Cameo Cleaners & Arthur Copeland

Can you make a difference in a girl's life?

For a high school girl, going to the prom is a milestone that she does not want to miss. But what if her family cannot afford to buy her a prom dress?

That's where you and Operation Fairy Dust come in.

Operation Fairy Dust collects gently used prom dresses and gives them away to New York City high school girls who otherwise would not go to their prom.

We need you to look in the back of your closet and pull out those dresses which you'll never wear again, but can make a high school girl look like a princess on prom night.

Operation Fairy Dust only asks that the dresses not be older than 10 years and in wearable condition. Our companies will be taking care of all of the cleaning and pressing of the dresses.

Dresses may be dropped off before April 15th, 2010 at:

Manhattan

Jeeves of Belgravia
39 East 65th Street
New York, NY  10065
212-570-9130

Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park
284 Third Avenue
New York, NY  10010
212-677-3940

Brooklyn

Madelaine Cleaners
1613 Avenue M
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-339-0032

Long Island

Arthur Copeland Cleansers
140 Grove Avenue
Cedarhurst, NY  11516
516-295-2198

MadisonClean
380 Rockaway Turnpike
Cedarhurst, NY  11516
516-371-0303

Why should you dry clean your clothes?

Well, you can buy a home dry cleaning kit at the local Duane Reade and pop your clothes in the dryer, cross your fingers and hope for the best.

Clothing is expensive and dry cleaning can protect that investment. Yes I know that dry cleaning is expensive.

This week I had two former clients call me with problem garments.

The first client had switched to a dry cleaner who was "cheaper" than Cameo Cleaners to save a few dollars. His bespoke Italian hand tailored jacket was destroyed by "cheap dry cleaning", and the other dry cleaner won't do anything to solve the problem. Nothing at all, in fact they think the jacket is fine despite the fact that it looks as if it was washed.

The second client had attempted to remove an ink stain on her silk blouse at home. She went on-line and some blog suggested that hair spray was a great ink remover. The alcohol in hair spray can remove ink sometimes, but not this time. End result, a $300 Chloe top ruined (she got it on sale).

How did I get to be considered the best dry cleaner NYC? Experience, hard work and honesty. If I don't think I can solve your problem I'll tell you. If you call me and just want advice, just ask.

If I think you can do it yourself at home, I'll tell you how.

City Spur listed Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park as the best dry cleaner NYC. America's Best Cleaners selected us again along with only 30 dry cleaners nationwide.

Need help with anything at all, just call. I would love to speak to you about your wardrobe.

Thanks for listening, Jerry Pozniak, owner of Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park and Arthur Copeland Cleansers. My office number is 917-472-1802 extension 101.

Personally, I look for any occasion (excuse) to wear a crown, tiara, or any other sparkly head piece that will distinguish me from anyone in my near proximity.  I have yet to be lacking opportunities to sport my favorite shiny accessory since my sorority's symbol was in fact a crown, and then my two annual events ( Halloween & my birthday) practically suggest that you have an accessory for your noggin...

Recently I learned of an event where you are rewarded with a fabulous shiny tiara just for your attendance! I know totally exciting right?

On March 11,2010 The WGirls NYC are hosting Ties & Tiaras in support of their most recent acquisition The Operation Fairy Dust Program.

Operation Fairy Dust is an annual event held every spring that provides hundreds of local high school girls the opportunity to attend their prom. Over the year they have been collecting donated gowns from various designers, and individuals so that these dresses can have a second dance.

Event Details:
When: 3/11/10 7-11pm
Enjoy the open bar 7-8pm
Where: Hotel Rivington
107 Rivington St. New York, NY
Cost: Advanced Tickets are $25 or 4 tickets for $80

Guys don't think that you are excluded from sporting a sparkly ensemble. Tiaras will be awarded on a first come first serve basis, but please wear a tie regardless. Ladies ( and gents) you are encouraged to bring your own tiara as well.

The rewards for attending this event are endless as there is a raffle for an Oscar De La Renta Gown, a $250 facial, and of course the opportunity to give back to the community.

Cameo Cleaners worked closely with Operation Fairy Dust during their 2009 event and is very excited to help with this cause again. Employees from Cameo Cleaners will be at Ties & Tiaras collecting gowns if you would like to bring yours then.

