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Dry cleaning has become a popular choice in recent years. However, many still lack a clear understanding of what dry cleaning entails. How does the dry cleaning process work, and which types of clothing are suitable for it? This article aims to answer all your queries.
1. What is Dry Cleaning? Which Clothes Should Be Dry Cleaned?
Dry cleaning has become a popular choice in recent years. However, many still lack a clear understanding of what dry cleaning entails. How does the dry cleaning process work, and which types of clothing are suitable for it? This article aims to answer all your queries.
What is Dry Cleaning?
Dry cleaning is a process that uses a chemical solvent other than water to clean clothes and delicate fabrics. The commonly used solvent is tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), known in the industry as 'perc' or 'PERC,' or organic hydrocarbon-based solvents. It is used to clean delicate fabrics that regular washing and drying cannot handle.
Is Dry Cleaning Really Effective?
The debate on whether dry cleaning truly ensures cleanliness without water remains. When it comes to dry cleaning, many wonder if it can effectively eliminate stubborn stains. Under the influence of chemicals, even the most resistant stains surrender. Dry cleaning ensures clothes are significantly cleaner compared to conventional washing. However, caution is advised due to potential health impacts of chemicals. Dry cleaning should only be considered for specific fabric types that demand it.
Why Opt for Dry Cleaning?
Dry cleaning has long been an alternative laundering method for certain types of clothing. There are various reasons why garments may need to be dry cleaned, and some primary factors include:
Sensitive Fabric Types:
Certain fabrics are highly sensitive to water, meaning they cannot withstand regular machine washing. For these materials, dry cleaning or gentle handwashing with special, non-alkaline, and non-bleaching agents is essential.
Fading colors on white clothes during laundering is a nightmare. The culprit behind this fading is certain types of clothes dyed with water-based dyes, making them susceptible to fading in water and clinging to light-colored fabric surfaces. However, these dyes are quite resilient when washed in dry cleaning solvents, helping the clothes to retain their color.
The challenge of fabric shrinkage
Some materials containing fibers made from animal hair or dynamic roots such as wool, silk...due to the fabric fiber structure, are prone to shrinking, pulling, fraying, and wrinkling when washed in water.
Quality of laundry matters
Dry cleaning brings perfection to fabric materials and helps maintain the quality and shape of the laundry as originally intended. In practice, to create styles, maintain folds, and the stiffness of new clothes, a special coating layer is often applied. However, when washed in water, these coating layers tend to dissolve, losing the original style and gradually causing the clothes to lose their shape. This rarely happens with dry cleaning. Dry cleaning preserves clothes as they were initially and especially helps retain color durability for a longer time.
So, which types of clothes should be dry cleaned?
Some types of clothing that you should consider dry cleaning include: Leather jackets, woolen clothes, down jackets, etc. However, it's advisable not to buy clothes that can only be dry cleaned. Explore alternative washing methods instead of relying solely on dry cleaning to ensure the health of your family.
How does the dry cleaning process work?
The operation process of the Perc dry cleaning equipment consists of two parts: The path of the laundry and the path of the solvent. Due to the nature of this type of cleaning using a special solvent with recyclable capabilities, the solvent in the dry cleaning machine is continuously circulated. This not only saves costs but also contributes to environmental protection.
Path of the laundry: Essentially similar to wet cleaning, the laundry is placed in the machine, and the machine automatically supplies solvent and pumps chemicals into the washing drum. The cleaning process is automated, including washing, rinsing, and spin-drying. The laundry is then further dried inside the machine before being taken out for ironing, shaping, blowing, and packaging.
Path of the solvent: The flow diagram describes the supply and circulation process of the solvent in industrial dry cleaning machines as shown below:
Dry cleaning is one of the most advanced and modern stain removal methods today. This cleaning process brings many benefits to specific fabric types. Moreover, it helps protect and enhance the lifespan of clothes, shielding them from harmful factors such as fading, fabric discoloration, and more.
Source: Compiled
