Janet Davis Cleaners - December 2021

“HOT OFF THE PRESS” Dry Cleaning News

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

DECEMBER 2021

or General Motors, but Detroit still became a hub of the automobile industry and growth, thanks in part to Ford’s innovation. Partially because of this economic growth, Detroit swelled! I can’t imagine what that would mean for the city today, but I would love to see it in action. I’ve spent my entire life in this state, and as someone who grew up learning about its history, it would be amazing to watch one of its major plot points unfold in real time. And, ironically, this country-wide economic boom occurred after the 1918 Spanish flu. It’s difficult to not see the similarities between that era and today. As we battle our way through the COVID-19 pandemic, I can’t help but wonder if we’re headed for an era of great innovation and strength. While I was never good with dates or names, and therefore struggled with history, one of the points I do remember learning about was how cyclical our history can be. There are often 8–11 years of growth, followed by brief recessions or depression in economic expansion. We may still be experiencing a slowdown due to COVID-19, but it’s hard not to feel optimistic when we look at the tremendous strides we made exactly 100 years ago following another pandemic. History certainly has a way of repeating itself, and I believe we can learn a lot from the great Detroit-based innovators of the 1920s. If I could, I would travel back in time to see their work in action. Since that’s not a reality (perhaps, yet), I’ll just stick to pretending and finding motivation from history where I can.

WHAT WAS 1920S DETROIT LIKE?

WHY I WOULD TIME TRAVEL THERE IF I COULD

The holiday season is steeped in tradition. From the trees we decorate in our homes to the cookies we bake around this season, we have carried traditions through the generations into our holiday activities today. Because of this, the holiday season is often a great time to reflect on the past. That’s why I wasn’t surprised to learn that Dec. 8 is Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day. Now, I know this is just a quirky holiday, but I couldn’t help but think where I would like to travel to if I could move through time. For me, the answer was easy: Detroit in the 1920s. For starters, I’ve always been fascinated by the 1920s. “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of my favorite novels! While the ending was weird, reading Fitzgerald’s descriptions and candor about

the decade transports you right into that time. How exciting would it be to go back to that era to witness the 1920s in action, beyond what Fitzgerald wrote? The 1920s were a time of rapid growth and economic boom across the nation — generally speaking — and while seeing Gatsby’s New York would be cool, I would really enjoy seeing the ways in which that era impacted Detroit. We all know Detroit has a long history, including its seismic role in vehicle production. It’s called the Motor City for obvious reasons, and this was no more apparent than in the 1920s. While there may be a handful of popular car brands today, back then, there were many, many brands. Smaller brands may have struggled to compete with the big companies like Ford

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You know Dasher and Dancer, and you definitely know Rudolph. Everyone’s favorite red-nosed reindeer was first born as a 1939 short story, but he truly shot to fame when his tale was adapted into a song by Gene Autry in 1949. Rivaling even the song’s fame is the Rankin/Bass stop-motion special that airs like clockwork every year around Christmas. Generations have now grown up with Rudolph, so it may be surprising to learn that his journey to the small screen started as a General Electric promotion. The company had a running television special on NBC called the “GE Fantasy Hour,” which they used to market their products directly to viewers. The better the story they told, the more viewers they got — and the more toasters they could sell. The script introduced crucial new characters like Hermey the elf, Yukon Cornelius the prospector, and of course, Bumble the abominable snowman. GE hired innovative Japanese animators to create the film using stop-motion techniques that were highly advanced for the time. GE invested the modern equivalent of $4.5 million into the production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and the special first aired in 1964. Those who are familiar with the film know that it ends with Rudolph enlisting Santa to save the Misfit Toys from earlier in the movie — but it didn’t originally. The version that aired in 1964 concludes with Rudolph leading Santa’s sleigh but forgetting all about his homeless friends. The backlash was swift, and viewers wrote in to express displeasure at the heartless resolution. GE decided the special had to be corrected and played again with the proper ending in 1965. And so, a tradition of annual airings was born. Today, “Rudolph” is the longest-running Christmas special in history, and our favorite misfit deer shows no signs of slowing down after 57 years. The movie has transformed into a marketing bonanza, with new Christmas decorations, figurines, and toys being produced each year. Behind the Evergreen Christmas Special Rudolph, You’ll Go Down in History

