Janet Davis Cleaners - February 2021

Janet Davis Cleaners - February 2021

“HOT OFF THE PRESS” Dry Cleaning News

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

FEBRUARY 2021

SEEING THE GLASS HALF-FULL Working Through Highs and Lows

Being stuck in the environment we find ourselves in right now, and for the past few months, it’s felt as though we are in a never-ending loop. This feeling is highlighted by the fact that we can’t get out and enjoy the things we might have done pre-pandemic. There are no concerts, movies, or going out to dinner with friends. All these activities that enrich our days are on pause right now. For me, personally, this has had a huge impact on my mental well-being. This is on the forefront of my mind because of the holiday on Feb. 1. National Get Up Day is about getting back onto our feet when we’ve fallen down or how we keep pushing forward no matter the adversities we face in life. 2020 was one such adversity, and we all struggled with it. For the past several months, I’ve been going through a series of highs and lows, where one day, it seems like the pandemic is never going to end; we’re all stuck in one place, and we’re never going to see the end of it. And it’s not just the stress of COVID-19, either; it’s the economy and the struggle of those who have lost their jobs and how scared everyone is. At times, those emotions get so strong, unlike anything I’ve experienced before. But then, I start to see the positives despite the hardships. I see a lot of opportunities in this time, especially in my business where I can work to improve different aspects of Janet Davis Cleaners that help my team members and our customers. I also see random acts of kindness between people, which shows that, despite the challenges people face, good is still out there. People are adapting to the situations they find themselves in, and it’s truly inspiring. My brother-in-law, for instance, took last year as an opportunity to complete his bachelor's degree, something he’s been working at finishing for some time. At the beginning of 2020, his goal was to finish up his degree because he was only a handful of credits

short, but when the pandemic hit, he lost his job. The prospect of getting his bachelor’s was bleak. However, his

college made a group of courses 100% free, including the ones he had to take. All he had to do was put in the work those classes required. Even though he wasn’t working, he still managed to graduate and was over the moon about it. Seeing and hearing stories like my brother-in-law’s helped me through some of the lows I was feeling. But I also had to put in effort myself. Something I did to interrupt this pattern of highs and lows was to be aware of when I was feeling down. I stop myself, then take a look at my life and think about how I’m sleeping, how I’m exercising, and what I’m eating. One of the last times I was in a funk, I realized I was eating a ton of carbs, wasn't sleeping very well, and wasn’t exercising. So, for the next few weeks, I worked toward correcting those habits, and what do you know? I felt like a completely different person. I’ve been on this emotional roller coaster of ups and downs. It’s easy to see these past 12 months as a gigantic half-empty glass, but that also means it’s half-full. I know everyone has struggled in some way or another, and I hope we can all see the other beautiful side of things and keep moving forward.

–Kyle Matthews

1 (248) 543-0340

SHOW A LITTLE LOVE TO Your Whites

Are you feeling a draft, even when you’re nestled on the couch? Even though good home insulation is important every part of the year, chances are you notice its absence much more in the winter months. But before you call in a construction crew to tear down your walls and fix your insulation, try these simple, budget-friendly ways to keep heat inside your home. WEATHERPROOF YOUR DOORS. If you can feel chilly air coming through the crack between the bottom of your door and your hardwood floors, putting foam or rubber weatherstripping under your doors can stop the cold air from getting into your home and circulating through every room. Even if the crack between your floor and your door is extra large, you can double up on weatherstripping. Plus, it can be easily removed when necessary! INSTALL THICK CURTAINS OVER YOUR WINDOWS. If you have drafty windows, invest in some thick curtains. Light curtains are great when the weather is warmer, but a good set of heavy curtains will keep the heat from escaping. For added insulation, you can also find curtains with thermal backs. However, if saving money is more important than aesthetics for you, you can also insulate your windows by blow-drying some plastic wrap onto the windows to fill any holes. KEEP UP WITH YOUR HVAC MAINTENANCE. Maintaining your HVAC system means changing out filters once a month, cleaning ducts regularly, and watching for leaks in the air duct system. (Some key indicators of leaks are higher energy bills during the summer or dust accumulating more in one room than in others.) You can also maintain your HVAC system by simply moving furniture out of the way of vents so it can disperse heat more equally throughout your home. The cold may be sticking around for a while longer. But with some proper insulation, you won’t have to be reminded of that when you’re indoors, all while saving a pretty penny. Warm Up to These Small Projects

Just as any holiday, Valentine’s Day has colors associated with it: pink, red, and white. While these colors may get our hearts pumping, they are never good to throw into the wash together. Whites — whether they be towels, comforters, sheets, or clothes — are known to absorb the colors around them, especially reds. Yet, even when separated from red items, whites will still begin to fade and turn gray when they are washed. To keep your whites crisp and bright throughout Valentine’s Day, and the rest of the year, try these strategies when you do the laundry. SEPARATE THEM The best way to prevent whites from turning gray is to separate them from all other colors before they’re washed. A helpful method of sorting laundry is whites, darks, lights, and reds. Spending a few extra minutes sorting your laundry can significantly increase the lifespan of your whites. USE WARM OR HOT WATER When washing your whites, use warm or even hot water with detergent (if the fabric can handle the heat). Modern laundry detergent has enzymes that work best in warm water. If an item has a food or other stain, remove most of the stain by blotting the area, and try presoaking the item in a nontoxic detergent. Never send the item through the dryer if the stain remains — the heat will solidify the stain and it will be harder, if not impossible, to remove. AVOID USING BLEACH When washing whites, keep in mind that chlorine bleach should never be used. Chlorine bleach is known to burn the fibers of fabric, turning whites a yellow color. Instead, use OxiClean. If yellow or light brown stains remain after washing, soak your clothes in OxiClean to keep them looking fresh. Even with these steps, whites will eventually begin to fade due to wear and tear, but with proper care, your whites will have an extended life. Show your whites a little extra love this Valentine’s Day by getting them professionally cleaned. At Janet Davis Cleaners, we absolutely love whites! Nothing makes us happier than ensuring our customers’ clothes, comforters, and tablecloths stay pristine. However, if you’re happy with your whites as they are, but you notice a friend or family member looking a little gray, send them to us!

