Janet Davis Cleaners - August 2021

“HOT OFF THE PRESS” Dry Cleaning News

(248) 543-0340 | www.janetdaviscleaners.com 27607Woodward Ave., Berkley, MI 48072

AUGUST 2021

MY BEST TRICKS FOR STAYING COOL IN AUGUST HEAT

Welcome to the hottest month of summer!

In Michigan, the months with warm weather are usually very nice. April and May are typically mild, with some days hitting that perfect spot between cold and hot. June can get hot, but the humidity tends to stay low. And July can be a mixed bag. But in August — we’re in for it. It’s usually 90 degrees F with 90% humidity, and the heat can feel unrelenting. I might be exaggerating, but in the “heat” of the moment each August, it can certainly feel excessive. Now, admittedly, the heat is much better than having to shovel snow every week. And, if I’m honest, high temperatures don’t bother me that much. I chalk this up to a life spent in dry cleaning services, where heat is just a given. When I was a kid, I could barely function in the heat. If I was too hot, nothing was getting done. But as I acclimated to working in a dry cleaners with no air conditioning, I actually discovered heat isn’t that bad. This could also be the result of a habit I picked up in my high school cross-country days. Like many runners and athletes, I was drinking water all the time. To this day, I never leave the house without a water bottle, which has helped me conquer the heat. Staying hydrated is critical because it helps your body regulate its temperature. So, don’t forget your water bottle and stick to water when you’re outside this August! Another great way to stay cool is to head to the pool. I hope you have been taking advantage of the Michigan pools, which have been open and safe for swimmers all summer long! Last year, because we didn’t want to go anywhere crowded, my wife found a 3-foot-deep, 12-foot-long pool for our kids. They loved it! I would come home from work and find the pool full of floaties with barely any room for the water, and I could hear the girls giggling and splashing outside. It was like having a pool without all the fuss of actually having our own pool!

This year, we belong to a pool and tennis club, and we’ve been taking full advantage of all the amenities. It’s a great way to beat the heat! Of course, we don’t shy away from a hot summer day. In fact, our summer vacations usually involve more sunshine and heat. We like to travel to lake or beach destinations, and we’re not shy about how much we love Disney World in Florida. But if there’s not a water destination or a trip to see the Mouse in our future, ice cream is my favorite go-to for staying cool. My kids even used to call me Dada Ice Cream — that’s how much my love of ice cream extends to who I am. My favorite ice cream is Hudsonville’s caramel deer trax. The flavor is spot on, and I’m happy to support a Michigan company like Hudsonville — especially when the options are so good. This August, I hope you remember to drink plenty of water, find a day or two to spend by the pool, and enjoy ice cream treats of your choice. In my opinion, it’s really the only way to survive Michigan’s sweltering August weather.

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Don’t Reach for the Coffee

DRY CLEANING 101 What Does It Really Do?

If you can’t start your day without your daily cup — or cups — of joe, you’re not alone. More than 450 million cups of coffee are consumed by U.S. residents every day, and unfortunately, heavy caffeine consumption may not be healthy. (It’s a big reason why celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey, and Kim Kardashian don’t drink it!) Moderate amounts of caffeine can improve your mental health, and some studies suggest it could even prevent some chronic conditions. However, there are major downsides to overconsumption, which equates to more than four cups of coffee each day. These can include high blood pressure, addiction symptoms, and decreased mentality. If you want to break out of the caffeine cycle and reduce how much coffee you drink, try replacing that cuppa with one of these methods! STRETCH After lying in one position all night, your body may feel stiff and achy. Stretching awakens your muscles and helps you break out of that groggy morning feeling. Start with your back and do some slow core twists. Then, sit on the floor and lay your legs out in front of you. Stretch forward, then sit back up. Next, position your right foot on the opposite side of your left knee. Keeping your hips centered, turn your torso toward your right foot so that your right arm is on your right knee. Switch to the other side and repeat as needed. Finally, pull your head toward your shoulders to loosen your neck. GO FOR A WALK When you wake up in the morning, head outside! Movement stimulates your brain and improves your mood, and the act of walking is relaxing enough that it doesn’t require much effort on your part. Plus, it’s a great way to get your steps in, wake up slowly, and get outside before a busy day. JUST BREATHE This might sound like it will lull you to sleep, but there are actually some breathing techniques that can help you wake up! The “breath of fire” is a rapid-fire breathing technique, during which you inhale deeply, exhale deeply, inhale deeply again, and then exhale quickly. Repeat this as needed. Other practices that focus on breathing, like yoga, can be effective, too. Waking up isn’t an exact science, but once you find a healthy method that works for you, you may never need coffee again. (Gasp!) 3 Natural Ways to Boost Your Energy Without Caffeine