CONQUER SALT STAINS How We Can Help You Defeat Michigan’s Salty Sidewalks

‘Tis the season for eggnog, roasted chestnuts, and sugar plum fairies. But if you’re a lifelong Michigander, you also know it’s salt season! Sidewalks and roadways are covered in this handy ice- melting tool, but that also means our vehicles, coats, and pants become caked in it, too. If you notice a friend, coworker, or relative with that tell-tale salt stain ring on the bottom of their pants, be sure to tell them about Janet Davis Cleaners. As fifth-generation dry cleaners in Michigan, we know a thing or two about removing these pesky stains — and we can do so while protecting the integrity of pants. The trick to removing salt stains from clothes is to use compounds that are strong enough to lift the stain but gentle enough to protect the integrity of the fabric. Home remedies usually involve water, which is why they are so detrimental for clothes. At Janet Davis Cleaners, we use powerful solutions that don’t rely on the harmful aspects of water. Instead, we cater each “wash” cycle for your clothes to the specific fabric and stain needs of the garment. This allows for the “gentle-yet-tough” method we mention above.

And here’s how you can prevent salt stains!

Salt is a corrosive substance that, when left to do so, can eat away at fabrics and the colors of your clothes. This is what makes salt so powerful against ice. However, you can prevent salt stains in a few steps! 1. Wear boots ! Wear boots and tuck your jeans into said boots. If you want to wear different shoes, simply pack those shoes in your bag and leave your boots by your jacket in a public closet or near the coat rack. 2. Have your clothes properly hemmed . You may not be able to completely avoid salt stains, but you can limit how much salt gets on your pants by wearing clothes that fit right. Seek help from a tailor or seamstress to shorten pants that may drag in the winter! 3. Wear snow pants . Wearing a pair of snow pants over your regular pants as you walk to your destination is great for those traveling long distances. Come the end of winter, only your snow pants will need a thorough dry cleaning. Friends don’t let friends walk around with salt rings on their pants. If you see someone with the infamous Michigan winter salt stain, tell them about Janet Davis Cleaners!

Though it’s somewhat shocking to our modern sensibilities to see Santa bullying his reindeer employees and their children,

fond childhood memories mean that parents continue to pass the special down to their kids. Even as we recognize its flaws, the dazzling animation and famous songs continue to bring joy and Christmas spirit to households around the country. Just as sure as Santa comes every year, so does Rudolph.

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TIME TO WASH YOUR SHEETS! Why Your Guest Linens Need a Thorough Clean After the Holidays

The holidays are a time for gathering with loved ones, but after the last present has been opened and your final guest leaves, you may be left with a major clean-up job. If you host overnight guests, this could include tidying your spare bedroom, but as you clean, don’t forget about the sheets and pillowcases! Our professionals at Janet Davis Cleaners have the knowledge and tools to deeply clean your guest bedroom linens without damaging the integrity of their fibers. And this holiday season, we’re proud to announce we have added a new machine that will not only speed up our process, but also allows us to iron more effectively and efficiently! The machine features a 120- inch roller that feeds clean sheets and bed linens into the machine. Then, the linens are pressed with technical, gentle precision. Sheets are clean and perfectly wrinkle-free! During typical use, sheets and pillowcases should be washed on a weekly basis. This

will remove caked on dirt, grime, dust, and dander, which can worsen allergies and cause skin breakouts. For guest linens, this wash cycle should occur before and after each visit or every few months without guests. This protects future guests from exposure to germs and toxins. However, you offer so much more than cleanliness when you regularly clean your guest sheets. Have you ever climbed into a freshly clean bed after a long day and instantly felt calmer and comfortable? You

can offer that experience to your guests! Clean, professionally pressed sheets provide your guests with resort-like quality without you having to wash, fluff, and iron the sheets. With our new machine, we can take care of that for you! Turn the big after-holiday clean-up job into a breeze while providing resort-like cleanliness for guests. We can even make this chore easier on you with our pick-up and delivery services! Call us today to learn more about our linens cleaning process and to inquire about our delivery services. We can help you give your home the refresh it needs after the holiday season.

