oldhouseman
Well-known member
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- Dec 17, 2007
- Messages
- 838
Well said
Ralph, you guys are both right on target.
Ralph, you guys are both right on target.
Increased Wire Hanger Prices Hurting American Dry Cleaners
- Thread starter gansky1
- Start date
Help Support :
I rarely use dry cleaners, I make a point of buying stuff that is washable. That comes from the fact that I quilt and I have a bunch of friends who sew their own clothes -- ask anyone who sews, there are actually very few fabrics which are truly dry-clean only.
If one prewashes the fabrics in the way they are intended to be cared for before one sews, the garment/quilt is washable, period end of sentence. Most of the stuff one buys, even silk and wool (which were washable until the dry-clean craze showed up barely 200 years ago) is washable, but since the manufacturers are lazy and want to make as much profit as possible, they don't prewash the fabrics before they sew the garments. Then you may risk shrinking if water touches the thing, or "water marks" in the case of silk. They should have been dyed correctly and prewashed before they became a garment, duh!
Basically, the only male garments that are "dry-clean only" are suits, almost everything else they make for us are washable, but look at how they convinced the women that only crappy garments are washable, all the "fine garments" proudly sport a "dry-clean only" label! If they had made the garments right, they'd be washable too! Even suits are washable, I used to have custom made suits that would go to the washer and dryer, no fuss. Always came out perfect too.
Also, around here a lot of the cleaners just use a metal hanger, it looks like brass, but I doubt it's truly brass. I just put them in the recycling bin, no one has ever dared to tell me they can't recycle metal. I suppose it depends on what gets recycled in different areas, and how things are done -- here we have only *one* blue bin you put all the recyclables in, unsorted, *except* that the paper needs to be in a paper bag. In other areas (like my friend who used to live in Berkeley, CA told me) there are multiple bins and they might as well call your parents and tell them how *bad* you are if you didn't sort correctly or put something like wire hangers in that should not be in the metal recycling bin, 'cuz, dontcha know, dry cleaning is bad for the environment and the *best* way to convince people to not dry clean is to make the hangers non-recyclable and yell at people who put the hangers in the garbage, right? So she learned pretty quickly to put the hangers in the middle of truly disgusting garbage so they wouldn't see it and away it went. I think it'd be more productive to actually explain to people that they can in fact change the market to require less dry-cleaning and that a dry-clean only label does not mean the garment is better -- as a matter of fact, no one in the dry cleaners babies the clothes by handwashing them, they put the garments in a washer and dryer that is just as aggressive as any front-loader in your home, it just uses dry-clean fluid instead of water. YMMV.
If one prewashes the fabrics in the way they are intended to be cared for before one sews, the garment/quilt is washable, period end of sentence. Most of the stuff one buys, even silk and wool (which were washable until the dry-clean craze showed up barely 200 years ago) is washable, but since the manufacturers are lazy and want to make as much profit as possible, they don't prewash the fabrics before they sew the garments. Then you may risk shrinking if water touches the thing, or "water marks" in the case of silk. They should have been dyed correctly and prewashed before they became a garment, duh!
Basically, the only male garments that are "dry-clean only" are suits, almost everything else they make for us are washable, but look at how they convinced the women that only crappy garments are washable, all the "fine garments" proudly sport a "dry-clean only" label! If they had made the garments right, they'd be washable too! Even suits are washable, I used to have custom made suits that would go to the washer and dryer, no fuss. Always came out perfect too.
Also, around here a lot of the cleaners just use a metal hanger, it looks like brass, but I doubt it's truly brass. I just put them in the recycling bin, no one has ever dared to tell me they can't recycle metal. I suppose it depends on what gets recycled in different areas, and how things are done -- here we have only *one* blue bin you put all the recyclables in, unsorted, *except* that the paper needs to be in a paper bag. In other areas (like my friend who used to live in Berkeley, CA told me) there are multiple bins and they might as well call your parents and tell them how *bad* you are if you didn't sort correctly or put something like wire hangers in that should not be in the metal recycling bin, 'cuz, dontcha know, dry cleaning is bad for the environment and the *best* way to convince people to not dry clean is to make the hangers non-recyclable and yell at people who put the hangers in the garbage, right? So she learned pretty quickly to put the hangers in the middle of truly disgusting garbage so they wouldn't see it and away it went. I think it'd be more productive to actually explain to people that they can in fact change the market to require less dry-cleaning and that a dry-clean only label does not mean the garment is better -- as a matter of fact, no one in the dry cleaners babies the clothes by handwashing them, they put the garments in a washer and dryer that is just as aggressive as any front-loader in your home, it just uses dry-clean fluid instead of water. YMMV.
polkanut
Well-known member
Here not only do the cleaners take back hangers, they also have bins for the plastic bags.
We have the plastic bag bins at the grocery stores and places like Walgreens. It seems like a no-brainer from both a cost savings and environmental perspective if hangers were not painted, for dry cleaners to follow the plastic bag example. For sure there is a fortune waiting to me made on unwanted hangers somehow.
oldhouseman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2007
- Messages
- 838
Well,
..all said and done,...should we not all go back to doing our own washing, drying and ironing?
