What Does Dry Clean Mean?

Since ancient times, mankind has tried to take good care of their clothes to make them last longer and look clean and tidy. Even in times immemorial people invented washing. For many centuries they used water and soap to wash textiles and other materials. Later, washing powder was invented, and in the 19th century, the first dry cleaner appeared. And now, of course, almost everyone has a washing machine at home, but it can not always help, and in several cases, home washing is sure to spoil a beautiful thing. In complicated cases, one turns to dry cleaning services.

Nowadays neither dry-cleaning nor laundry can surprise anyone - these phenomena have firmly entered our lives. Every person almost from childhood knows what it is, and at least once in his life used one of these services or even both. Many brands make it so that customers can better care for their clothes, clothing manufacturers leave customers various notes with useful information on how to properly wash, iron, and dry the product. If you see an empty black circle on the label of a garment, it means that the garment can only be cleaned “dry cleaned”. We will tell you what dry cleaning is and how to do it correctly in this blog.

Of course, this is not a new idea, back in the mid-19th century, a French tailor came up with the idea of cleaning clothes without the help of water. He started using liquid solvents and soap. Later this method was introduced in Great Britain, and now dry cleaners use this improved version.

Contrary to popular belief, dry cleaning does not remove stains and other dirt “dry”, without immersion in any liquid. From the outside, the process is even similar to regular washing at home: things are placed in special apparatuses, similar to large washing machines. However, instead of water and powder, a special solvent (in most cases it is tetrachloroethylene) is added to the clothes. This is the main difference between dry cleaning and washing - the removal of stains occurs without water, solely due to the use of liquid solvents.

The whole process is as follows: the professionals take the item and examine it for contaminants. At this stage, he also learns from the client what product or substance that got on the clothes, left behind a stain. The dirt is then treated with a special stain remover and placed in a dry cleaning machine. In it, the clothes are constantly washed with a stream of solvent.

The used product does not flow into the sewer, as in conventional washing, but is continuously passed through a system of filters, and then goes back into the machine for further use. At the end of the procedure, the garment is cleaned of the solvent and placed in a dryer and then steamed or ironed. However, before preparing the item for delivery to the client, it is thoroughly checked for any remaining stains. If stains are detected, they will be spot-treated with special means.

In short, the key difference lies in the method used for cleaning. Washing is done with water and detergent, while dry cleaning is done with detergent only, without water. This is why this cleaning method is traditionally also called dry cleaning.

There are materials that do not tolerate contact with water at all - for example, suede. There are also those that are not recommended to be washed frequently, such as silk. The reason lies in the very structure of materials: water breaks it, and, accordingly, the properties, shape, texture, appearance, and so on are changed. Due to the lack of contact with water, dry cleaning allows you to keep such products in pristine condition.

Firstly, the professionals use expensive cleaning agents that you are unlikely to find in the public domain. And if you do, it is quite risky to use them yourself. It is important to observe the dosage of the drug and take into account the nuances of the material from which the product is made.

Secondly, dry cleaning specialists analyze the fabric before the procedure, and then choose an acceptable method of cleaning, based on the results of the test. The equipment used by masters, like a household washing machine, has several “washing” programs. Without the appropriate technological knowledge, you will not be able to select the right mode, and even the best cleaning agent can either harm your clothes or simply not give the desired effect.

This cleaning method is useful not only for things made of delicate fabrics but also for more “simple” materials. For example, dry cleaning shoes, home textiles, and underwear, children's clothes is a great way to return the products to freshness and cleanliness.

The main advantages of professional dry cleaning are as follows:

Preservation of color and structure. After repeated home washing, any product sooner or later loses its marketable appearance, the color of the material fades, and the fabric is stretched out. White clothes cease to be white, and bright colors become faded. Dry cleaning preserves color and aesthetic appearance.

Complex treatment. In dry cleaning, your things will not only clean them from contaminants but also treat them with protective agents. This is especially relevant for footwear, and outerwear. Upon agreement with the customer is carried out ozonization procedure, which returns the product freshness.

Deep cleaning from bacteria and microbes. Not always household washing powder copes with microorganisms that “settle” inside textiles and other materials.

Saving time. In the case of strong contaminants clean them immediately, otherwise the stain will enter too deeply. But in everyday life, it is not always possible to organize washing immediately. It is much easier to immediately hand over the product to professional cleaning. Proper drying of “capricious” fabrics also takes time. The dry cleaner carries out all the procedures himself and saves you from unnecessary hassle.

So, let's look at the cases when you can't do without dry cleaning. It is necessary if:

Contamination on the fabric is strong and deep. Washing machines and household detergents can not cope with stale, ingrained stains, and complex contaminants.

The product will lose its shape if it is washed in the machine. This applies to evening dresses, tuxedos, expensive business suits, coats, etc.

There is a lot of decoration on the product, which can not be removed. Evening dress, wedding attire, and other closet items run the risk of being hopelessly spoiled both by machine and hand washing. Decor can not only come off in the process but also change color after contact with ordinary powder.

The item is too bulky and heavy - down jacket, comforter, plaid, etc. A bulky item will hardly fit in the washing machine drum, and when it gets wet, it will become so heavy that you risk breaking the washing equipment.

The item is sewn from a material that does not tolerate contact with water - the manufacturer forbids washing, as reported on the product tag.

Dry cleaning is also recommended in the case of materials that do not like frequent washing or require special treatment during drying. For example, certain types of wool and silk can be washed by hand, but drying them in domestic conditions is a whole epic. Products made of delicate materials easily sit or stretch out, so they are laid out on a horizontal surface and put down a dry cloth that absorbs excess moisture. It must be changed as it gets wet, otherwise the thing will smell damp. The process is quite long, and accelerating it with the help of heating devices is prohibited: delicate fabrics should dry naturally.

Professional dry-cleaning completely saves you from such troubles. After cleaning, the items are dried under appropriate conditions and then packed in individual bags.

Dry cleaning is suitable for most fabrics but was originally developed for delicate materials.

Different types of silk: natural silk and some artificial silks - as these fabrics may shrink when treated with hot water.
Woolen items, such as cashmere or angora garments.
Knitwear.
Fine linen and cotton.
Things made of leather and suede, as well as those made of a different mixture of fibers. However, with them you need to be as careful as possible, many stain removers can spoil them.
Velvet.
Clothes decorated with complex decor, for example, embroidery, beads, lace, rhinestones.
Hard things are treated with special compositions, which after normal washing will lose their shape.

Strictly speaking, the dry cleaning of clothes that you need can't really be simply done at home. However, if you urgently need to remove stains from your clothes with this cleaning method, you can use the following methods to try to achieve the desired result.

You need a washing machine with a drying mode and special products: stain remover, scented drying cloths, and a wash bag.

First, prepare your clothes by removing lint, debris, and dust.

Apply stain remover to the dirty areas of the garment. Turn delicate materials inside out. Sort clothes by weight, material type, and color.

Place the sorted items in bags without completely stuffing them. There should also be some space left in the drum of your washer or dryer. Put scented clothes in the same bags.

The principle of operation is as follows: during drying the machine heats the napkins, and moisture evaporates from them. Thanks to this, things are impregnated with a pleasant fragrance and do not wrinkle.