Aaron Newport

With a few simple, sustainable habits, you can extend the life of your clothing, reduce unnecessary cleaning, and keep your wardrobe fresh between professional care. Not only does this help your clothes last longer, but it also supports a more environmentally conscious approach to garment care. Here are a few easy ways to refresh your clothing between dry cleaning visits: Let Your Clothes Breathe One of the easiest ways to freshen garments is simply to air them out. After wearing a blazer, dress, sweater, or pair of trousers, hang the item in a well-ventilated area for several hours before putting it back in your closet. Fresh air helps release trapped moisture and odors while allowing fabrics to recover from daily wear. Avoid placing recently worn clothing directly into a crowded closet, where moisture and odors can become trapped. Steam Away Wrinkles and Odors A handheld garment steamer is a great investment for maintaining your wardrobe. Steam helps relax wrinkles, remove light odors, and revive the appearance of fabrics without the wear that can come from frequent washing. Always check the garment’s care label before steaming, and use the appropriate setting for delicate materials. Brush Away Dust and Lint Natural fiber garments such as wool coats, blazers, and suits benefit from occasional brushing with a clothing brush. Brushing removes surface dust, lint, and debris while helping maintain the fabric’s texture and appearance. Using a lint roller between wears is another quick way to keep clothing looking polished. Store Garments Properly Proper storage plays a major role in keeping clothes fresh. Use sturdy, appropriately sized hangers for jackets, dresses, and blouses to help garments maintain their shape. Fold heavier knitwear rather than hanging it to prevent stretching. Keeping your closet organized with enough space between garments also improves airflow and helps prevent unwanted odors. Rotate Your Wardrobe Giving garments a day or two of rest between wears allows fibers to recover and helps reduce wear over time. Rotating your wardrobe not only extends the life of your clothing but also reduces the frequency of cleaning. This is especially important for structured garments like suits, sport coats, and dresses. Trust Professional Care When Needed While these simple habits help maintain your clothing between cleanings, professional garment care is still essential for removing embedded soils, oils, and stains that home care can’t address. We use GreenEarth Cleaning, a gentle cleaning process that’s designed to care for a wide variety of fabrics while helping garments maintain their color, shape, and softness. By combining thoughtful at-home care with professional cleaning when needed, you can enjoy a wardrobe that stays looking newer for longer. Small changes in your clothing care routine can make a meaningful difference. Airing out garments, steaming away wrinkles, brushing away dust, and storing clothing correctly all help reduce unnecessary cleaning while preserving the quality of your favorite pieces. When it’s time for a deeper clean, we’re ready to provide expert care that helps extend the life of the garments you love.

Wedding season is a joyous time filled with celebrations, love, and countless opportunities to dress up. However, with the growing awareness of environmental sustainability, many of us are rethinking our wardrobe choices for such events. The good news is that there are several sustainable ways to dress for weddings that not only look great but also minimize our ecological footprint. Rent A Look For The Night Renting a dress is one of the most sustainable options for wedding guests. Instead of purchasing a new outfit that you might only wear once, renting allows you to enjoy high-quality, designer attire without the associated environmental impact. Companies like Rent the Runway offer a vast selection of dresses suitable for weddings, from elegant evening gowns to chic cocktail dresses. The benefits of renting are numerous. It reduces the demand for fast fashion, cuts down on textile waste, and saves money. Renting also provides the opportunity to wear a variety of styles and brands that you might’ve otherwise never tried. The process is straightforward: browse online, choose your dress, and have it delivered to your door. After the event, you simply return it, often with dry cleaning included. Shop Your Secondhand Style Thrifting, or shopping secondhand, is another excellent way to find a unique and sustainable wedding outfit. Vintage and thrift stores are treasure troves of stylish and affordable clothing. By choosing to thrift, you give a second life to garments that might otherwise end up in landfills, contributing to a circular fashion economy. When thrifting for a wedding, look for dresses in good condition made from high-quality materials. Consider classic styles that can be accessorized to suit the wedding’s theme and formality. If you don’t have any thrift stores near you, try browsing online at stores like Thread Up. Not only does finding a dress secondhand reduce waste, but it also offers the chance to find a truly unique piece that stands out from the typical retail selections. Revisit Your Closet and Alter Altering an old dress is a fantastic way to refresh your wardrobe sustainably. Whether it’s a dress you’ve worn to previous events or one that’s been sitting in your closet for years, alterations can give it a new lease on life. Tailoring can transform an outdated dress into a fashionable piece that fits perfectly and suits your current style. Consider adding new elements to an old dress, such as changing the hemline, adding embellishments, or adjusting the fit. A skilled tailor can help you make these modifications, ensuring that the dress feels new and unique. This approach not only saves money but also reduces the demand for new clothing production. After The Wedding For those concerned about the environmental impact of dry cleaning their wedding attire, utilizing our GreenEarth Cleaning process is a sustainable choice. Traditional dry cleaning methods often use harsh chemicals that can harm the environment. In contrast, GreenEarth Cleaning uses a silicone-based solvent that is gentle on fabrics and the planet. By choosing an eco-friendly cleaner, you ensure that your dress is professionally cleaned without contributing to pollution. This method is particularly useful for delicate fabrics and intricate designs that require special care. Stop by our location today to begin your sustainable journey. Dressing sustainably for the wedding season is not only possible but also enjoyable and rewarding. By renting a dress, thrifting, altering an old dress, and using GreenEarth Cleaning powered services, you can make eco-friendly choices that benefit both your wardrobe and the environment. By integrating these practices into your wedding season preparations, you not only look fabulous but also participate in a broader movement towards a more sustainable and conscious lifestyle. Happy wedding season!

