Buy green cleaners. A surprising number of “tough” household cleaners contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), substances that can irritate our eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Think asthma. Smog. VOCs are nasty enough to be restricted in some cities and states. So, why invite them into your home? The same rules apply to PERC, the infamous chemical used by many dry cleaners. (We have never used it at Zoots.) Steer clear.

Read labels. Have you read the warning labels on your household or garden products? It’s generally a bad sign when they tell you to triple-wrap your hands before opening the bottle. If the products you’re using in your home contain chemicals that cause redness or swelling (or worse!), you might want to consider alternatives. We would.
Skip the scents. Fragrances and dyes have little to no cleaning value. What that “fresh spring scent” does is mask a nasty odor or make harsh chemical ingredients more palatable. Citrus-based cleaners and other natural options will keep your home’s indoor air safer and healthier.

Make less garbage. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, packaging alone makes up 17% of our garbage stream! Think about how much you buy. Now you know why products that are minimally packaged or packaged in recyclable or reusable materials make so much sense.

Wash it cold. If your laundry doesn’t require warm water washing, you can reduce energy usage by defaulting to cold water. (Of course, you want to carefully check the care label — don’t guess.)
Meet your local merchants. Shopping locally makes it easier to batch your errands and drive less. You’ll have easy access to locally grown and produced foods and goods. Plus, you’re helping create a more sustainable local economy.

Want more ideas? Check out this list of green cleaning alternatives from the EPA.

We’ve made it simple and convenient to take care of your necessary cleaning tasks while standing in line for a double Americano, between client meetings, at the airport, while getting a haircut — just about anywhere your busy life takes you. (Please, no app-ing while driving!)

The free MyDryCleaner app, now available for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android, takes the convenience of Zoots online account management one step further — offering real-time access to your online dry cleaning account without having to sit down at a computer. 


Besides the fact that you look like a rock star when nothing falls through the cracks, here are a few cool things you can do once you download the free Zoots app to your mobile device.

• Check the status of your Zoots order.
• Schedule your dry cleaning pickup while it’s on your mind.
• Have that coupon in your hand — not on your desk or stuck to the fridge — when you need it.
• Locate the nearest Zoots store and get detailed map and text directions to get you (or a friend) there.
• Keep your account up-to-date with the ability to change email, password and even payment information right from your phone or iPad.
• Look up receipts and keep your order history organized and at your fingertips.
• Contact Zoots customer care team with the touch of a screen whenever you’ve got a question or a concern.
• Easily keep up with us (and our special promotions and clothing care tips) on Twitter or Facebook.

Hard to believe we’ve all lived without this until now. But those days are over. Just download your app and walk through the simple setup on our web site. Or drop into a Zoots store, and we’ll get you started.

Here are a few tips to help you preserve and protect your heavy weight clothing — so it’s ready when you need it.

Launder and dry clean before you store your garments. Sure, it’s tempting to wait until you need them. But your clothing will last longer, look better — and smell better — if you store it clean and not dirty. (Moths love dirty clothes.)

Spring clean your storage spot. We’re talking vacuumed, dusted, aired out and wiped down.

Fold knits flat. Why people insist on putting sweaters on hangers, we will never understand. Hanging just causes them to stretch and lose shape. Is that how you want to look? Shapeless? We think not.

Choose the right hanger. First off, no wire. Wire hangers are fine for everyday, but they’re not intended for long-term storage. Think function. Your go-to jackets and blazers need the collar shaping and support of a deluxe shaped hanger. Pretty padded hangers give lightweight silks and lingerie a little TLC. Notched hangers are meant for dresses and other apparel with fabric support loops. And eliminate deep fold grooves with hangers that allow you to clip your slacks straight at the waistband or hem.

Slow down. Take the time to position garments properly on the hanger. Button or fasten the top few buttons or closures to keep them where you want them.

Don’t cram them all together. This isn’t the subway. Leave space between garments so that they hang properly or sit folded neatly.

Ditch the plastic. Protect your clothing from dust and airborne pollutants by using a clean, white unbleached sheet or breathable cloth garment storage bags.