If you unfortunately can not attend you can drop off or mail your donated gowns to Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park at your convenience.

Dry cleaning has been in the news for the last two weeks and it has not been favorable. The most common dry cleaning chemical, perchloroethylene (perc) has been labeled by the US EPA as a "likely human carcinogen" in a report published this week.

Another report links perc exposure to Parkinson's disease just released by The Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center.

85% of all dry cleaning firms in the US still use this chemical to clean clothes, but a ban on perc machines that are 15 years or older will take effect in a few months in California. A statewide ban on machines that use perc takes effect in 2023.

My question is why haven't other states enacted the same legislation? There are many alternatives to perc that can be used for cleaning clothes with very good results.

The US EPA has listed two methods of garment cleaning "safe", CO2 dry cleaning and wet-cleaning.

The only problem with CO2 dry cleaning is that it is not widely used, but it can be. This price for CO2 dry cleaning machines have dropped and have become somewhat affordable.

The results from the newest versions of CO2 machines exceed the cleaning quality of perc. How many more studies have to be published before perc is banned everywhere?

CO2 dry cleaning and wet cleaning is available in NYC and Long Island at Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park and Arthur Copeland Cleansers. You have a choice.

What do you do if you are a friend of fabulous fashion stylist Robert Verdi and need to have your Halston Hertiage gown shortened in 2 hours to wear to the Whitney Museum's biennial?

Pick up the phone and call Jerry Pozniak and his team at Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park. In less than two hours after receiving the gown it was shortened by hand and re-pleated to perfection.

We are the "go to" source for Robert Verdi. When he has a high profile client in need of tailoring he only has to make one call, Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park.

On a moment's notice we are available to take care of any tailoring or alterations that you may need. Our fitting rooms are large and well appointed at our Gramercy Park location or if the need arises we can send a tailor to you.

No need to hunt all over Manhattan for a great tailor. Just do what Robert Verdi does, pick up the phone and call Cameo Cleaners.

Cameo Cleaners is located at 284 Third Avenue at 22nd Street in NYC. Our phone number is 212-677-3949.

I thought the worst of the winter weather had passed after the snowstorm last week, or what my family at home in Maryland refers to “snowpocalypse”, but unfortunately I was wrong… I woke up to yet another wintry mix earlier this week and donned my UGG boots and most serious winter jacket to brave my 1.5 mile trek into work.

If you experience a similar daily experience through the crowded salt filled streets of Manhattan your coats have probably weathered a storm (or five) this winter, and could desperately use a little TLC.

For the next week (sale expires Febuary 27th, 2010) you can save 20% on coat cleaning at Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park or Arthur Copeland Cleansers use code, #PrivateWinter20 and received a 20% discount on all coats, outerwear, ski jackets, down jacket and any garment made of leather, suede or shearling.

I am looking forward to a weekend filled with pleasantly brisk weather; however we have not left the dismal winter weather completely behind us with more snow in the forecast for next week.

To prepare yourself for this upcoming weather here are some helpful tips on how to care for your jackets:

·         Never EVER put a jacket away when still wet

·         If a jacket is splashed with salt clean immediately (or as soon as you have the chance)

·         Make sure to clean your jacket after the season before you place it in storage.

·         Avoid wearing leather, suede, or shearling when salt is present on the streets

For all of your winter jacket cleaning needs or questions come to Came Cleaners, the best in jacket care in NYC.

For the best dry cleaner Long Island, choose Arthur Copeland Cleansers in Cedarhurst. And for the best dry cleaner New York NYC choose Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park.

Who says we are the best. Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park is listed as the best dry cleaner NYC by City Spur and Arthur Copeland Cleaners has been awarded as one of America's Best Cleaners for the last four years.
 

Rumor has it that cleaning ties can be quite the burden. Seeing as I do not own one singular necktie I cannot attest to this personally, however as previously mentioned my father has quite the collection so I hear his grumblings from time to time.

Now that I think about it… this cleaning predicament may be the reason why I never see my roommates (both male) with this fashion accessory on their way out in the morning…

I’ve been told that the biggest nemesis of ties is water, which makes cleaning that much trickier. It is ingrained in every individual’s mind that if you spill on yourself the next logical step is to get water to try and remove this (remember to always blot not rub!), but with ties do neither. Water will cause ties to pucker and appear misshapen if water is introduced.

