Janet Davis Cleaners - July 2021

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“HOT OFF THE PRESS” Dry Cleaning News

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

JULY 2021

FROMTHE TITANIC TO HENRY FORD

Morfar was born in 1886 in what is now Gothenburg, Sweden. His dad was the dean of a junior college, but in 1912, Morfar bought a ticket to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to New York City for a job he had lined up. So, he packed up all of his possessions — including all of his drawings and schematics for inventions he was creating — and boarded a ship for England.

his vehicle. So, he dropped off his friend with the broken leg at the front of the building and began driving to the back. As he drove, a man flagged him down. The man was looking for a ride to the back parking lot, so Morfar offered him a ride. He and the man were talking the whole way to the backlot, and after he parked, he made his way to his desk. When he arrived, there was a note telling him that he was fired immediately. Turns out, the man Morfar had driven to the backlot was none other than Henry Ford. We guess that Ford didn’t like that Morfar drove an Oldsmobile. For the rest of his life, Morfar never drove a Ford again. He would land on his feet, though. Eventually, he would go on to invent and patent the device used to paint the perfect pinstripe on a car (this was before robotics). As crazy as these stories may sound, we have even been able to corroborate many of the tales of Morfar's life. He lived well into his 90s, and his stories were passed down through the generations. I’m proud to be his great-grandson. I’ve always been one to tinker with things, trying to figure out how they work. I often wonder if I inherited that from him. Regardless, it makes me feel closer to a man whose life and attitude I admire.

From England, he was set to sail on the Titanic to America. Fate had other plans.

Morfar's ship broke down before it could reach England. He and the other passengers were stuck in a different port while the Titanic set sail — with all of my great- grandfather’s drawings and luggage. His life was spared from the Titanic disaster, but by the time he reached the U.S., he had no way of finding his job and had lost all of his New York contact information and drawings. Not all was lost, though. Morfar knew his cousins had settled in Whitehall, Michigan, so he changed his plans and moved to Michigan. That’s how he became involved in the automotive industry. Eventually, Morfar worked his way up to become an engineer for Oldsmobile, but he left that job to join Ford. Just one week into his job at Ford, a friend asked my Morfar for a ride to work since he had broken his leg. At that time at the Ford plant, anyone who drove a Ford could park out front, but if you didn’t drive a Ford, you had to park in the back. Since Morfar had just transferred jobs, he had yet to change

Every family has stories that are passed down from generation to generation. In my family, those stories were told to me by my maternal grandma, who often told us about my maternal great-grandfather, or Morfar, the Swedish word for mother's father, as he was known to us. Apparently, Morfar didn't talk much — I'm told he mostly asked questions — but his youngest daughter, my grandma, was determined to keep his memory alive. Morfar died before I was born, but growing up, I always felt this kinship with him both in my interests and in the stories that keep his legacy alive. To this day, he’s one of the most fascinating people I have ever heard about.

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PRESERVING SENTIMENTAL VALUE We Can Restore Wedding Dresses!

Sentimentality often plays a huge role in a wedding, and for some brides, that means wearing a family heirloom wedding dress. Unfortunately, not all dresses are stored properly — or were never cleaned after being worn — and they may be dirty, dingy, and discolored after years of storage.