In fact, some of that winter gear is getting grimy by now, don’t you think? Perhaps it’s time to take a look at your winter outerwear and see what needs to happen to keep it (and you!) happy for the rest of the season. We’ll help you out with the leather and dry cleanable fabrics.

Gloves and hats. We say this plural because, well, we know where you live. You’ve probably got a drawer of these things. Please, please, please keep them clean. Grimy hands are a definite no-no. And those hats get sweaty. Read your labels and wash regularly, all season long.

The woolen coat. Many people prefer to clean their woolen coats at the start of the season, and again at the end (a must for protecting the wool in storage!). But if you’re wearing a coat day in and day out, it needs more. And when dirt and spills are involved, it’s a no brainer. Invest in a $10 clothes brush and use it often. You might also consider a mid-season dry cleaning for your favorite coats. We would.

The puffy coat. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, puffy coats and their slimmed down brethren are a winter staple. Down coats and jackets may be machine washed with a specialized down cleaner and fluffed back up in the dryer. Newer “technical” fabrics may require special care. Be sure to investigate the manufacturer’s labels.

The leather coat. If you cleaned it at the start of the season, you’re good. Unless it’s been stained or otherwise impaired, just mentally schedule it for its annual cleaning.

The kids’ snow pants. Regular washing necessary. They’re kids. Need we say more? Oh yes, that manufacturer’s care label. Read it.

What are you wearing this winter?

Why not start with the one thing that impacts how you start your day, every day? Your closet. Is it clean? Does it contain clothing you love? Clothing you actually wear? Garments that look great on you? Or are you afraid to open the door? Well, listen up, because we’re about to change your life. It’s January — so we can say that.

Go on, set aside a few hours. And with 4 simple steps, you’ll be starting 2012 with a brand new closet:

Edit. Have you worn it in the past year? Do you really (be honest!) see yourself ever wearing it again? You might need to call in someone you trust to tell it straight. If you don’t love it, if its fit doesn’t love you, if you haven’t worn it once in 18 months — that clothing is history. And yes, this goes for shoes too. Be ruthless. Box it up and drop it in the donations box at any Zoots store.

Alter. Now for the neglected clothes. It’s time to use them or lose them. Decide what needs to be hemmed, which zippers need to be replaced, which heels need fixing. Lay them out, identify what they need (Zoots has a handy alterations form for this purpose) and get them taken care of. Closet real estate is valuable. You want to be able to grab and go.

Protect. Sensitive garments do not appreciate being thrown on the floor. They require TLC. Now’s the perfect time to give your leather coats and shoes a little conditioning. Hang your blouses and slacks on high-quality hangers. Place dresses and suits in breathable garment bags and ensure your sweaters are cleaned and folded neatly on shelves, drawers, in bins or sweater bags.

Organize. We’re not going to tell you how your closet should look, only that organizing it will save you time every morning and stress every week. Guaranteed. So hit the stores and buy bins, racks, hooks, whatever you need to see what you own at a glance. Or get fancy and spring for a closet organizing system. We bet you’ll discover a whole new wardrobe in there.

What’s your closet resolution for 2012?

Wool: We’re sure this has never happened to you: your favorite sweater goes happily into the wash, and comes out looking like it might fit an alien baby. But if you care for it right, your wool clothing may well go out of style before it ever wears out. Treat stains on wool with cold water. And read that label. Please. Some wools may be gently washed. Others, not so much. Merino wool, a popular layering option, is easy to care for. Hand or machine wash on gentle. Reshape and lie flat to dry. Done. Do not – we repeat, do not – throw wool in the dryer. The wooly gods will not be pleased.

Leather: Who doesn’t like soft and supple leather? But soft often means unfinished leathers that are fragile and susceptible to fading, stains and damage. Zoots offers professional leather cleaning

Suede: Suede stands for sensitive! Avoid water marks by keeping dry and regularly brush with a suede or upholstery brush before putting your suede clothing or shoes away.