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CORRECTLY CLEANING YOUR PILLOWS We Return Them Almost Brand New

Not too long ago, one of our customers called our office to submit a complaint: “I hate to complain, but you didn’t give me my old pillows. You gave me someone else's brand-new pillows.” However, after speaking with our team, this customer soon realized the pillows we returned weren’t new. They were the same feather pillows she’d sent in for us to clean, but we returned them looking almost brand new. How was this possible? The machines and tools we use at Janet Davis Cleaners allow us to thoroughly clean and dry our customers' pillows. One of our machines is specifically designed to keep feather pillows looking, smelling, and feeling like brand new. This machine first starts by opening the pillow and removing the feathers from the case, then fluffs and cleans them. Once the feathers are cleaned, they are put into a brand-new ticking (cover). This process also allows our team to add extra feathers or leave out existing ones, depending on a client's preference. Our other machines also allow us to clean nonfeather pillows, though these can often be washed at home. If you plan on washing a pillow at

home, it needs to be dried completely within a day, or it will begin to smell like mildew. While you can send a pillow through the dryer at home, keep these tips in mind: • Check the care label on the pillow first to determine the correct cleaning method. • Be aware of the heat setting. It’s best to keep the dryer on moderate or low heat. This may require you to send it through the dryer a few times before it is thoroughly dry. • Feather pillows should use a no-heat, air‑dry setting. • Consider adding dryer balls to prevent or break up any clumps that may form in the pillow while in the dryer. For any pillow labeled “dry clean only” (or if you have multiple pillows to wash), it is best to send it in to us. Giving our clients the type of professional cleaning where they do not recognize their pillows any more is what we strive to do at Janet Davis Cleaners — nothing makes us happier.

Strawberry Kissed ALMOND BUTTER MUFFINS

SUDOKU

INGREDIENTS

Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com

• 1 cup ripe bananas, mashed • 3/4 cup natural creamy almond butter (can substitute creamy peanut butter) • 2 large eggs • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup (or honey) • 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 cup oat flour • 1 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp salt • 1/4 cup strawberry fruit spread, divided (we recommend Bonne Maman INTENSE)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners and spray with nonstick cooking spray. 3. In a large bowl, mix bananas, almond butter, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. 4. Stir in oat flour, baking powder, and salt until smooth.

5. Evenly divide batter into liners. Add 1 tsp strawberry fruit spread to the top of each muffin. 6. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the spread into the batter. 7. Bake for 22–27 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. 8. Transfer muffins to wire rack to cool and enjoy!

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1 Seeing the Glass Half-Full 2 A Few Ideas to Better Insulate Your Home (248) 543-0340 www.janetdaviscleaners.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE

27607Woodward Ave. Berkley, MI 48072

Keep Your White Laundry Looking Pristine

3 Wait, Those Weren’t New Pillows?

Strawberry Kissed Almond Butter Muffins 4 Teach Your Kids Life Skills This Valentine's Day!

4 LIFE SKILLS YOU CAN TEACH YOUR KIDS THIS VALENTINE'S DAY

Nothing says “I love you” more than equipping your children with important knowledge they'll need for the rest of their adult lives. Even if they groan about it now, they’ll be grateful for the know-how when they’re on their own in the future. Keep in mind that your home classroom doesn’t have to mimic a school classroom. Research from the University of Utah shows that kids learn best through hands-on activities and play. Have fun while teaching these life skills, and you’ll earn thank-yous for decades to come. CLEAN THE HOUSE Were you ever surprised by how often you have to clean your kitchen? Your child may be too. Although your 10-year-old won’t have to worry about cleaning the stove today, they will need to know how when they move out, so find ways to incentivize

cleaning and make it more fun. You can have your kids collect “chore points” that add up to a prize, like an extra hour of playing video games! DEVELOP COOKING SKILLS You may be hesitant to have a little chef in the house, but if you’re teaching them how to clean up and stay safe while making some easy dishes, there’s no reason to worry! Even if you’re not a great cook yourself, it’s fun to prepare simple recipes as a family. Plus, your kids will get used to the idea of cooking for themselves, which is both healthy and cost-effective. LEARN TO GARDEN What’s a better way to get outdoors with your child than to garden together? From using tools like shovels and rakes to nurturing another living organism, gardening provides plenty of rich life lessons, such as patience.

UNDERSTAND HOUSEHOLD MAINTENANCE Whether they’re

learning how to use an electric breaker, unclog a drain, or clean out the washer or dryer, your kids can get started learning household maintenance skills with just a little guidance. Who knows, maybe they will be their dorm’s future superhero! There are many lessons you can teach your child at any age, so don’t limit yourself! Be creative with the lessons you pass on, and there’s a chance they’ll never forget them!

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