As we write this, fire season is in full swing across the United States. Smoke from those wildfires drifts through thousands of cities and millions of homes each summer, aggravating asthma and causing coughing fits. If your house is in an affected area — or you’d just like to ensure that your family is breathing the cleanest, healthiest air possible — this cheap, easy, DIY air filter has your back. WHAT YOU NEED Making a DIY air filter is incredibly simple. All you need is a box fan, a HEPA filter (cheap pleated filters from Winix or FilterBuy work perfectly), and something to attach the filter to the fan, like duct tape, canvas straps, sturdy ribbon, zip ties, or clamps. Use whatever attachment material you have on hand! A screwdriver and four screws are optional. You should be able to find all of the necessary materials at your local hardware store for $25–$50. BUILD YOUR BOX FAN FILTER You’ve probably guessed how this project will come together! First, lay your fan intake side up and cover the front grate with the HEPA filter. Then, use your canvas straps, clamps, or duct tape to attach the filter to the fan! If you have a screwdriver handy, unscrew the front grating of the box fan before adding the filter, then replace it with the HEPA filter and strap the two together. For a super-sturdy method, screw the filter in place with or without removing the grid. There you have it! You’ve created a filter that will remove dust, smoke, lint, pet dander, and pollen from your home. TIPS AND TRICKS If you’re a visual learner, YouTube is a great resource for this hack! Just search “DIY Air Filter,” and you’ll get dozens of results. One video, “DIY Air Filter | Box Fan Modification | Cleaner Air for Your Home!” even reveals how to use J-channel to make it easy to change out the HEPA filter over time. With a DIY Box Fan Filter! Keep Your Home’s Air Clean on the Cheap

At Janet Davis Cleaners, we have experience helping brides and their families dramatically restore wedding dresses to original or near-perfect conditions. Some of our favorite moments as a business include memories of helping families restore these priceless heirlooms. Here are some of the best! A FLOOD TRIES TO DESTROY AN AMELIA CASABLANCA WEDDING GOWN Silk can be one of the most difficult materials to restore, as aging can take a heavy toll on it. (And old silk dresses were never truly white. Only recently has silk been dyed brighter after it was harvested.) When we received a beautiful, unique Amelia Casablanca silk gown in need of restoration after a basement flood had left it stained and covered in mold, we knew we had our work cut out for us. But we couldn’t let this bride down. With a series of slow controlled baths, we were able to remove all traces of yellowing and mold growth from the dress. In fact, afterward, there was no evidence of the damage — returning this priceless gown back to its original state! A 1950'S SILK GOWN IS BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE Once again, battling age on a silk gown is difficult, but it’s not impossible. When we received a wedding dress from the 1950s, mold was growing along the neckline and the bottom of the dress. In fact, flecks of mold could be found across the entirety of the dress. We very carefully cleaned this dress, removing the mold build-up and returned it to its original state. You can even see a major color difference! This wedding season, we urge all brides to preserve their wedding dresses properly and professionally to avoid discoloration and mold build-up. However, if you or someone you know is in need of a wedding dress restoration, please call us today. We’re happy to help you preserve this family heirloom.

This DIY box fan filter isn’t as sturdy or effective as a fancy purifier, but it’s a great option if you’re on a budget.

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PRESERVE YOUR WEDDING ATTIRE Key Reminders Brides and Grooms Need

LAST, STORE THE BRIDAL GOWN CAREFULLY.

Key elements from your wedding day often stand out, but the items that often have the most sentimental value after a wedding is your attire. Whether you get married in a bridal gown or a suit, it’s vital you protect it from damage, age, and discoloration by properly cleaning and storing it. Take it from experts who have restored many, many bridal gowns. It’s often best to prevent damage rather than try to remove it!

The fabrics used in wedding dresses are often more delicate and expensive than suits. Breathable, acid-free containers or bags are great for long-term storage, whereas plastic bags are good at shielding from dirt and moisture (rain or a spill) but can trap air and accelerate the aging process. Don’t store it in an attic or basement, where temperature changes and humidity levels can leave it susceptible to damage, floods, and mold.

FIRST, HAVE YOUR GARMENTS PROFESSIONALLY DRY-CLEANED.

Bonus Tip: Regardless of the kind of attire you wear, the fabric is going to be the biggest determining factor in how it’s stored. For example, silk can be more delicate than cotton. Remember, it is always easier to preserve a wedding outfit than it is to restore it. If you’re getting married this year or know someone who is, please call us today to schedule a dry-cleaning appointment after the wedding. And congratulations!

