I have to say, my local Tip Top is the best!…read more They get stains out, they fixed my jeans when the zipper broke that time I ate too much, they dry clean my dresses after a messy Saturday night, and all with friendly service and a smile on their face. Applause, please! Located just down the road from me off Portrush Rd, this ensures I am there almost every week with another garment bag and pleading eyes. They are not very expensive and are very thorough in their work. Additionally, they are located right next to Marcellina and Blockbuster is just in the next complex over - clean clothes, pasta, and dvds all in one trip.

I don't get things dry cleaned too often and expected to pay about $6 to get a silk dress…read moredrycleaned so i was a bit taken a back by the $22 quote. However I went ahead with it and they did a good job. The place is clean and tidy and the woman who served me businesslike and kinda amused by my horror at the price. I'm out of touch so it seems.

Dry cleaning. It's the kind of thing I do, in a total rush and panic, when I realise I want to wear…read morea particular piece within the next few days. Lucky for me, I've got Ford Dry Cleaners a hop skip and jump down the road - and they can usually turn it around in a day or two. Service is really good (though I never go in for anything but your basic dry cleaning) and the prices are on par. They always treat my babies gently and have always removed any specific stains I've brought to their attention - including one huge coffee stain on my cream Lover dress, which I was totally freaked out about. They also offer your usual bits and bobbins - zips, dyes, buttons and the like - as well as minor alterations, but I wouldn't really recommend them for anything but the super basic, super specific alteration, as they're not really set up for it and don't have a change room. But hey - they do one thing and they do it well.

The other week I made the great decision of wearing my new $350 dress into town. This ended in…read moretown- 1, dress- 0. I tearily took it into Ford hoping they would somehow magically make the alcohol and mud stains disappear from the silk. The lady took one look and said they would do their best but she couldn't promise anything. I returned 4 days later having very low expectations, as long as it was almost wearable I would be happy. But OH MY GOD it was perfect. They left a note on the dress saying there were a few spots left, but I couldn't see them. I was so ecstatic I could of kissed the lady serving me. Definitely the best $19 I have spent in my life. I'm generally not a dry-cleaning person. I usually put the washing machine on gentle and hope nothing shrinks. However, there are some special items that definitely need dry cleaning. I would most definitely recommend Ford. They are friendly, fast and do a brilliant job.

Mitcham Cultural Village is a part of the Mitcham City Council and is an interactive community…read morecentre. Located at the fringe of Adelaide's beautiful foothills sits this old heritage Institute building which has been transformed into a venue for hire. It is comprised of three sections which are the main hall, an East Wing and a Meeting Room and caters for meetings, birthday parties, quiz nights and the like. They also have arts and crafts tutition classes where anyone can book to learn various skills and is a great way of meeting others with similar interests. The main hall contains the Coordinators office who is more than happy to take you on a tour of the facilities and answering any questions you may have about the centre and your requirements. There is an open space which has art and craft displays and exhibitions, adding interest and colour to the new foyer. Mitcham Cultural Villages hosts a art and craft market biannually and is a great place to go and buy original handmade items as gifts.

Standish Cycles is one of the better all-rounder bike shops I've come across. They do a decent…read morerange of just about everything, including mid-range road bikes, mountain bikes, commuters, BMX and kids bikes. You don't see many BMX bikes sold in standard stores, yet these guys have a good range. They're also more than happy to order you in parts for fixed-gear bikes or BMX if you're building something uncommon. The guys in the store are very helpful, and all bike-mad, which means they know their stuff and will tell you a lot extra if you're keen to know what's going on or what they've been up to. Their range of kids bikes has quite dramatically increased over the past month, presumably in time for Christmas, and they have also extended their stock of retro cruisers, which come in a variety of colours. Also, a small bike extension to add onto a larger bike is only $229 - that's one way to enjoy the summer holidays with your kids!

Yay, bikes! Even with all the public transport and car driving going on these days, I still prefer…read morea good old fashioned bike ride. Standish Cycles have always been one of the best. They've been at West Lakes for as long as I can remember, and the staff really seem to know what they're doing. I've gone into this store several times with my mum, trying to find extra bike or skateboard accessories for my brother, even though we had no idea what we were looking for, and all we had to do was attempt to explain what we were looking for to the staff members and they immediately knew what we were on about. That's what I call good customer service.

I use this place for alterations primarily because it's convenient - I couldn't tell you how cheap…read moreor expensive they are in comparison to other places because I don't use them often enough and I honestly haven't been anywhere else; but their service here is friendly and helpful. $5 to have a button replaced (yes, I am that hopeless with a needle and thread that I even need to get someone to replace buttons for me) and $11 to have a hem on a woollen jumper reinforced.

Seems like somebody actually cared to try and make a laundromat a slightly interesting place. Apart…read morefrom the old wash machine by the front window and the 1/2 a Hills Hoist that you walk under as you enter. They also have an Internet pay machine and reading material (this is a norm). Not just standard reading material but local poster of arts shows that are on and guide books for events and the like. I grabbed a Garden of Unearthly Delights booklet when I went through which was great preparation for the Fringe that is coming up. No as many machines as some but they're normally seem to be a few empty. Prices are normal sort of range but I almost come just for the decor.

I had Tony from Ezy Kleen come to clean my carpets and lounge at Gawler East . Couldn't believe…read morethe difference. Great job and service will have him back.