I have. Yes it's a bitch to deal with. With everyday chores and housework.
Damn it is hard. I am making the transition.
My ancestors did it and I am making the effort.
I will not give into the Bush and republican party. Damn them all.
My household moves forward.
..all said and done,...should we not all go back to doing our own washing, drying and ironing?
I have. Yes it's a bitch to deal with. With everyday chores and housework.
Damn it is hard. I am making the transition.
My ancestors did it and I am making the effort.
I will not give into the Bush and republican party. Damn them all.
My household moves forward.
When I discovered that it's possible to get superior results by putting shirts on hangers to dry on the clothesline, I switched over to plastic coat hangers, as the wire ones will rust and stain the fabric. The only use I have for wire coat hangers is that they provide nice stiff wire for various odd jobs around the house and shop. A welder friend tells me a wire coat hanger can also be used to TIG weld plain steel.
Wire hangers also are annoying because they tangle so easily on the closet hanger rod. So even when I'm not drying shirts on the outdoor line, I still prefer the plastic. They do take up slightly more room on the closet rod, but only for thin shirts.
For tailored garments such as suit jackets, I use good wooden hangers. I notice they've become relatively inexpensive of late - made in China, of course. I don't use wood hangers for everything because they really take up a lot more room.
As for mommie dearest, I've heard mixed opinions on what Crawford was really like. Some say that Christina's book was a hatchet job and unfair to the dearly departed. I would say that Dunaway did a remarkable job portraying a woman on the edge of sanity. One of these days I'm going to have to see Mildred Pierce - I think Crawford got an Oscar for that one, and that it was her best performance.
Speaking of old movies, right now Costco has a number of oldies on sale - just picked up a double Bogart/Bacall for about $12 - The Big Sleep and To Have And Have Not. I think they have a double Crawford (not Mildred though) as well.
Wire hangers also are annoying because they tangle so easily on the closet hanger rod. So even when I'm not drying shirts on the outdoor line, I still prefer the plastic. They do take up slightly more room on the closet rod, but only for thin shirts.
For tailored garments such as suit jackets, I use good wooden hangers. I notice they've become relatively inexpensive of late - made in China, of course. I don't use wood hangers for everything because they really take up a lot more room.
As for mommie dearest, I've heard mixed opinions on what Crawford was really like. Some say that Christina's book was a hatchet job and unfair to the dearly departed. I would say that Dunaway did a remarkable job portraying a woman on the edge of sanity. One of these days I'm going to have to see Mildred Pierce - I think Crawford got an Oscar for that one, and that it was her best performance.
Speaking of old movies, right now Costco has a number of oldies on sale - just picked up a double Bogart/Bacall for about $12 - The Big Sleep and To Have And Have Not. I think they have a double Crawford (not Mildred though) as well.
Mildred Pierce
Is not only (in my not so humble opinion) her best performance, it is one of the greatest performances in film of the 20th century.
She was a great actress, no question of that.
Guess you sort of have to compare her to that weirdo with the hacked off hair married to Kevin Federline. I mean, when he gets the kids, that tells you something.
Just another era.
I have a few wire coathangers, they are always good for this or that, just not so great for drying stuff on...can you say instant rust? Sure you can. One of these days, I'll learn.
Is not only (in my not so humble opinion) her best performance, it is one of the greatest performances in film of the 20th century.
She was a great actress, no question of that.
Guess you sort of have to compare her to that weirdo with the hacked off hair married to Kevin Federline. I mean, when he gets the kids, that tells you something.
Just another era.
I have a few wire coathangers, they are always good for this or that, just not so great for drying stuff on...can you say instant rust? Sure you can. One of these days, I'll learn.
polkanut
Well-known member
According to Kim & Aggie from BBC's "How Clean is Your House", an old sock on a wire coat hanger makes for a great duster. Just a handy household tip.
oxydolfan1
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2006
- Messages
- 1,764
This is probably going to sound bizarre but I BUY my wire hangers now, at Target, because I like them for space efficiency, but the cleaners' hangers were too flimsy.
Actually, I've noticed that the wire hangers used by most of the dry cleaners in Ireland have changed in recent years. They used to be painted brown, but they're now just unpainted steel.
Generally, they dry cleaners put a cardboard frame over the hanger to support the shoulders of suit jackets, pullovers etc. They're definitely not suitable for hanging garments for long periods of time without causing damage if you don't have these cardboard 'things' inserted first.
In general, I avoid dry cleaning where possible. Unfortunately, for suits etc it's completely unavoidable but, I really think the way to go is more wet-cleanable fabrics. Dry cleaning's terrible for the environment and it's often completely unnecessary.
I also find that I far prefer wool that's machine washed in woolite or something similar to that chemically smell that you get with dry cleaned fabrics.