Welcome to dry cleaning 101! Today, we’re going to teach you why dry cleaning is a vital service based in fine-tuned science and how it’s designed to protect the integrity of your clothing and other valuable materials. By the end of this article, it will be easy to tell why Janet Davis Cleaners has been an important part of this community for generations.

So, what does “dry cleaning” mean?

To protect the strength and longevity of a material, dry cleaners use cleaning agents that are not water-based, like most at-home detergents and cleaners are. Water is a powerful cleaning tool, but it can be very harsh, especially to sensitive materials like silk or wool. Simply washing these garments with water-based solutions could destroy them. Technically speaking, compounds like kerosene and gasoline are powerful cleaning agents that are not water-based, but we doubt anyone wants to smell like gas. (Plus, these tend to explode.) So, dry-cleaning experts have devised specific mixtures that are not water-based but are just as effective at cleaning — and don’t explode. And since the compounds are not made with water, we get the term “dry cleaning.”

Can’t I just use those agents at home and get the same result?

If you were to look at the washing machines we have at Janet Davis Cleaners, you would see devices that are just large versions of standard at-home washing machines. However, these tools do so much more than lather, rinse, and repeat. For starters, they are equipped with giant basins and mechanisms that distill the solutions we use to ensure we get the right mixture of cleaning agent for your garment. These basins also separate the gunk from your garments and the cleaning solution, so no items stew in the filth. And the machine is an all-in-one. It washes and dries your clothes in one spot, protecting garments from human error. The result is a well-cleaned and preserved clothing item. The cycles and agents we use are powerful yet gentle enough that even if we dry clean a paper napkin, it doesn't shred. It comes out intact. Now that you are an amateur expert on dry cleaning, you can share what makes it so effective and safe with those you know! Help your friends and family protect their garments — like bridal gowns — by referring them to Janet Davis Cleaners.

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CAR INTERIOR CLEANING TIPS From the Pros Who Clean All the Time

As dry cleaners, we know a thing or two about how to clean. While our specialty may be wedding gowns, suits, uniforms, and other clothing items, we can’t help but see other messy jobs as one big challenge. No mess is more easily cleaned up than the one in your vehicle! Keep these pro tips in mind when cleaning your car this summer.

the grime caked onto your vehicle’s seats. However, cleaning upholstered seats is very different from cleaning leather seats. For upholstered vehicles — or those with cloth material covering the seats — try steam cleaning, which will lift the dirt out. Don’t do this on leather, which will react poorly to moisture. Instead, use leather cleaning oil. This

will pull the dirt from the leather without stripping it. Keep in mind that using a harsh compound like bleach isn’t necessary. This can cause damage!

TREAT THE TROUBLE AREAS.

If you’re a frequent reader of this newsletter, then you have seen our tips and tricks for removing troublesome stains. By treating the stain before

BE EFFECTIVE YET GENTLE.

washing it, you’re allowing the solvent to do the heavy lifting before the garment is in the wash. Treat your vehicle the same way. Start by removing large items, like water bottles or sunglasses, and place the floor mats on the ground. (These can be power washed. Let these dry completely.) Then vacuum the entirety of the vehicle once to remove a large concentration of the mess. Once that’s done, then you can focus on the dirtiest messes in your vehicle.