If your first logical decision is not to bring it to your friendly neighborhood dry cleaner you can try some home remedies such as talcum powder, rubbing alcohol, or a stain remover, though our technicians have seen many ties ruined with home remedies.

However, I am inclined to suggest you just visit the cleaners so that you do not further damage your tie.

There are some who advise against dry cleaning your ties because they will “lose their hand rolled look” as well as the shiny look and feel of your ties clearly never visited Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park or Arthur Copeland Cleansers.

Too many local dry cleaners tend to press ties incorrectly so that they appear to have been run over with a steam roller after cleaning. Ties should never be pressed flat, but hand steamed, which takes time and skill.

The cleaning technicians at Cameo Cleaners hand clean and spot clean all ties to ensure they are treated with the utmost care. Recently, they have started cleaning ties in their fabulous Eco2 Cleanse process which as I have said before is the best cleaning method available and even better your ties will come out softer! They also roll, hand, and soft press all ties that visit their cleaning facility.

The best advice I can offer to save your beloved ties is twofold. Number one: Be proactive! There are numerous products that can serve as a preventative measure to protect your ties. Number two: Act immediately! If you spill try and do as much damage control as you can.

For the best dry cleaner Long Island, Arthur Copeland is your man. Located in Cedarhurst, he also offers pick up and delivery to almost all of Long Island to keep your ties in tip top shape. Arthur Copeland has been selected as one of America's Best Cleaners.

For the best dry cleaner New York NYC, Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park should be your choice. Selected by City Spur as the best dry cleaner NYC as well as one of America's Best Cleaners.

There are two reasons people typically bring their clothing to the dry cleaner. The first being that they have made a mess of some kind that has rendered the piece not non wearable until fixed. The other is that the stress of everyday life tends to build up overtime and naturally so does the odor.

Have you ever had the experience of taking something to the cleaner, and they had not taken care of the odor but instead had covered it treated in a way that was simply masking the original odor with a newer fresher one?

What is also a very common malady of dry cleaning is bringing in a garment that requires the first type of cleaning mentioned, and then it leaving with a very distinct chemical odor. This has recently become an even bigger issue with the resurgence of Lady Gaga inspired women’s looks, and the younger male generations relying so heavily on suits.

Lucky for you, I have a solution! Yes, that’s right. One answer for two very stinky problems… ECO2 Cleanse. This chemical free dry cleaning method offered only at Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park leaves your clothing sparkling clean, and smelling like roses.

Well… actually that’s a lie because the ECO2 Cleanse process has absolutely no odor, since there are not lingering chemicals on the garments. This is especially beneficial, for those of you who love big broad shoulders , because shoulder pads are one of the biggest culprits for trapping malodorous dry cleaning fumes.

You are probably again wondering, how something that has no odor can completely remove the odor from a badly soiled garment, and again I have the answer for you. Due to the heat free environment of the Eco2 Cleanse process the odors will not be set in during the process and will instead be absorbed by the liquid carbon dioxide. This CO2 cleaning method removes odors better than any other cleaning method available.

Don’t believe me? Come see for yourself why Cameo Cleaners ECO2 Cleanse process is Simply Green. Simply Clean. Simply Better for you

As most of the snow is slowly melting away, do you consider what happens to your shoes when they get salt on them?

Good leather shoes shouldn't be exposed to salt. As soon as you see a white ring, you need to clean and condition the leather.

Salt and other chemicals used to melt snow will ruin you shoes; and quickly. A lot of salt will cause the leather of your shoes to get hard and crack.

Do yourself a favor and try not to wear you good shoes whenever there is salt on the ground. And if you find that your shoes have salt stains, have them cleaned and conditioned right away.

Our shoe repair service is avaible anytime so you can take care of your dry cleaning and shoes in one stop (or we can pick them up from you).

Arthur Copeland Cleansers is Long Island's cleaning authority since 1934. We can clean anything made of fabric, leather, suede or fur in our cleaning workshop or in your home.

Arthur Copeland is the best dry cleaner Long Island and we can proved complimentary pick-up and delivery to anywhere on Long Island.

We can

Are you looking for a dry cleaning coupon? At Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park, Arthur Copeland Cleansers and MadsonClean.com we are having a blizzard coat cleaning sale!

