ANCHOR LEAD IN:
WE'VE ALL HAD IT HAPPEN - WE SEND A FAVORITE DRESS OR SUIT OUT TO BE DRY CLEANED AND IT COMES BACK IN WORSE SHAPE THAN WE LEFT IT. THERE ARE WAYS TO AVOID COMMON DRY CLEANING PROBLEMS. IN TODAY'S HEADS UP, WE'LL FILL IN THE BLANKS ON YOUR 'SPOTTY KNOWLEDGE'...

TRACK ONE Length: :07
BROKEN BUTTONS...
RUINED EMBROIDERY...
SHRUNKEN CLOTHES...
YOU SEND YOUR NICEST THINGS TO THE DRY CLEANERS, AND THEY COME BACK A WRECK...

SOT:
KEY @: :08 Kelly Cunningham, Has had dry cleaning problems
"No matter which one we go to, there's something happens!"

TRACK TWO Length: :06
WHAT'S A WELL-DRESSED PERSON TO DO? REAL SIMPLE DEPUTY EDITOR ANNE-MARIE O'NEILL HAS THE 'DOWN AND DIRTY'...

SOT
KEY @: :18 Anne-Marie O'Neill, Deputy Editor, Real Simple Magazine
"There's definitely a way to find out whether a dry cleaner is any good before you go handing over your favorite sweater or your mother's wedding gown."

TRACK THREE Length: :08
THAT'S SOMETHING KELLY CUNNINGHAM WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. HE AND HIS WIFE SEND THINGS TO THE DRY CLEANER ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH - AND THE RESULTS AREN'T ALWAYS PRETTY...

SOT
KEY @: :32 Kelly Cunningham, Dry cleaners shrunk his overcoat
"We sent the coat out to be dry cleaned -- it was an expensive coat...It came back and it had shrunk."

TRACK FOUR Length: :11
O'NEILL SAYS ASK AROUND BEFORE YOU GO. SEE WHAT NEIGHBORS THINK, CHECK ON MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL DRY CLEANING GROUPS, AND CALL CONSUMER GROUPS TO LOOK UP OLD COMPLAINTS. GO ELSEWHERE IF...

SOT
KEY @: :50 Anne-Marie O'Neill, Deputy Editor, Real Simple Magazine
"...if the clerk behind the counter just says to you oh, when would you like this returned, and doesn't look at the merchandise, doesn't examine your clothes."

TRACK FIVE Length: :10
BUT CONSUMERS HAVE A JOB, TOO. FOR GOOD RESULTS, EXPLAIN AS MUCH ABOUT STAINED GARMENTS AS POSSIBLE, AND GET THEM TO THE CLEANERS IN 48 HOURS...DISCUSS DELICATE ITEMS BEFOREHAND...

SOT:
KEY @: 1:06 Anne-Marie O'Neill, Deputy Editor, Real Simple Magazine
"If they're not going to guarantee that they will give you any compensation if those things are broken or damaged, then you should consider going to a different dry cleaner that can."

TRACK SIX Length: :02
AND SAVE YOURSELF THE AGGRAVATION...

SOT
NO KEY, COVERED Kelly Cunningham, Dry cleaners shrunk his overcoat
"We kind of just lived with it, but I was a little upset."

ANCHOR TAG:
AND ONE OTHER TIP FROM O'NEILL...IF YOUR SHIRTS COME BACK FROM THE CLEANERS LOOKING GREY, IT MEANS THE CHEMICALS USED TO CLEAN THEM ARE THEMSELVES DIRTY - TIME TO GET A NEW DRY CLEANER. YOU CAN READ MORE IN THIS MONTH'S REAL SIMPLE MAGAZINE.

SOURCE INFORMATION:

Anne-Marie O'Neill
Deputy Editor
Real Simple Magazine
1271 Ave. of the Americas
NY, NY
Press Contact: Laura Riley
212-522-3423
Cell: 646-670-6388
laura_riley@realsimple.com
Real Simple

Anne-Marie O'Neill has been with Real Simple since the beginning of the year. She was previously a senior editor with People magazine.

Real Simple provides inspiration for simplifying every aspect of a busy woman's life. Emphasis is placed on the quality of life and practical solutions for eliminating clutter, managing problems, taking care of the body and nurturing the soul. The magazine features articles on decorating, clothing, health, food, finances, family and work.