Things You Should Know About Dry Cleaning
Washing machines are ubiquitous in households, but not all items can be safely laundered or dried in them. Some garments require the specialized care of a professional dry cleaner.
Dry cleaning is a method for cleaning clothes that cannot withstand immersion in water. While many are familiar with this service, not everyone fully understands its scope or process. This guide aims to clarify everything you need to know to decide if dry cleaning services are right for you.
What is Dry Cleaning?
Delicate clothing and textiles should be sent to dry cleaners for specialized treatment, avoiding water immersion and standard laundry detergents. Contrary to its name, dry cleaning doesn’t use water but instead employs non-water-based solvents to effectively remove stains, dirt, and other impurities from garments without causing damage to the fabric.
How Does Dry Cleaning Work?
Dry cleaning differs from conventional washing services by using chemical solvents like hot hydrocarbon solvents or perchloroethylene instead of water to remove dirt and stains from clothing. These solvents effectively lift away grease, dirt, and stubborn stains that water-based methods may struggle with. Unlike water, which can distort or shrink fabrics, the chemical solvents penetrate the fibers without causing damage.
During the dry cleaning process, your garments are placed in a front-loading washer, similar to standard laundry machines. As the washer gently tumbles, the chemical solvent is sprayed onto the fabric, dissolving and removing any particles. The solvent, along with dirt and stains, is filtered out of the machine. Finally, the garments are dried after the cleaning process is complete.
Dry Cleaning Process:
Dry cleaning is a straightforward and efficient method for cleaning garments, despite its perceived complexity. UK dry cleaners typically follow standard procedures to ensure garments are treated with care and cleaned effectively. Here’s a summary of what you can expect when you send your clothing for dry cleaning:
Step 1 – Examining:
Before commencing the cleaning process, a dry cleaner carefully inspects each garment you bring in, checking for stains or any damage. This inspection helps determine the appropriate cleaning method and identifies any repairs that may be needed.
Step 2 – Labelling Clothes:
The dry cleaner will assign a unique tag or number to your clothing, facilitating inventory management and ensuring accurate identification during collection.
Step 3 – Pre Treatment:
To enhance the effectiveness of stain removal during the cleaning process, any stains or spots found during inspection will be pre-treated with a specialized cleaning solution. Additionally, all buttons or decorations will be covered to protect them from damage during washing. In some cases, these items may also be removed for separate cleaning and then reattached afterward.
Step 4 – Cleaning Up:
Once the pre-treatment is completed, the garment is placed into a large machine where it undergoes cleaning with a solvent designed to remove dirt, grease, and other stains. This machine efficiently cleans the fabric using a combination of heat and agitation. Dry cleaners have precise temperature controls and can adjust the spin speed to be much slower than standard washers, ensuring gentle treatment of delicate fabrics.
.
Step 5 – Drying:
Once the cleaning cycle is complete, the garments are taken out of the machine and transferred to a drying unit. Here, the drying process begins by extracting the solvent, utilizing heat, and controlling airflow to dry the clothing thoroughly.
Step 6 – Examine Again:
The garments undergo a final inspection to ensure all stains have been removed and that any buttons or embellishments that were not removed earlier remain intact. Any damage incurred can be repaired at this stage.
Step 7 – Packaging and Finishing:
The clothing is then pressed, steamed, or ironed to give it a fresh, polished appearance. Following this, it is either hung or folded and placed in a protective plastic bag until it is ready for pickup.
Conclusion:
Dry cleaning services offer a convenient cleaning solution for individuals with busy schedules. White Drycleaning and Laundry Service provides a seamless laundry pickup and delivery service, ensuring you receive freshly laundered and ironed items without any effort on your part. Additionally, we offer a complimentary laundry cleaning delivery service for your convenience, allowing you to manage all your clothing needs conveniently in one place.
