens.  I only wish I could find the words to describe the wonderful feeling of sliding into a bed made with professionally finished bed linens.  If the wonderful feeling isn’t enough, there are actually other benefits to having Shores professionally finish your bed linens.

•    Our cleaning systems are more powerful than any cleaning process done in the home, which ultimately translates to no residual dirt being left behind on your bed linens. 
•    While you sleep, your body loses fluid, oils, and dead skin cells, and traditional home laundering cannot remove all the oils.  Dry cleaning, however, easily dissolves grease stains.  When needed, we will first dry clean sheets to remove any oils, and then launder them in our high-quality detergents before pressing them.   
•    Once clean, our expert pressers press the sheets, which when done on a set of high thread count, high-quality sheets, and your preferred level of starch, produces a finish like nothing you can get at home.
•    We never add fragrance to our professionally finished sheets – doing so usually signifies that someone is trying to cover up something.
•    Sheets are folded into an 8" x 14" rectangle and returned to our customers in a reusable Shores tote.

A good night’s sleep makes all the difference in the world.  But don’t just take our word for it – many of our customers tell us that they cannot fall asleep on anything but professionally pressed linens.  If you’ve never had your bed linens dry cleaned, drop them off at one of our locations, and we will clean, press, and return them to you in 2 days. 

Caring for Team Jerseys

I am not a huge sports fan, but there are two sports events I really love: the Superbowl and March Madness.  I mostly like the Superbowl for the food and shear entertainment factor, but I find myself glued to as many games as possible during March Madness.  Unfortunately, my team usually falls out pretty early (and sometimes doesn’t even make it at all).  And while I am a part-time sports fan, I have friends that are real, true blue fans and are incredibly loyal to their team.  One way they show their support is by wearing a team jersey.

Team jerseys can be expensive, so we want them to last as long as possible.  Most of our customers don’t want to risk ruining such a prized garment, so they choose to have Shores handle them.  Everyday care and normal washing are typically an easy task, so if you’d like to care for your team jersey at home we recommend the following:

•    Because most jerseys are made from synthetic fabrics, simply pre-treat stains, wash as soon as possible after a spill, turn the jersey inside out, and follow the manufacturers care label.  Turning the jersey inside out will help decrease the chances of abrasions. 
•    If the label doesn’t suggest washing in cold water, we do.  Many jerseys are colorful and washing in hot or warm water can cause fading.
•    Remove the jersey from the washer as soon as the load is finished, turn it right side out, and lay it flat to dry.  Never place your jersey in the dryer; the heat from the dryer could cause the letters to crack or stick together. 
•    Never iron your jersey.  The heat from the iron could burn a hole in the fabric or cause a letter to melt or smear.
•    Finally, autographed jerseys are better off not cleaned or washed.  While sharpie ink holds up well through most cleanings, all ink degrades a degree when washed or dry cleaned.  Eventually that special autograph will fade away.

If you have a team jersey that needs attention, drop it off at one of our three locations.  We will happily take special care of it for you.

Caring for Ski Apparel

Never fear, avid skiers, there’s still plenty of time left in this year’s season to hit the slopes.  But when the season is over, it will be time to deal with putting away and storing all that gear.  We’ve repeatedly said to never store any garment away without washing or dry cleaning it first, and the same holds true with ski-wear.  Whether you’ve only been once this season or a dozen times, ski clothes take a beating from both the elements and your body’s sweat and natural oils.

Of course, these garments can be bulky and awkward to wash in your home washing machine.  Shores has commercial-sized equipment, so wet cleaning these items is no problem for us.  If you’d like for us to handle your ski-wear after the season is over, simply drop everything off at one of our locations, and we’ll gladly take care of everything for you.  But if you’d like to clean your ski apparel at home, we’ve pulled together a few tips to help you make this process a bit easier.

• Before you begin the washing process, make sure all your pockets have been emptied, remove inner linings and hoods, and zip zippers and close any Velcro to help prevent tears or snags. 
• Most ski-related garments are machine washable, but be sure to check all care labels before cleaning. 
• Pre-treat any stains before washing, and then launder according to the manufacturer’s instructions using care to not overload your machine.  Only wash similar fabrics and weights together.
• Avoid placing ski clothes in the dryer.  Instead, allow them to air dry by hanging them on a plastic or wooden hanger away from light and heat. 
• Ski-wear is typically treated with some sort of water repellent.  If you feel like the treatment has worn off, check with the manufacturer as to their recommendations.  There are a few options here, like using a wash-in waterproofing product, spraying on a water repellent, or bringing them by one of our locations so we can apply a water repellent product for you.  If you choose to do this at home, be sure that the waterproofing solution is for clothing and not tents or sleeping bags.
• Finally, make sure that all items are completely dry before storing them away.  This just helps prevent mildew, and be sure to store items in a cool, dry place. 

Taking proper care of your ski clothes now ensures they will be ready and waiting for you to wear next season. 

Clothing-Related Cruise Tips

Christmas is over, it’s cold and dreary, and spring is still a long way away; this is the time of the year when I dream of taking a trip to a tropical island.  On a whim, I took a look at some cruise websites and found that we are in the middle of high season for Eastern Caribbean cruises.  We recently took a cruise, and I learned a few clothing-related things about cruising that I thought I’d share.

1. Know the dress code in advance.  While it seems that we’ve all gotten more casual over the years, cruises included, many cruises still have 1-2 formal dinner evenings, depending on length.  I understand that enforcement varies from ship to ship, but during our cruise, I witnessed a couple be turned away from the main dining room one formal night because they were dressed too casually.
2. Make a list of needed garments well in advance.  This is especially important if you need out-of-season items.  While you may not be able to run to a department store to pick out new swimwear, it is possible to order something online.  Additionally, if you have needed items in storage at Shores, you’ll want to be sure to give us a week’s notice so that we can take your clothes out of storage, inspect them, and then freshen them up for you so that they are ready to pack.
3. Bring layers.  Even though you are traveling to a tropical environment, it can rain, get cool at night, or be chilly in the dining room.  A good way to prepare for lots of scenarios without adding too much to your suitcase would be to bring a light-weight rain jacket; a multi-purpose cardigan sweater; and a pashmina, shawl, or wrap.  All three came in quite handy on our recent trip.
4. Pack several Ziploc bags in a variety of sizes.  Ziploc bags can be the answer to a number of problems – protecting electronics while on a beach or water-related excursion, holding medication or jewelry, and separating excessively dirty or wet items from the rest of your laundry or clean clothing.
5. Split your clothes between two suitcases.  Strategically place half your wardrobe in your travel-mate’s suitcase, and have them put half of their wardrobe in yours.  If one suitcase ends up missing, at least you have half your wardrobe to work with.  It’s better than having nothing at all.  

Most cruise line websites have helpful hits and check lists to help you pack if it is your first time cruising.  For more information from Shores about packing in general, check out these two blog posts: How To Not Over Pack and How To Pack A Suit.