The pandemic has had a massive effect on all of us. Whether you’ve been working from home while simultaneously running your own daycare, forced to change career paths and adjusting to a new lifestyle, or simply feeling isolated and missing friends and family, it’s beginning to feel like maybe our “new normal” isn’t going to be so different than life was eighteen months ago. People are finally starting to head back to work, go to formal events, and actually have in-person business meetings—handshakes and everything! We find oftentimes, folks simply aren’t aware of all of the services their dry cleaner offers. Alterations and tailoring is a service almost all dry cleaners offer and it’s not uncommon to find the best tailor in your market within a GreenEarth Affiliate location. Their tailors and seamstresses can make sure you’re looking your absolute best with the perfect fit. If you need to impress at a new job, have your work clothes slightly altered due to a pandemic routine shift, or dress to the nines for a formal event or wedding—no matter your need, the GreenEarth Network is here for you. In addition to simply providing tailoring services, GreenEarth has partnered with 9tofive, a suit retailer out of Brooklyn, NY selling tailored suits online with a focus on sustainability and first-class professional service across the country. Making the customer’s experience luxurious AND convenient. “We partnered with GreenEarth, a leader in sustainable dry cleaning, because their affiliates, like Bridgestone Cleaners in Brooklyn, are top professionals in garment care, tailoring, and alterations. They have some of the most knowledgable and talented tailors around and their service is unmatched. It just makes sense. People who buy suits use GreenEarth” Aaron Clanton (CEO at 9tofive). So you can now order a suit from 9tofive through your local GreenEarth cleaner, then when the suit arrives, have it fitted and tailored, all included in the cost of the suit. It’s a match made in heaven. “The pandemic has been rough for us and our dry cleaning partners. As businesses reopen and events are being held again, there has been an uptick in suiting needs. Weddings are slowly coming back and people are returning to normal life. Through our revolutionary partnership with GreenEarth, 9tofive has created an easier way of shopping. We have combined local, in-person connection with online retail, fostering a stress-free and accessible shopping experience. Along with these exciting initiatives, we are elated to roll out our new suit rental program. Getting fitted for a suit or tux rental has never been easier! We’ve used our local tailor partnerships to create a nearly effortless rental experience that practically brings designer suits to your doorstep.” Aaron Clanton (CEO at 9tofive). The moral of the story, don’t show up to your new job, the first day back at the office, of a black-tie event looking anything less than your best. We’ve got you. Find the GreenEarth cleaner nearest you on our online store and get fitted right. By: Aaron Newport