Your wedding day includes a lot of make-up, dancing, food, hugs, and sweat, and the fibers on your outfit can take on the brunt of these irritants. A professional dry-cleaning job can remove stains and potentially damaging materials before you store your wedding attire. Do this immediately to avoid stains settling into the fibers of the dress or suit.

SECOND, STORE THE SUIT PROPERLY.

After having it dry cleaned, suit storage is fairly easy. Hang every item on wooden or shaped hangers to preserve the integrity and shape of the suit. Enclose the suit in a cotton bag and hang it in a dry, cool, dark space, like a guest bedroom closet or the back of your own closet. When you want to wear it again, inspect it a few days before you need to wear it, but it should look good as new!

Easy Zucchini Enchiladas

SUDOKU

Inspired by Delish.com

This healthy summer dish is the perfect way to use up extra zucchini!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 onion, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 2 tsp cumin • 2 tsp chili powder • Salt, to taste • 3 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded

• 1 1/3 cups red enchilada sauce, divided • 4 large zucchini, sliced very thin lengthwise and dried • 2 cups shredded cheese • Sour cream and cilantro, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring for 5 minutes. 2. Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Cook for one minute, then add chicken and 1 cup enchilada sauce. Stir to combine. 3. On a cutting board, lay out three slices of zucchini side by

side. Top each with a scoop of chicken mixture, then roll into a tube. Repeat with remaining zucchini slices. 4. Add the rolls to a baking dish. 5. Top the rolls with the remaining

enchilada sauce and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Top with garnishes!

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1 Meet the Most Interesting Man I Know 2 Keep Your Home's Air Clean on the Cheap Check Out These Amazing Wedding Dress Transformations! 3 How to Properly Store a Wedding Gown or Suit (248) 543-0340 www.janetdaviscleaners.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE

27607Woodward Ave. Berkley, MI 48072

Easy Zucchini Enchiladas 4 They Eat What on Pizza?!

THEY EAT WHAT ON PIZZA?! 5 Wacky Pizza Trends From Around the World

• Ketchup and Corn Pizza (Brazil) — According to several sources, Brazilians swap pizza sauce for ketchup or tomato slices and top their pies with strange combinations of local ingredients like corn, beets, hearts of palm, and potato sticks. • Haggis Pizza (Scotland) — Pizza may be the only semi-enjoyable way to eat haggis: a mix of sheep or calf offal, oatmeal, suet, and seasonings that are boiled in an animal’s stomach. Last year, Papa John’s got in on the action when it released a limited-edition haggis pizza in honor of a Scottish poet, Robert Burns. • Mockba Pizza (Russia) — This local pie comes topped with four kinds of fish (sardines, tuna, mackerel, and salmon), onions, herbs, and occasionally fish eggs. Most troubling of all, it’s served cold!

Here in the U.S., pineapple is considered a wild and controversial pizza topping. Even celebrities take a stand. Justin Bieber is pro-pineapple, but Jimmy Kimmel is against it. According to a 2019 YouGov Omnibus study, only anchovies and eggplant are more hated. But in other parts of the world, the tangy yellow fruit is far from the strangest topping you’ll see! Here are five wacky pizza trends from around the globe that will either make you hungry or inspire you to sprint the other way. You may want to order a comforting cheese pie from your favorite local pizzeria before reading this, just in case. • Banana-Curry Pizza (Sweden) — The Swedes first accessed bananas in 1944, and since then, they’ve put them on everything , including pizza which they top with tomato sauce, smoked cheese, banana slices, and curry powder.

• Chickpea Pancake Pizza (Argentina) — In Buenos Aires, locals top their super-cheesy pizza slices with fainá — chickpea pancakes cooked separately from the pies and balanced on top of each slice. Keep these pizzas in mind when planning your next international vacation! They might be tastier than they sound, and if not, they’ll still make great Instagram fodder. As actor Cole Sprouse once tweeted, “You're losing followers because you're not relatable enough. Try mentioning that you eat pizza. If that doesn't work, play the ukulele.”

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