What is Dry Cleaning?
Ever wondered how fabrics and clothes are actually cleaned at the Dry Cleaners? How do they manage it without getting the clothes wet? Well actually they don't. The name comes from the fact that the dry cleaning process doesn't use any water. The items being cleaned are actually immersed in a liquid solvent that does the job without the need of water to help carry away the dirt and grime, as happens with the washing we all do at home.
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What is Dry Cleaning?[/caption]So let's take a look at how the process actually works.
Dry Cleaning Solvent
Modern dry cleaning has been around for just over 200 years, and early dry cleaners used a number of solvents to do the cleaning, including petrol and kerosene. Developments in the chemical industry over the last 75 years led to the development of a number of synthetic solvents, some of which were quite dangerous to work with, but they all eventually gave way to a chemical known as perchlorethylene, generally known as just "perc". It is safer, works more effectively and takes less time to do the job than its' predecessors and so has become universally used throughout the industry.
Dry Cleaning Machines
The actual cleaning takes place in a machine not unlike a domestic combined washer/tumble dryer. They are larger than your machine at home and, depending on the particular machine, hold up to around 45kg. The clothes are placed in perforated drum and throughout the cleaning cycle the drum rotates and the solvent washes in through the drum and around the fabrics, lifting and removing dirt and stains. The machine also includes filters that allow the solvent to be cleaned and recycled many times, so unlike a domestic machine which pumps the dirty water away into the drains every wash, a dry cleaning machine is far more economical and eco-friendly as it drains far fewer solvents into the environment.
The final cycles spin the fabrics to expel and remaining solvent, and then tumble dries them with warm air.
Finishing
Once the clothes and fabrics have been through the actual dry cleaning machines, they are pressed to put them in to the pristine condition we all expect when we collect our items.
The steps involved in achieving the desired finish include:
Applying steam to soften the fabric
Removing the steam using compressed air or a vacuum
Re-shaping a garment with quick drying
Pressing the garment
Pre Treatment and Post Treatment of Stains
Like all cleaning processes, Dry Cleaning has its limits and there are some stains that the normal cleaning cycle won't shift. When items are taken in to the dry cleaners the staff will inspect them to try to spot such stains, and again after the cleaning a final check will be carried out to spot any that are still there. Where these stains are spotted, other stronger solvents will be applied directly to the stain which will remove the vast majority. There are of course some stains which just can't be removed however hard the cleaners may try, and these would include bleached spots or tanin stains that have set in over time.
Worthing Cleaners are a Worthing based office cleaning company with a wealth of experience to share to help you keep your workspace clean and in top condition. Click on the link to find out more: Worthing Cleaners
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