New Year, New You

It’s a new year! That, of course, doesn’t mean that the hardships and uncertainty of 2020 will disappear. However, we can make a conscious effort to declutter our minds by simplifying our lives. So, to maintain that “New Year, New You” mentality, here are some great tips that are easy to implement.

Take Care of Your Health

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to focus on our health and the health of our loved ones. This doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can be as easy as starting to take a multi-vitamin every day, if you don’t already. Talk to your doctor about any nutritional supplements that might be beneficial for your specific health concerns. Your local pharmacy should carry everything you need. And you may even be able to get a nutritional consultation from your pharmacy as well.

Don’t Stress About the Little Things

We all have daily chores that can get ahead of us if we let them. It’s silly to stress about things like housework and laundry. If clothes are piling up, and it’s just adding too much stress to your life, consider hiring a laundry service. Having someone pick up your dirty laundry, wash, dry and fold them and deliver them back to you can be quite a lifesaver. There’s no reason to feel guilty about spending money on something like that if it’s within your budget. Checking things off your list that add to your stress is a good thing.

Make an Effort to Improve the Lives of Others

There’s no better way to improve your own life than by improving the life of someone you love. This past year has probably been especially tough on your elderly loved ones and neighbors. Be sure to check in on them often. Even if they have a home health aide or caregiver, they may be missing that personal contact from their loved ones. Nothing can replace a phone call from someone you love. This goes for friends with little ones at home too. Parents have played both caregiver and teacher roles for the last year, and it can be incredibly stressful. Just ordering a meal or sending over a gift basket to a mom or dad in your life would be an incredible gesture.

Doing these simple things can lead to a new you in this coming year!

Going Green: Tips for Eco-Friendly Laundry

Laundry is one of those chores that can be resource intensive and a significant polluter, but it doesn’t have to be. Yes, you can go green and get your laundry clean. There are a few simple things you can do to make wash day more eco-friendly.

Do Full Loads

A full load uses less energy and water than two half loads. Save water, energy, and time.

Use Eco-Friendly Detergent

Choose a laundry detergent without added dyes, fragrances, and petroleum-based chemical compounds. Some dry cleaners offer eco-friendly wash, dry, fold service that uses custom detergent, formulated to be eco-friendly and boost cleaning power.

Use Less Detergent

Pay attention to the amount of detergent you use, too. Read and follow the directions on the detergent box. Too much detergent not only dumps more soap into the water, but also reduces the washer’s efficiency.

Use Non-Chlorine Bleach

Chlorine has many damaging effects on the environment, and you don’t really need it to get your laundry white. Try lemon juice or a “free and clear” bleach. To help save the environment, we should try to use only chlorine-free laundry products.

Use the Right Dryer Settings

Match the drying time to the load. For example, nylon dries faster than denim. Use lower heat to save energy. I dry all clothes in low/medium heat.

Upgrade Your Washing Machine

Commercial washers are already more efficient than home washers. The newest generation of high-efficiency washers is designed to use even less energy and less water. This new technology is available in home washers now too.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Try a concentrated eco-friendly detergent to get the same amount of wash from a smaller package. Recycle plastic detergent bottles. Reuse laundry bags, hangers, containers, and anything else you can think of – be creative. Some eco-friendly dry cleaners use reusable laundry bags for laundry pickup and delivery service, too.

Spend Time With Your Family, Not Your Laundry

I prefer to take my laundry to the dry cleaner near me, or use their free laundry pickup service. That way, the hours and energy that I spend on laundry are better spent on playing with my kids and watching TV with my family. Wouldn’t you do the same?

Surprising Items That Can Be Dry Cleaned

When most of us think about taking clothes to our Boston dry cleaner, we think of our work casual wardrobe, suits, dresses and maybe some of our fancier attire like gowns, dresses and delicate materials. But there is actually more items that are safe to be dry cleaned than you realize. Read on for some surprising items that can be taken to the dry cleaners nearby.

Designer Jeans

We all have at least one pair of designer jeans that we splurged on because they just fit so amazing. To keep them fitting so amazing, did you know you can take them to the dry cleaners? Dry cleaning services include denim garments like jeans and jackets. Premium denim can lose it’s shape and color in the laundry when you run them through the washer and dryer. So to get your money’s worth, take those fancy jeans to the dry cleaners.

Comforters

Depending on what material your comforter is made of, you may be able to get away with washing it at home. If you have a down comforter, you should avoid taking it to the dry cleaners since the products used could damage it. However, most non-down comforters dry cleaned once a year. This is a great way to freshen up your bedding and have it look like new again.

