Dry cleaners are a specialist type of laundry service that cleans clothes that are unsuitable for cleaning with regular washing. Clothing made from delicate materials and garments such as suits and coats are often marked as ‘dry clean only’, indicating that they may be damaged if you attempt to wash them yourself or take them to a regular laundry.
How Dry Cleaning Works:
Dry cleaning uses special solvents in place of water to clean clothing and remove stains. The garments are placed into a machine that looks similar to a regular washing machine with a rotating drum. When the cycle is started, the machine fills with solvent which dissolves dirt and stains from the fabric. After several rinses with the solvent, the clothes are spun with warm air which dries the clothing and evaporates any remaining solvent.
Professional Dry Cleaning Is Required For:
Delicate Fabrics
Garments made from delicate fabrics like silk usually need to be sent to a dry cleaners rather than washed at home as a normal washing process will damage the fibers and leave water marks on the clothing. Very fine fabrics such as chiffon or fine muslin also need to be either dry cleaned or hand washed as they can easily tear in a normal washing machine.
Thick Garments
Thick garments made from woolen fabric such as coats and suit jackets are also candidates for dry cleaning as they may shrink or become misshapen if washed with water. Any special finishes on an item of clothing such as pin tucks or pressed creases can also be maintained by getting a professional to clean and press the item.
‘Dry Clean Only’ Items
Items of clothing marked ‘dry clean only’, using a dry cleaners can be a way to remove stubborn stains from clothing that have remained after a normal wash cycle. Grease stains in particular are more easily removed with a solvent rather than water and detergent.
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Other Benefits of Professional Dry Cleaners
Even small towns will usually have at least one dry cleaners and they are usually very efficiently run businesses which are convenient for busy people. Owning a lot of clothes that require dry cleaning can be quite time-consuming.
Dry cleaning is still among the most popular methods of washing to this date and it has various benefits that make it a favourable choice for those with busy schedules. Some dry cleaning services now offer app access, which means you can become more efficient. Some Dry Cleaners even offer a free pickup and delivery, so they work around your schedule to provide the best service.
A same-day dry cleaner may help to ease your burden. These services allow you to drop off your clothing in the morning and collect it, cleaned and ready to be worn again, later that same day. Some cleaners even offer a pickup and drop off service to avoid the hassle of taking the items yourself.