Our washing machines at Janet Davis Cleaners tow a fine line. They lift ground-in stains with powerful

rinsing techniques, but the machines are gentle enough not to destroy some of our most valuable materials. Caring for your vehicle requires the same technique! Don’t use

paper towels or the regular old beach towel. Instead, use microfiber cloth. Dust, dirt, and other materials cling to microfiber cloths, yet the material the cloth is made out of is soft enough not to smear or scratch a vehicle.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SOLVENTS.

Just as a water-based compound will damage certain garments — read more on Page 2 — a simple vacuum job isn’t going to remove

SUDOKU

Easy Foil-Grilled Sausage and Vegetables

Inspired by NutmegNanny.com

Dinner is ready in 30 minutes with this easy, seasonal August sausage and vegetable bake.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 sausage links of your choice • 1 lb green beans • 1 red bell pepper, diced • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced • 1 red onion, diced • 1 zucchini, diced • 1 yellow summer squash, diced • 3 tbsp olive oil

• 2 cloves garlic, grated • 1 tbsp thyme • 1 tsp oregano • 1 tsp basil • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat your grill to medium heat or your oven to 425 F. 2. In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients and mix well. Divide into four equal portions. 3. Prepare four 16-inch pieces of foil and place a portion in the middle

of each section. Wrap each foil piece tightly and avoid holes. 4. Grill each foil packet for 20 minutes, flipping halfway

through. You can also bake each packet for 20 minutes at 425 F.

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Monday–Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1 Kyle’s Top Tricks for Staying Cool in August 2 Wake Up Without Coffee — Really! (248) 543-0340 www.janetdaviscleaners.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE

27607Woodward Ave. Berkley, MI 48072

Do You Know What Dry Cleaning Means?

3 Our 3 Best Tips for Cleaning Car Interiors

Easy Foil-Grilled Sausage and Vegetables

4 Want to Save on Your Next Vacation?

5 TIPS FOR YOUR NEXT AFFORDABLE GETAWAY

Are you excited to explore the world again? Or maybe you've just gotten back from your latest vacation! In either case, the economic challenges of the pandemic might require travelers to plan their trips a little smarter. Here are five tricks to do just that. 1. CONSIDER YOUR BUDGET WHILE CHOOSING YOUR DESTINATION. Any destination heavily impacted by tourists is going to be more expensive to visit. So, consider taking a tour through various French countryside towns instead of Paris! Not only could it be more culturally immersing, but it may even be more relaxing and less stressful than visiting a dense area. 2. SIGN UP FOR SCOTT’S CHEAP FLIGHTS. One of the most important parts of booking an affordable vacation is booking it at the right time. Scott’s Cheap Flights

will track all the cheapest flights at an airport of your choice — you’ll get over 50%–75% savings on highly rated airlines. This will get you stress-free travel for a much lower price!

you don’t spend more than you planned. If you want an authentic and homestyle culinary experience, consider signing up for a peer-to-peer dining experience through Traveling

Spoon or Bon Appetour, which is tax-free as well!

3. TRAVEL IN A GROUP. If you travel with friends, your expenses become a lot more

5. CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING FOR VACATION. Want to go on a self- discovery trip? Why not cut your expenses in half by volunteering? For example, Habitat for Humanity offers a nine- day Mexico trip for $1,200 with lodging, food, and activities included. You’ll get to build structures and create something permanent for the local community.

manageable. Let’s say you and a partner travel with two other couples — renting a swanky cabin at

$200 a night will only cost around $33 per person. Plus, you will create some amazing memories together! 4. PLAN YOUR MEAL BUDGET AHEAD OF TIME. Looking forward to eating certain dishes? Find local menus and prices to ensure

Traveling on a dime is no sweat with the right tools. Best of luck, traveler!

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