For the next two weeks you can save 20% and get your coats cleaned after the blizzard of 2010.

At all of our locations until February 24th use code, #PrivateWinter20 and recieved a 20% discount on all coats, outerwear, ski jackets, down jacket and any garment made of leather, suede or shearling.

Did you know that salt can damage your clothes and should be removed sooner, rather than later to prevent issues?

In fact, we do not reccommend wearing leather, suede or shearling anytime salt is on the ground. Salt actually "burns" skins and will cause them to shrink and get hard. Once this happens it cannot be fixed.

Give one of our locations a call and we will take care of the rest. Complimentary pick-up and delivery is available to all of Manhattan, Long Island and select locations in Brooklyn & Queens.

For dry cleaning New York NYC choose Cameo Cleaners and save 20%.
For a great dry cleaner Long Island choose Arthur Copeland Cleansers or MaidsonClean.com

A blizzard is a major problem for everyone and everything, including your clothes.

Once the snow plows spread salt, the snow starts to melt, your clothes get salt stains, and then the problem starts.

The salt and other chemicals that are used to melt ice and snow are really bad for your clothes.

These chemicals care ruin what you are wearing and rather quickly. They are extremely corrosive and can cause damage to fabrics, leather, suede and shearling.

The effects of "salt" on leather, suede and shearling are dramatic. The salt burns the skin causing that area to shrink and become hard. Our advice, leave all leather, suede and shearlings home until most of the snow and salt are gone.

On fabric, salt leaves nasty white rings and if not cleaned, eventually will start to break down the fibers of the fabric, making these areas prone to damage.

If you get salt stains on your clothes have them cleaned right away, never store your clothes with salt stains.

For the best dry cleaner Long Island and the best dry cleaning advice on Long Island, choose Arthur Copeland Cleansers. Since 1934 we have been providing the best dry cleaning advice on Long Island.

Now Arthur Copeland Cleansers is the only luxury dry cleaning company on Long Island to clean in liquid CO2. Gone are harmful petrochemicals. Instead we use CO2, the same substance that adds the fizz to soda. Your clothes will be softer, brighter, last longer and never have dry cleaning odors.

CO2 dry cleaning is the only method approved as safe by the US EPA.

Arthur Copeland Cleansers provide complimentary pick-up and delivery to all of Long Island, Manhattan and select locations in Brooklyn and Queens.

What do you look for when you need a dry cleaner New York City or Long Island?

The guy who is downstairs, you know, next to your building or is it the dry cleaner that is on your way to work?

What makes a great dry cleaner? Experience, experience, experience...

If you have an expensive wardrobe the "local dry cleaner" may not be the best place to go. They may lack the experience to understand the difference between Hermes and H&M. (I actually love H&M but there is a hugh diffence in price between these two brands.)

Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park and Arthur Copeland Cleansers have over 125 years of combined garment care experience. When it comes to making sure your wardrobe is taken care of without compromise you don't need to look further.

For the best dry cleaning New York your choice should be Cameo Cleaners.
For the best dry cleaner Long Island, Arthur Copeland is your man.

Thanks for listening. Jerry Pozniak

The annual bridal sale held at Filene’s Basement has created quite the buzz in the wedding world, so when I heard that our very own Union Square location would be hosting their annual "Running of the Brides" a mere 9 blocks from my office I couldn't resist the urge to participate, nor would my curiosity be cured any other way.

I use the word “participate” loosely as mine was solely observational. When I stepped off the subway at 14^th and University Place I was rendered speechless by the gaggle of people outside Filene’s. At 7:30 this morning it was a chilly 31 degrees but spirits were high throughout the crowd lining the perimeter of a full city block. People had traveled from all over the Tri-State Area and beyond in hopes of finding a gown. 

The throngs of people were full of hopeful brides-to-be complete with a full entourage of helpers that included: mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, bridal parties (complete with groomsman). Every bridal posse was complete with some sort of matching color or theme, so they could be easily identified once inside. I saw everything from bandanas, tiaras, party hats, and even lobsters?

I had my reservations that the staff of Filenes would be capable of maintaining order and calm with an organza and tulle inspired crowd eager to enter their pearly bridal gates.

As 8am approached I relocated myself away from the masses and across the street so that I had the perfect vantage point of this highly anticipated moment.