Cashmere:  It may not be cheap, but it’s worth it. If you want to enjoy that investment for years to come, we’ve got two words for you (they’re right on the label): Dry. Clean. That’s our best advice. We know some people just can’t help themselves when it comes to DIY.  If you’re itching to hand wash your cashmere knits, use plenty of water, a mild detergent and do not twist. Lie flat to dry. Tread carefully.

Silk: Silk under-layers aren’t just for skiing. Silk is a great base for winter layering of all kinds. It feels gentle and should be treated that way. Hand wash your silks with a specially formulated cleanser, or have them professionally cleaned. The exception? Duppioni silk should never be washed—this is a dry clean only item, unless you never want to wear it again.

Boots: It’s fall. We know what’s on your feet. And they need protection from the elements. That means using a quality sealant, brushing dirt from them regularly — and watching where you walk (boot, meet puddle). Indoors, keep boots – especially leather boots – far, far away from drying heat or damp, mold-promoting environments. Like your mother said, put them away!

UGG boots are a special breed. We recommend using UGG’s own sheepskin cleaner and (back away from the blow dryer) finding something else to wear while they dry slowly upside down over a boot drying rack. Or send them our way. Zoots is well versed in the ways of the UGG and will return your boots looking good as new.

So what if winter’s coming early? Bring it on. You’re ready. 

 – a must for keeping your favorite jacket looking good year to year. In between cleanings, avoid storing in plastic, wipe down occasionally with a damp cloth and let dry fully in an open area. Use leather polish for conditioning. If your leather is stained, stickered or discolored, don’t risk it. You know where to find us.



We’re hanging all of our customers’ orders on pink hangers, all month long. And there’s a method to our madness. For every box of pink hangers Zoots purchases from our supplier, MINDA Supply, $1.00 is donated to the American Cancer Society’s efforts to fight breast cancer.


We know that even the guys can handle a little pink in their closets for this important cause.

Help us out.

It’s easy. Drop some pasta on your shirt. Send us all your October laundry. But, in all seriousness, as a Zoots customer, you’re already in. Just by sending us your regular dry cleaning and laundering orders, you’re helping us take a stand against breast cancer. But if you’ve got a few suits that need sprucing up, a bit of tailoring to be done or a few winter coats waiting to be cleaned (and who doesn’t?), we’d like to see them this month.

Every single time we hang up one of your clean, pressed and tailored garments, that’s one more hanger we need to buy. Across all of our store locations and delivery area, that’s a lot of hangers. And every box of hangers means one more dollar to fight breast cancer (you get the idea).

Go on, fill that home delivery bag with shirts, pants, jackets – whatever needs to be freshly cleaned. Get a jump on winter by dropping off your coats and cozy comforters. Tell your friends. Together, we’ll be helping to hang up breast cancer – for good.

Start out on the right foot.
We go step by step (that’s six steps, actually) to inspect your garments for any potential problems we see before we clean them. Maybe there’s a defect in the fabric. Or it might be weak, old or not colorfast. If dry cleaning it looks risky to us, we’ll point that out and let you make the call.
If you give us the go-ahead to clean a sensitive garment, it’s specially marked so our cleaning technicians know to process it with extreme care. If we can’t reach you so you can make an informed decision, we may return your item without cleaning it. Better safe than sorry!

We take good care of you and your clothes.
Whether you send us your special occasion wear or dry clean everything in your closet each week, here’s what you can expect:

• Standard shirt buttons replaced for FREE
• Cuffs and hems tacked for FREE
• Perfectly pressed garments
• Orders that are ready on time, every time
• Customer service that makes your life easy and treats you right

(Other dry cleaners may call these things ‘extras’. But how sharp can you look with a missing button and creases in all the wrong places?)

As close to perfect as you can get.
We do our best to find the spare change and lip gloss you’ve left behind, but please (please!) empty your pockets in advance. (Just like mom used to say.) The items you leave behind can get lost. Or they might go unnoticed and do some serious damage to your clothes during the dry cleaning process. We’re not responsible for finding your pocket items, but we always check — just in case — and if we find anything, we’ll be sure to get it back to you.

Have any questions? Call us at (888) 558-5588, email us at customerservice@zoots.com or speak to us in person at your neighborhood Zoots store.