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History
is just a collection of dates, names and places
unless you look into the nitty gritty of how
life was lived in those distant times.
Learning how people cooked their food, washed
their clothing (or didn't!) and kept themselves
warm brings history to life.
Throughout history,
cleanliness has been problematic at best in
some cultures. The ancient Romans were
fanatical about daily baths -- taken at the
communal bath house, for a small fee.
In fact, it was fashionable to bequeath "lifetime
free bathing" in one's will to someone you really
liked.
Other cultures just
used oil and a scraper to keep somewhat clean
-- or simply skipped the ritual altogether.
Today, America is still one of the few nations
where a daily bath or shower is pretty much
mandatory behavior for most people.
So let's take a look
at grime, and why it really doesn't pay in more
ways than one when it comes to your clothes,
your health and more.
Along the way you'll
learn a few fun tidbits to drop into conversation
around the water-cooler just to keep it interesting.
See you soon!
Ed and Mary Longanecker
Iris City Cleaners and Laundering Company |
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What
is THAT?
It's an early shower!
(American Virginia Stool Shower, circa 1830.)
The entire contraption was put in a tub, and
the bather sat on a seat that rotated like
a piano stool. The lever is a hand-pump
to get the water flowing from above, the back
brush was operated with a foot pedal.
A shower and a workout all in one! |
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Coupon
Coupon Coupon
Coupon Coupon
Coupon Coupon
Coupon
Tied
Up in Knots!
Especially for
If
the news that germs and other critters can live
on fabric (like a doctor's tie) has you tied
up in knots, fear no longer! Let
us clean a tie or scarf and we'll make it water
repellant at
no additional charge.
(Include
first page of this e-mail with your order.
Offer expires 8/24/04. Cannot be combined
with other offers.) |
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How
are we this morning?
If you are a patient
or a doctor, "we" certainly weren't feeling
too well when we heard about the study that
showed doctors' neckties are capable of carrying
germs and pathogens from contact with patients.
You no doubt saw the headlines recently, and
if you're like most people who get their news
on the internet, you didn't read much further.
To get more information
on this, here's
a link to an article in The New Scientist.
What you'll learn is that, yes, doctors' ties
were tested and had germs on them. However,
none of the germs were the "superbugs" we hear
so much about, and ties haven't been implicated
in disease transmission. In
fact, hospital sanitation experts say far more
transference occurs because of unwashed hands
than will ever come through a necktie.
The study sample on the ties was small, however,
and you can expect more researchers to jump
on this aspect of health care to try to tie
up the loose ends, so to speak. |
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So
what's it mean for YOU?
Just when you thought it was
safe to ignore that news piece and go back to
your coffee and jelly roll -- think for a moment.
The really significant thing that's been discovered
is that germs and other microorganisms can survive
on fabrics that go unwashed.
"But I clean my clothes all
the time!" you say. Really? If you're
like most of us, you have certain garments --
shirts, undergarments, slacks -- cleaned on
a regular basis. But
we've all got a section of our wardrobe that
contains garments we only clean sporadically.
Overcoats, suit jackets, formal wear, and yes,
ties and scarves all get relegated to the "I
don't think I spilled on it" category, and are
only cleaned in an emergency.
The
significance of the research on doctors' ties
is that things linger in fabric fibers.
Germs, pet dander, pollens, just to name a few
things that can make your life annoying.
If you have friends who are allergic to your
pets and they seem to tear up whenever they
see you, it's not that they're being emotional.
You may well be carrying the very dander that's
driving them batty.
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We
are enormously appreciative of the opportunity
to share our weekly newsletters with you.
We feel that much of the content is valuable
for anyone who purchases fine clothing and is
interested in their preservations and cleaning.
Click on the symbol to the right if your would
like to send this and future newsletters to
a friend.
Thanks a million, Ed and Mary
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The Iris
City Cleaners Connection
is
a weekly news letter dedicated to the interest
of fine garment care, restoration,
and conservation. It is published
in Mt Pleasant, Iowa by Iris City Cleaners and
is an extension of our services described in
www.iriscitycleaners.com
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International
Fabricare Institute
Iris
City Cleaners
is a proud member of the International Fabricare
Institute, a premier association of Dry
Cleaners, Wet Cleaners, and Launderers dedicated
to the advancement of technologies and service
to the textile industry. |
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