At precisely 8 o clock eastern standard time the bridal bouncers unlocked the doors and shouts and yells of triumph were heard all throughout the streets of Union Square. In 10 minutes flat these brawny men had corralled all the attendees inside, and although I currently have no need for a wedding gown I was the last to enter the wedding wonderland.

Since this is an annual event that has been occurring for close to 80 years I had heard rumors of what goes on behind closed doors, but to be honest reading about the running of the brides in no way prepared me for the pandemonium that I experienced upon entering Filene’s Basement.

What I walked into closely resembled a battlefield as brides-to-be barked orders, and negotiated dress sizes and styles while their team members stood guard. Everyone had their role, some were responsible for bartering, others were the fashion coordinators, and most importantly the security to ensure that no gown was left behind.

 As I stood in the center of this massive retail space and looked around I was shocked. The sale had only started ten minutes prior, and every single rack was bare! On every available surface of carpet there were heaping piles of gowns, as the brides to be discarded the undesirable and every so often found the gown of their dreams. 

I overheard a bride exclaim this morning “ and this was only the second one I tried on and it’s perfect!” only to immediately abandon the pile of gowns she and her crew had amassed, for the next interested attendee to delve through . 

Once able to collect myself I remembered that my original actual purpose of attending (other than participating in such a well known event) was to inform these women of the services offered by my preferred cleaners. Arthur Copeland Cleansers of Cedarhurst & Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park of course.

Both locations are well known for their excellent attention to detail in bridal alterations and cleaning services. 

Both locations have been established in their areas for over fifty years, and are the most experienced in bridal care in the area. Cameo Cleaners and Arthur Copeland also both exclusively offer their ECO2 Cleanse process for the cleaning of wedding gowns.

On my way out one of the bridal bouncers turned to me with a big toothy grin and inquired why I was walking out empty handed. And I simply responded, “ For me today was not about the dress.”

 For the best service in bridal alterations and cleaning in New York go to Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park, and in Long Island visit Arthur Copeland Cleansers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I check my in-box yesterday afternoon and something caught my eye. A request from the UK, with pictures attached. Kevin (who I didn't know until yesterday) emailed me with a dilemma.

As he writes, "I’m so glad that I found your site, it’s so informative and refreshing to see a guy like yourself who has a passion for being the very best at their profession."

He has this really nice Neil Barrett wool overcoat that cost him about $2000 that he got a bit of cranberry and vodka on.  So... he takes it to his local dry cleaner, Johnson's, a big UK company and instantly it was ‘’oh no cranberry never comes out etc etc etc.’’ 

So he emails me for advice that his local dry cleaner isn't giving.

Doesn't anyone in dry cleaning realize that we are a "customer service" business? All Kevin needed was information about stain removal on his rather expensive coat.

But all he gets is how the stain will only come out on even numbered days when the moon is full and industry jargon.

This is the state of dry cleaning everywhere.

People spend good money on clothes and they deserve better when they need to care for them. Very few dry cleaning firms invest in the time or energy to train their staff so that they are knowledgeable. It shows every time you drop off your clothes and person behind the counter couldn't tell you the difference between Hermes and H&M.

Thanks Kevin, you made my day yesterday. It was a supreme compliment to be contacted from Scotland for stain removal advice.

Thanks for listening, Jerry Pozniak.

BTW, I own and operate Arthur Copeland Cleansers, the best dry cleaner on Long Island and Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park the best dry cleaner in New York City. Who say's? My clients and Kevin from Scotland. 

Tags: Dry Cleaning New York NYC, Dry Cleaner Long Island, Stain Removal

I ran across a video blog a few days ago about home dry cleaning. Bank of America produced the piece under the banner of Wallet Pop a site dedicated to help people save money. I guess Bank of America is looking for a way to spend all of the money they made last year.

It was nicely done but rather misleading. The host compared how you could take care of garments at home without using professional dry cleaning services. She demonstrated both Dryel and Dry Cleaner's Secret as well as giving tips on steaming garments at home.

The most important thing that the video left out was the final results. While rather large stain was shown on a shirt going to the dryer for home dry cleaning, the same shirt never made an appearance back on camera.

The host also mentioned that home dry cleaning does not do a good job of removing oil based stains. FYI, almost all stains have an oil component including most food stains.