In the UK, it’s estimated one-third of clothing either end up going to landfill or is incinerated.  Also, purchases are continuing to be on the rise in the UK ahead of other countries. Around 10 years ago, there was very much a focus on vintage clothing and “make do and mend”, providing a focus on aftercare, whether it’s how you clean, store, or repair the item of clothing. This has got to be key to create a vintage concept, right?  So how do we create a vintage for the future? Textiles take-back schemes, where customers donate unwanted clothing to retailers to be reused or recycled, are a key part of developing a more circular fashion industry. High street retailers such as M&S, H&M, Tesco, and others have done this successfully.  Luxury brands are also examining how they can operate in this space. Ultimately, the garments can end up in a number of different places, depending on their condition. Their condition is determined by how well they are made, how often they are worn, and how they are cared for. If the garment condition is poor, it is likely to end up in the garbage, because the wearer doesn’t believe the item is good enough to be donated.  Although, charity shops will take in any item, and then either sell it in the shop or sell it to (for want of a better term) the “ragman.”  If the garment is in very good condition, then it becomes much more of a commercial proposition to the consumer.  They can either sell via “Vintage” sites, such as Depop or Vinted, or transact directly with a retailer. Great care is vital if more clothes are going to be commercially viable. If this can be achieved by using a sustainable aftercare solution, then even better. GreenEarth cleaning has started to work with brands to encourage just that.  There are two key elements of the GreenEarth proposition that support the concept. Closed-loop system.  Dry cleaning machines are sophisticated in that they look after every part of the process.—cleaning, drying, and also the collection of waste. This is different from wet cleaning, in that with GreenEarth Cleaning, no microfibers of microplastic will escape into the waterways and ultimately the world’s oceans. An environmentally non-toxic cleaning solution that loves clothes as much as it loves the planet.  The 100% pure D5 liquid silicone used exclusively in the GreenEarth branded process is a by-product of sand and is safe for clothes, people, and the planet. Silicone cleans more gently, reducing wear and tear on fabrics, maintaining the soft hand of fabrics, and prevents shrinkage. The work we do with brands includes care labeling, customer and colleague communications, and cleaning after they’ve been handed back.  Starting to clean with GreenEarth at the beginning of the garment’s life means that it will maintain its condition, and a GreenEarth clean after it’s handed back means that it will be clean, will look great, and will provide the maximum financial reward for the consumer and the retailer—a win-win! The consumer can make money on their old item and potentially save on a new item.  The retailer can buy back at a good price and even by paying for a cleaning price, they can still sell at a lower price combined with few additional costs (normally associated with garment production) they can see a reasonable profit margin. We will be talking about the projects that we are involved within the near future, so watch this space! To find out more about the innovative concept of GreenEarth Cleaning, please visit our FAQ page. By: Garry Knox  

“The Earth is what we all have in common.” In a year when our differences have certainly been on full display and we often need to be reminded we have more in common than what divides us, the quote from American author and poet, Berry Wendell feels even more impactful on this trip around the sun.  It’s why, since the beginning, our mission statement has been doing business without doing harm. It’s our goal to provide the best possible fabric care with the lowest overall environmental impact. It’s also why the month of April continues to be a landmark month for us. While our Network of over 2,000 dry cleaners worldwide spends 365 days out of the year working to minimize our carbon footprint, Earth Month brings us the opportunity to celebrate those accomplishments and lay out goals to improve upon them for the year to come.  Simply by choosing your local GreenEarth dry cleaner, you too are having a positive impact on our planet. Not only will your clothes and household items be cleaned in the most sustainable way possible by the industry’s leading best-in-class professionals, but you’re also extending the life cycle of those garments and reducing the amount of textile waste making its way to landfills. Because GreenEarth isn’t just good for the environment, it’s gentle on garments too, allowing them to look newer longer.  Start to finish, the GreenEarth Cleaning system marks off all of the boxes for sustainability and that is by no accident. From the environmentally non-toxic solvent at the core of the system, to working to reduce utility usage, to coordinating national clothes drives preventing landfill waste, our team will continue to improve our sustainability initiatives and leave a better planet for generations to follow.  So here we are, calling on you to join us in celebrating Earth Month by making a commitment to put an end to fast fashion and join the sustainable fashion movement. It can all start by making the decision to care for your textiles sustainably, using your local GreenEarth cleaner.