DIY Holiday Eggnog

KEEP SENDING IN HANGERS!

Inspired by TastesBetterFromScratch.com

Making your own eggnog is easier than you think! This creamy, delicious drink will be a hit with your holiday guests.

INGREDIENTS

Last month, we put out a call to return gently used hangers after use — and, wow, did you respond! We received so many hangers, and we are beyond grateful to everyone who returned these items after use. As the hanger shortage continues, we would like to ask our readers to continue returning hangers. Thank you for your support!

• 6 egg yolks • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 cup heavy whipping cream • 2 cups milk • 1/2 tsp nutmeg

• 1 pinch salt • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract • Cinnamon and whipped cream, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and creamy. Set aside. 2. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cream, milk, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a simmer. 3. Add a spoonful of the milk mixture to the egg mixture. Whisk vigorously and repeat, one spoonful at a time. 4. When most of the milk is whisked in, add the egg mixture to the saucepan. 5. Whisk until the liquid thickens slightly or reaches 160 F. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. 6. Pour the eggnog into a glass container and cover. Refrigerate. 7. When the eggnog has thickened, pour it into glasses, garnish, and enjoy!

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1 Here’s Where I Would Go if Time Travel Were Real 2 How Rudolph Became a TV Institution Prevent and Remove Salt Stains. Here’s How! 3 Don’t Forget the Sheets and Pillowcases After the Holidays! DIY Holiday Eggnog 4 Worried About Your Gut Health While Traveling? (248) 543-0340 www.janetdaviscleaners.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE

27607Woodward Ave. Berkley, MI 48072

WHY DOES YOUR STOMACH HURTWHILE TRAVELING? Quick Gut Health Tips for Travelers

Follow these tips when you need help fast. Dr. Ravella says

Picture this: You’re flying for a holiday reunion with your family. By the time you leave the airport after arriving at your destination, your stomach is already doing flips, and you haven’t even dug into your favorite family dishes yet. If this situation sounds familiar, here’s how you can keep your gut healthy, no matter where you are this winter. Traveling is stressful — even for your gut. Dr. Shilpa Ravella, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center, told Healthline, “Travel can be a hectic time … You may be eating out more and eating new foods in new locations, including more processed foods, and it’s easy to overeat in this setting, placing more stress on your digestive system than at home.”

The best solution is to take things slow to avoid overeating. Not only does overeating stretch your stomach, but also “research has found that people who overeat are 10 times more likely to need emergency medical attention for food obstruction,” Dr. Ravella says. Also, even if you wake up at 4 a.m. for your first flight, don’t gulp down coffee all morning. Overconsumption of beverages with lots of sugar, caffeine, or alcohol can irritate your gastrointestinal system, especially if you have a sensitive stomach. Instead, drink plenty of water, which can also help alleviate the risk of constipation. If that’s your main concern, keep in mind that Dr. Ravella says a lack of fiber is the main reason for constipation while traveling. An easy way to avoid this is to eat whole-plant foods, even at restaurants.

that over-the-counter medications, such as antacids, can help your heartburn. If you struggle with mild traveler’s diarrhea, try to keep bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto- Bismol) and loperamide (Imodium) in your carry-on, ready at all times. If your symptoms worsen into fever, bloody diarrhea, bloody vomiting, or severe abdominal pain, see a health care provider right away. Lastly, if you really want to be comfortable while traveling, it might be worth trying a magnesium (magnesium bisglycinate chelate) supplement, which has been shown to improve jet lag and promote relaxation and sleep while traveling. Best of luck!

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