One of the most important part of the dry cleaning process is the finishing or pressing step. This is where your wrinkled clothes are transformed into a confidence building, people impressing wardrobe. Steaming a garment at home does not give you the final result that you would get with proper pressing.

Great dry cleaners are a wealth of knowledge (that's why it's called Professional Dry Cleaning) to help you maintain your wardrobe for years to come. Just try to ask a box for advice.

Arthur Copeland Cleansers is the place to seek out for dry cleaner Long Island and Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park is listed as the best dry cleaner New York City by City Spur.

Both dry cleaners love to give advice to our clients.

Last week a client of Arthur Copeland Cleansers gave me a call with a small problem. She had just bought three pair of new pants that all needed to be shortened but she did not have the time to come in try them on. To complicate matters further, she was also leaving on a business trip in two days.

I told her that she didn't have to come in for a fitting. All she had to do was to send in a pair of pants that fit her well and our tailoring department would take the measurements from those pants.

Our delivery staff picked up her pants along with the sample pair. Measurements were taken, sewing machines hummed, pants were shortened and delivered back to her in time for her business trip. No fuss, and no wasted time for our client.

Many tailoring projects can be taken care of for you this way. Open seams, missing buttons, broken zippers and simple alterations can all be accomplished without a visit to our shops.

Just give us a call and our garment care consultants will take care of everything for you. Dry cleaning to go! Tailoring to go!

Arthur Copeland Cleansers offers complimentary pick up and delivery to almost all of Long Island for our dry cleaning and tailoring services.

Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park offers the same complimentary pick up and delivery services to all of Manhattan for dry cleaning and tailoring services.

Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park as a reputation for the exceptional dry cleaning New York City and Arthur Copeland's reputation is stellar for dry cleaning Long Island.

 I have never learned how to tie a tie. It’s not that I don’t care to learn, just more that the situation or uniform requirement has never presented itself.

For those that know my family well this would be a surprising fact based on the number of ties my father has amassed over the years. I feel that it is safe to assume this collection began out of necessity since my dad is a doctor, and when he first began his career it was required that all physicians don a necktie.

You can imagine how displeased someone who once designed a tie for their department during residency would be, when this fundamental outfit accessory went under review.

Recent studies in the medical world have found evidence of doctor’s ties being a potential transmitter of bacteria. The main proponents of this study are suggesting the mandatory removal of neckties from hospitals. At a New York hospital 42 medical personnel were analyzed, and almost 50% of their neckties proved to be hosts to bacteria that can cause pneumonia, blood infections, and more.

It is an indisputable fact that individuals will have more confidence in a doctor that is professionally dressed compared to a slovenly one. In my father’s case however, he relies less on his ties for professionalism and more as a distraction. My dad is a physician of the pediatric variety, so his ties rarely display bold colors and stripes. Instead you will find Scooby Doo, Bugs Bunny, or the occasional super hero.

Upon learning of the correlation between germs and ties my dad began regularly having his ties dry cleaned and not only if he were to have a little mishap while eating.

 Although my dad does not practice medicine in Manhattan, I thought it would be beneficial to share this information with those of you practicing medicine here that need a reliable location to have their ties cleaned.

Our streamlined ECO2 Cleanse process does a remarkable job of cleaning as many of you may already know, however you were probably unaware that it has also proven to be very effective at removing contaminants.

Research has been conducted that would suggest cleaning with CO2 kills germs more effectively than traditional dry cleaning. Since research and testing are continuing this is not a FDA approved method yet.

If you, like my father would hate to see the tie go out of style and are affiliated with medicine in Manhattan let the talented staff at Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park and their ECO2 Cleanse process help keep your ties bacteria free.

For the best in chemical free dry cleaning in NYC send your ties and other garments to Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park.

Sometimes stains on home furnishings can be a disaster. We worked on a client's apartment this week that had beautiful white area rug and cream fabric stools, all covered with a large splash of red wine.

The guest who spilled the wine added salt to the stain in a misguided attempt of stain removal. Salt doesn't do anything to remove red wine.

Your best option is to blot and absorb the stain into a terry cloth towel. Never rub as this may damage dye or fibers which will make a bigger headache.

Our on site cleaning team was called in to "get rid of" the stain. Our head cleaning technician (with over 15 years of stain removal experience) was able to completly remove all traces of the red wine that had splashed on the area rug and stools.

