Often, dry cleaning is the only way to properly care for things, preserving their color, shape and quality. Professional cleaning is a less convenient and more expensive procedure compared to home care. However, the use of other methods for some clothes may be contraindicated.
The circle marking on the product label indicates the need to go to the dry cleaners. Inside it is sometimes indicated letters that are a clue to the service personnel about what type of cleaner should be used with a specific type of fabric. The underlining of the circle indicates that it is necessary to use special delicate modes when working with the product.
It is also worth contacting a dry cleaner if things are significantly dirty, and it is impossible to restore them with household products. Hard-to-remove stains include:
- drinks (tea, coffee, wine, juice);
- oil and fat;
- organic substances.
Dry cleaning can help if the product has changed in size after home washing: it has shrunk or stretched, as well as if shoes need cleaning. Professional care is necessary for large items: curtains, covers or carpets.
When applying for a dry cleaning service, some clients do not know which type of care to choose: dry or wet cleaning. The optimal method depends on the characteristics of the material from which the product is sewn and the nature of the stains. Next, we will explain in detail the difference between these types of dry cleaning, which will allow each client to correctly choose the necessary service.
What are the features of wet cleaning
Water cleaning is the most familiar process, which partially resembles home washing. It occurs using a washing machine (using water and detergent). The main differences are:
- equipment that allows you to set more accurate (compared to household machines) settings depending on the type of material;
- cleaning agents capable of removing stains while preserving the quality and brightness of the fabric.
The water cleaning method can be used for heavily soiled clothes, as well as products with a porous structure. It allows you to get rid of stains and germs. After this procedure, the products are thoroughly rinsed and dried.
Despite the popular opinion that dry cleaning requires the use of agents that are harmful to health, water cleaning is completely safe. It affects fabrics much more delicately and mildly than household products, but at the same time it removes dirt much better. This method is used not only for outerwear care.
The delicate method is perfectly suitable for washing wedding and evening dresses – the equipment works in such a mode that all decorative ornaments (for example, beads or rhinestones) remain in place. The environmental friendliness of the means allows you to organize even children’s soft toys. After water cleaning, the products smell pleasant and become soft. The cost of wet cleaning is lower than dry cleaning.
The disadvantage of this method is the ability to remove only water-soluble contaminants with its help.
What is dry cleaning
Dry cleaning is not so complete in the sense that only powder or sprinkles are not used to care for things. To remove dirt, things are soaked or washed in special solvents. Water is not used in the care process. Dry-cleaned items are also dried and ironed. This type of cleaning helps:
- remove oil or grease stains. Since these substances are insoluble in water, getting rid of them in another way is problematic;
- to deal with the contamination of things that do not react well to getting wet in water (down jackets, blankets, pillows, woolen or silk products).
The use of ecological means for dry cleaning makes the method completely safe for health. This method is characterized by almost complete absence of shrinkage, wrinkling, fading and deformation of the fabric. Its use allows you to preserve the original properties of materials, protect their texture and extend the useful life of things.
The quality of detergents largely affects the result. The use of cheap chemicals has a negative effect on the brightness of things: light clothes can turn yellow, and colored clothes can become less bright. Dry cleaning is not recommended for people with sensitive skin, as some substances can cause an allergic reaction. There are also restrictions on the use of this type of care for products with decorative elements. Solvent can cause damage to some of them.
How the dry cleaning process works
It will be useful for those who take things to the dry cleaners for the first time to learn how the procedure proceeds. It consists of the following stages:
Reception and labeling
When contacting specialists, it is advisable to provide information about the nature of contamination, which will help employees choose the most effective cleaning products. The customer’s clothing is marked to avoid confusion.
Preliminary stain removal
During the initial inspection, the most contaminated areas are treated with special chemicals designed for certain types of stains and fabrics. At this stage, all decorative elements are covered with a soft fabric to protect them from damage during the dry cleaning process. In some cases, it is necessary to remove jewelry and buttons before the procedure.
Sorting things
It is carried out depending on the color and type of material. Items of several customers with similar characteristics can be loaded into the same washing machine.
Passing the dry cleaning cycle
The dry method involves the use of cleaning agents that evaporate, delicately affecting pollution. During water cleaning, water is poured into the car, and a cleaner is added. Thanks to the ability to precisely set the temperature and choose the optimal drum rotation speed, the clothes are cleaned qualitatively, but at the same time they are not damaged.
Visual inspection of the quality of the work performed
Restoration of the original appearance. If the product is cleaned, the dry cleaners iron and steam it to get rid of creases and creases. After that, removed decorative elements are returned to their place: buttons, brooches, fur.
Professional dry cleaning can guarantee the preservation of the quality of things only if the detergents and equipment are used correctly. Exceeding the optimal washing temperature and cycle duration leads to fabric damage. Based on this, we can conclude that the quality of cleaning clothes depends on technical equipment, the correct choice of detergent, as well as the professionalism of dry cleaners. Timely high-quality care will increase the service life of your favorite things and avoid unnecessary costs caused by updating the wardrobe due to the inability to remove stains on your own.