Generally, they dry cleaners put a cardboard frame over the hanger to support the shoulders of suit jackets, pullovers etc. They're definitely not suitable for hanging garments for long periods of time without causing damage if you don't have these cardboard 'things' inserted first.
In general, I avoid dry cleaning where possible. Unfortunately, for suits etc it's completely unavoidable but, I really think the way to go is more wet-cleanable fabrics. Dry cleaning's terrible for the environment and it's often completely unnecessary.
I also find that I far prefer wool that's machine washed in woolite or something similar to that chemically smell that you get with dry cleaned fabrics.
liberator1509
Well-known member
You've got to love Joan...anyone remember this line?
Tinaah!!! Bring me the axe....huuuh....huuuh....huuuh...
Hilarious
Tinaah!!! Bring me the axe....huuuh....huuuh....huuuh...
Hilarious
Silicone based or CO² based
Drycleaning is no worse for the environment than home washing, there is good reason to believe it may actually have less environmental impact than home laundering.
The days when PER and even worse were simply exhausted back into the environment are long since over, at least here in Germany.
Drycleaning is no worse for the environment than home washing, there is good reason to believe it may actually have less environmental impact than home laundering.
The days when PER and even worse were simply exhausted back into the environment are long since over, at least here in Germany.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Her films, together with Sunset Boulevard are required viewi
Um, don't forget "The Women" from 1939. Certainly required viewing for us, especially those with a certain cattiness about them! Some great one-liners that are easy to miss but oh, so good when you catch them! And, a young Joan Crawford!!!
Chuck
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Um, don't forget "The Women" from 1939. Certainly required viewing for us, especially those with a certain cattiness about them! Some great one-liners that are easy to miss but oh, so good when you catch them! And, a young Joan Crawford!!!
Chuck
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perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Let's try embedding the clip again.... It's a bunch of the one-liners from The Women. If you haven't seen the movie, they're funny. If you've seen it, they're hilarious!!! Now, excuse me while I unswallow!
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Joan Crawford and Wire Coat Hangers
The Crawford part:
I'm not an authority on Joan Crawford, but from what I've heard she was much loved by many of her close friends and known for her loyalty. Certainly, as Keven has noted, she was a fine actress.
One of Crawford's early co-stars was William Haines, in the very late days of silent films. He was a much, much bigger star than Crawford, but unforutnately (like many other silent stars) his voice didn't work well with the primitive sound recording techniques in the early talkies. That damaged his movie career, and then came pressure on Hollywood from Congress to promote what would now be called "family values", which made it difficult for him to continue to live as an openly gay man. Supposedly Louis B. Mayer told Haines he had to dump his lover, Jimmy Shields, and marry a woman or be dropped from MGM. Haines refused to leave Shields and so his acting career was over.
Haines then persued his other interest, interior design. Crawford hired him to do her house, which was an invaluable stamp of approval since she was by then a major star. Haines went on to an important international career in design which culminated in him providing interior design services for the home of the US ambassador in London during the late '60s. He also stayed with Jimmy Shields until Haines' death in '73. When he died Shields couldn't deal with being alone and committed suicide shortly therafter - they had been together since the '20s.
The Wire Coat Hanger Part:
I hope I always have a few around! They are so useful, especially for hanging a brake caliper from a coil spring when changing brake pads in many cars (like my VW) which require caliper removal. Good too for use as hangers when painting small metal parts of cars or appliances - just bend that hanger up and hang it from a convenient tree (in my case an orange tree) and spray away.
Excuse me, time for a quick Pepsi and Vodka, I mean it is the weekend!
The Crawford part:
I'm not an authority on Joan Crawford, but from what I've heard she was much loved by many of her close friends and known for her loyalty. Certainly, as Keven has noted, she was a fine actress.
One of Crawford's early co-stars was William Haines, in the very late days of silent films. He was a much, much bigger star than Crawford, but unforutnately (like many other silent stars) his voice didn't work well with the primitive sound recording techniques in the early talkies. That damaged his movie career, and then came pressure on Hollywood from Congress to promote what would now be called "family values", which made it difficult for him to continue to live as an openly gay man. Supposedly Louis B. Mayer told Haines he had to dump his lover, Jimmy Shields, and marry a woman or be dropped from MGM. Haines refused to leave Shields and so his acting career was over.
Haines then persued his other interest, interior design. Crawford hired him to do her house, which was an invaluable stamp of approval since she was by then a major star. Haines went on to an important international career in design which culminated in him providing interior design services for the home of the US ambassador in London during the late '60s. He also stayed with Jimmy Shields until Haines' death in '73. When he died Shields couldn't deal with being alone and committed suicide shortly therafter - they had been together since the '20s.
The Wire Coat Hanger Part:
I hope I always have a few around! They are so useful, especially for hanging a brake caliper from a coil spring when changing brake pads in many cars (like my VW) which require caliper removal. Good too for use as hangers when painting small metal parts of cars or appliances - just bend that hanger up and hang it from a convenient tree (in my case an orange tree) and spray away.
Excuse me, time for a quick Pepsi and Vodka, I mean it is the weekend!
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