Ordinary furniture and rug cleaners come in and just give everything a "once over" with steam cleaning equipment. Our team spends time, a lot of time, painstakingly treating each stain so that the results will be as perfect as possible.

The red wine removal at this apartment required neutralization of the red wine as well as careful bleaching using hydrogen peroxide on a Q-Tip to remove all of the evidence of stain.

At the end of the day the client was very happy and the white rug was white again.

Jerry Pozniak, the author of this post, is the owner of the Garment Care Group which operates Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park in New York City and Arthur Copeland Cleansers in Cedarhurst, Long Island. Jerry has over 25 years of dry cleaning experience and his client's include; Prada, Gucci, Yves. St. Laurent, the Louvre Museum and many, many others.

The on-site division can clean just about anything made of fabric, leather or suede anywhere.

Dry cleaning or laundering down filled garments tends to always be a problem for a dry cleaner, or for that matter just about anyone.

During dry cleaning or home washing the down (feathers) gets wet and clumps together horribly.

When drying you can put clean tennis balls or sneakers into the dryer to fluff up the feathers. The last time I washed my North Face jacket at home I ended up with a headache after listening to the sneakers bang in the dryer for over an hour.

I have never been a big fan of this as it adds a lot of "wear and tear" during the drying process and some of the feathers always seem to be stuck together somewhere.

Another issue with dry cleaning down garments is that the feathers always seem to retain a dry cleaning smell.

This week I put my North Face down jacket into our CO2 dry cleaning machine, despite the fact that the label reads; Do Not Dry Clean. I wanted to see what the results would be.

My jacket was fairly soiled from stacking wood and other chores that I had done around the house over the weekend. It's also predominantly orange, so stains show easily.

I placed the jacket into our CO2 dry cleaning machine (our ECO2 Cleanse process) and 30 minutes later I was very surprised. My jacket looked brand new. The down was not clumped anywhere. And best of all...every stain was gone.

I took a sniff of my jacket, absolutely no odor.

The only downside was that the jacket was cold from cleaning in CO2, and it seemed slightly counterintuitive to walk outside into the brisk New Yok winter in an insulated cold jacket. so I had one of my finishers steam the jacket out to take the chill out. One of the great things about CO2 dry cleaning is that the process does not use heat to dry.

Final result. CO2 dry cleaning was able to clean my down jacket much better than any other process and in much less time.

For the best dry cleaner New York City, Cameo Cleaners is your source. For the best dry cleaner Long Island, Arthur Copeland is your source. For the best CO2 dry cleaning anywhere look no further.

A recent article in The New York Times discusses the evident style gap between the generations. What surprised me as I read the article was the exclusive attention to male individuals, and how their adherence to stylistic trends qualified them as gentleman.

By definition, a gentleman is “a man of good family, breeding, or social position who is also civilized, educated, and well-mannered.”  
One could claim that style is implied within this definition, however to be a true gentleman has more to do with one’s disposition than their outward appearance.

Having attended a southern university it is quite possible that my perception may be skewed, however I do know that the young men I was surrounded by during my collegiate years would be much more inclined to associate themselves with the dictionary definition than the fashionable young man picture above.

Above the Mason Dixon Line however, I encounter young men whose look has evolved beyond alligators, ponies, and pastels to fitted suits, skinny ties, and French cuff shirts.

The Times attributes this emerging trend to the infatuation with the TV show Mad Men, where the model of sophistication and style is the ever dapper Don Draper. My generation views style to be an indication of success, where our parent’s generation believes the opposite and that casual work attire means that you have made it.

As someone who was taught that it is always better to be over dressed than under dressed, I always make an effort to put my best foot forward and dress to impress. Unfortunately I am at a height disadvantage to the muses of the fashion industry and most of my clothes require tailoring.

If your look requires a tailor, then look no further than Cameo Cleaners where there is an excellent tailor who can assist with any fitting or tailoring you may need for your:

      -  Suits                                      -Dresses                              -Jackets
      - Pants                                     -Skirts                                   -Shirts

 Despite your age, and your passion for fashion Cameo Cleaners of Gramercy Park can resolve any tailoring or alteration issue you may need in NYC.

To read the full New York Times article click here