The significance of diversifying your business has never been more prevalent than it is in the current state of our global economy. We’ve witnessed businesses around the world—not only in dry cleaning but in all retail spaces—dependent on over-the-counter sales with no other source of revenue, forced to shutter their doors. It’s an unfortunate case, but it’s the reality of the situation. Those businesses that quickly adapted and diversified—if they were not already—have in large part been able to weather the storm.  In the early weeks of 2020, prior to the onslaught of the COVID-19 virus, GreenEarth partnered with a Brooklyn suit retailer, 9tofive. This partnership of course was slowed down due to public restrictions, but we’ve continued to grow our partnership and have introduced relationships between 9tofive and several Affiliates across the country, providing an opportunity for additional revenue for 9tofive as well as our Affiliates. The service offered by GreenEarth Affiliates for 9tofive customers is the tailoring of the suits purchased online, as well as one dry cleaning paid for by 9tofive.  For years, alterations have been an excellent method for diversifying your business, reaching a new audience, and optimizing your existing customers’ spend. Even through this past year, many of our Affiliates have reported alterations as one of the contributing factors in their ability to remain open and bring customers to their store. Whether those customers have purchased items online, they’re getting married, they’ve gained weight, they’ve lost weight, or maybe they’ve saved some money this year and have acquired some high-dollar garments they want to fit perfectly, there is a need for alteration services.  We recently spoke with GreenEarth Affiliate and the owner of Kingbridge Cleaners in NYC, Richie Aviles. Kingbridge operates a large, upscale tailoring business as a part of their store. Richie shared some of his thoughts with us in regard to his tailoring business. “Being able to provide pickup and delivery and having different types of customers through TV shows and hotels were all things that saw us through the pandemic. But alterations were also a huge part of that. Dry cleaning pieces unilaterally changed in volume, but the tailoring business was interesting because people weren’t buying clothes, they were sitting at home wearing Lululemon. Maybe they were gaining or losing weight, or only shopping online and unable to buy the correct size. So naturally, their next stop was to the tailor. I don’t want to say that our tailoring business was gangbusters. Volume dropped off significantly, but tailoring sales have really helped through COVID as contributing to overhead. Even prior to COVID, we have certain customers that come to us because we can tailor and clean their garments; we’re a one-stop-shop. Having all your eggs in one basket is incredibly dangerous, having multiple means of income hedges your risk. Diversifying our business has allowed us to be very positive for what the future will hold.” Understandably, we’ve all experienced the overwhelming feeling of uncertainty. The question of “how do we get through this?” has been front and center in everyone’s mind. There’s clearly no one simple answer to that question, but from the thousands of conversations we’ve had with GreenEarth Affiliates over the course of the last 10 months, there has been a common theme around those cleaners who have been able to weather the storm, and that is finding ways to diversify your business in order to drive some sort of revenue. 

As 2020 has come and gone, most of us are looking back on it as a year we’d like to soon forget. For most industries, business took a hard hit. State departments recorded record-high numbers of American citizens filing for unemployment. Hospitals around the world literally ran out of space. Family gatherings, vacations, concerts, and shopping outings were canceled. Oddly enough, it took no time at all for folks to realize social media and virtual web applications, the technology that has been largely accused of the demise of human interaction, was in fact our most personal means of communication and the only way for small businesses to reach their customers. It’s safe to say that 2020 was the most pivotal year in any working adult’s life. Cocktail hours amongst friends were taking place in their own separate living rooms. Grandma was able to watch her Christmas gifts being opened through a camera on her phone. Businesses were using state-of-the-art technology to conduct meetings, training, collaborating on projects, and communicating with their customer. People were forced to adapt to a new normal and our primary coping mechanism was technology and social media platforms. We saw countless stories of neighbors, including many GreenEarth Affiliates, stepping up to make a positive impact in their community through food drives, clothes drives, offering free services to first responders, and any other number of good deeds. The movement to support locally owned small businesses experienced a massive push. Communities were truly pulling together to see each other to the end of this pandemic. It warmed our hearts to see these stories and was the reminder of humanity we all needed to see. Without social media, how many of these stories would have gone further than those directly involved?  Understanding where our audience is, we’ve assisted dozens of GreenEarth Members in creating a strong online presence, using social media platforms to build relationships within their community and grow local awareness around their brand. Now more than ever, social media marketing is an integral part of operating a business. If you’re a GreenEarth Affiliate reading this, you can learn more about how our marketing team can assist you here.  I say all this simply to say—2020 was rough. But together we got through it, and we’re stronger for it. We’ve learned how to make some major pivots in our work and personal lives, and we’ve realized how important it is to support our local communities. As much as we’d all like to forget the year that was, maybe it’s vital we never do. All the same, cheers to 2021, may it be filled with smiles and laughter.