Don’t forget that you can take advantage of a laundry drop off service in Boston for these bulky items. If you have a senior adult at home with in home living assistance, the home health aide can do this as well.

Throw Pillows

If you have throw pillows made of delicate materials like wool or silk, it’s best to leave the cleaning to the professionals. Home washing machines can be too harsh for decorative pillows. I would take them to a dry cleaner near me to clean your throw pillows thoroughly while maintaining the shape of the material.

Shoes and Sneakers

Yes, you read that right. You can have your shoes and sneakers dry cleaned. Check with the dry cleaners nearby about your specific shoes, but most will take gyms shoes and dress shoes. Suede shoes, in particular, should always be professionally dry cleaned as opposed to washed at home.

If you have an item at home that you’re not sure is safe to be dry cleaned or not, don’t be afraid to ask the dry cleaners.

Why Shop Local?

When you shop at your local pharmacy or drycleaner, you’re not only building relationships but also strengthening the fabric of your entire community. Local business owners know you, and you know them.

When you see someone frequently at the coffee shop, dry cleaner, or hardware store, you build relationships with people who have similar needs and interests. Shopping at local businesses connects neighbors with each other. It’s social networking without the screen!

You get better customer service when you shop local. When you fill a prescription at a community pharmacy you are likely to be served by the owner or a long-time employee who knows your medical history and medication needs. Many local pharmacies also offer specialties such as compounded medications. A local laundry service or dress shop knows your preferences so you get more personalized service.

Local businesses are more likely to donate to community events, local non-profits, and sports teams. Studies have shown that they do so at over twice the rate of large chains. This kind of participation brings the community closer together.

Did you know that each dollar you spend at a local independent business can bring as much as $3.50 into the local economy? Local businesses are customers of local ad agencies, insurance brokers, accountants, printers, lawyers and other services and often buy locally-made goods too. This creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to start more local businesses.

Some studies have reported that local businesses employ more people directly per dollar of revenue than national chains thus creating higher-paying jobs for your neighbors. But it’s not just the jobs at the independent pharmacy, the laundry pickup service, or the boutique that get created. As the local economy strengthens, you’re helping create jobs for firefighters, police officers, teachers, and other public service employees as well!

Author: The WSI Touch is a digital marketing agency serving small and medium-sized businesses in Boston, Massachusetts.

What’s in Auburndale, MA?

In case you haven’t heard of Auburndale, MA, it is one of the thirteen villages that comprise Newton. Situated in the West part of Newton, it borders Wellesley on the West and Waltham in the North. It is conveniently situated at the intersection of the Mass Pike (Interstate 90) and Route 128 (Interstate 95). It is home to Lasell University and Woodland Golf Club. Auburndale Park has play & picnic areas, trails, tennis courts & a ball field in a tranquil location by the river. The playground equipment includes slides and climbing nets that blend in well with the natural surroundings.

Auburndale Plaza is a shopping center conveniently located on the main thoroughfare, Commonwealth Avenue. It is anchored by the supermarket chain Star Market. There is also a dry cleaner, Utopia Cleaners, a Bank of America, Supercuts and Bruegger’s Bagels.

Utopia Cleaners provides green dry cleaning services, as well as wash and fold laundry service. It’s open Monday through Saturday. As part of a dry cleaning company with 5 stores in Greater Boston, Utopia Cleaners processes clients’ dry cleaning and laundry at its own facility in Arlington. Through its free laundry drop off, dry cleaning pickup and delivery service, it serves neighbors not only in Newton, but also Wellesley and Waltham. If you need your clothing cleaned at the last minute, which happens when you are too busy and forget, then you can depend on Utopia Cleaners’ same day dry cleaning service.

Also, just one block away from Auburndale Plaza is the local pharmacy, Keyes Drug. This popular drug store provides prescription refills and delivery, vitamins & supplements, vaccines, orthopedic braces, home health products like walkers, incontinence aids, and diabetic supplies, as well as general health and beauty products for eye care, dental care, hair care, skin care and much more.

Keyes Drug is also a compounding pharmacy that provides compounded medications for various conditions including Autism, Dermatology, Diet restrictions/allergies, GI/digestion, Hormone balancing for men and women, Mitochondrial and metabolic diseases, Pain management, Pediatric and Veterinary needs.

Auburndale is a safe and beautiful community that is well-equipped with all your lifestyle needs and many more good things to offer!