It was the summer of 2010 and everyone was anxiously awaiting the release of Toy Story 3; it was a simpler time. Apple launched its state-of-the-art virtual chat app FaceTime, which initially required a WiFi signal for use. From that point on, grandparents everywhere would ask, “Is this thing on?” and frustratingly attempt to unmute themselves. Once again, thanks to technology, our world was forever changed. Fast forward nearly a decade, leading up to 2020, our video chat capabilities had vastly improved and our application options seemed limitless. The digitization of our work environment was already in full swing. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, that adoption was thrown into warp speed with businesses scrambling to adapt to a socially-distant world. These video chat applications came in clutch. Working from home was the “new normal” and traveling to clients for in-person meetings was limited to essential business. Most companies implemented virtual meetings and learned how to conduct “business as usual” remotely, using whatever technology necessary to accomplish their day-to-day tasks. Microsoft Teams, various Google Apps, Zoom, and any other number of applications that allowed employees to interact with each other and share working projects became an integral part of how workplaces operate. A key ingredient to GreenEarth Cleaning’s success has always been our expert technical team. The pandemic posed a big challenge to continue to provide a high level of support to Members of the GreenEarth Network all over the world. Video support was not unheard of for us, but it was not the primary medium for providing assistance either. Virtual Visits are the “new normal” for our technical team, and our Affiliates are finding great value in them. Our team has mastered the experience to provide our Members with the same level of technical guidance and support that we’ve maintained throughout the years. As our world is changing at an even more rapid pace than ever before, business models are forced to pivot to a new way of thinking. This means different things for different companies, but for us, it’s shifted our focus to online workshop sessions and Virtual Visits—the bridge between a voice-only phone call and an in-person visit. To all GreenEarth Affiliates, make sure to save your spot on the calendar. Simply call our main office at 816-926-0895 or email techncial@greenearthcleaning.com.

If your initial thought is, “Wait, I thought dry cleaning was for clothes. You can dry clean my household?” The short answer is, yes, we absolutely can dry clean your household. And you’re not alone; we’re met with surprising intrigue often when discussing the topic. Whether it be linens, comforters, curtains, tablecloths, patio furniture—the list is endless really. If you can bring the fabric in, your local GreenEarth cleaner can professionally clean and sanitize it for you. The all-encompassing term known in the dry cleaning world is “household items.” In fact, some GreenEarth cleaners even practice on-site interior cleaning with larger furniture that is not necessarily mobile. Many of you veteran dry cleaning customers are well aware of the services your favorite GreenEarth cleaner provides. Hopefully, you’re also aware your GreenEarth cleaner is using a gentle, environmentally non-toxic, odorless cleaning system that will not only leave your fabrics clean but also fresh and rejuvenated without the concern of toxic chemicals entering your home. But did you know almost all GreenEarth cleaners are practicing social-distancing efforts to provide an extra measure of cleanliness and most importantly, comfort, which is paramount during these uncomfortable times, especially when it comes to your family? In many situations, complimentary contactless pick-up and delivery is available. Other cleaners have a drive-thru, drop-box, or locker systems that allow you to remain at a safe distance. Where these options are not available, you can typically park and call for curbside service. Cleaning household items on a regular schedule is important to prevent odors and bugs like clothes moths from entering your home. Equally as important, it also improves the air quality of the space you and your family spend the most time. And let’s be honest, fresh linens and curtains create an unmatched sense of tranquility. Regardless of “current times,” sending your household items, especially those in high traffic areas, to be professionally cleaned frequently can protect the health of you and your family. Now with concerns around germs at an all-time high, maintaining a clean and sanitary environment is more important than ever. In between cleanings at your local GreenEarth cleaner, there are some things you can do yourself at home, like fluffing your pillows daily, vacuuming your interior textiles with the handheld nozzle attachment to remove dust, and most importantly, regularly inspecting your household items for clothes moths, mildew, sun fading, etc.