The dry cleaning industry can be divided into 3 sectors: coin-operated facilities, commercial operations, and industrial cleaners.
Coin-Operated Facilities
Coin-operated facilities are usually part of a laundry supplying “self-service” dry cleaning for consumers. Only synthetic solvents are used in coin operated dry cleaning machines.
Commercial and Industrial Dry Cleaning
Customers bring garments to drop shops which sends them to large plants. Cleaned garments are returned for customer pickup, minimizing fire or fume risk from the cleaning process.
What is Dry Cleaning?
Dry cleaning is any cleaning process for clothing and textiles using a solvent other than water. Clothes are instead soaked in a water-free liquid solvent (usually non-polar, as opposed to water which is a polar solvent). Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), known in the industry as "perc", is the most widely used solvent. For stubborn stains and delicate fabrics, dry cleaning can be a lifesaver.
The term “dry cleaning” refers to a solvent that contains very little or no water. Large, technologically sophisticated, computer-controlled dry cleaning machines are commonly used by dry cleaners.
Historical Context of Dry Cleaning
Since Roman times, ammonia has been used to clean woolen togas to avoid shrinkage. In the 1930s, cleaners began utilizing perchloroethylene, or “perc.” This chlorinated solvent is still widely used today, despite being carcinogenic and having a characteristic odor.
The modern form of dry cleaning was incidentally discovered in 19th-century France when Jean Baptiste Jolly noticed his dirty tablecloth looked cleaner after kerosene from a lamp was spilled on it.
The Dry Cleaning Process
The dry cleaning process includes the following steps:
- Classifying items by delicacy, color, and special details that could be affected by the process.
- Tagging clothing with information to help identify it when ready.
- Special treatments, like pretreating stains, before they are placed in the dry cleaning machine.
Garment Care and Dry Cleaning
Before dry cleaning, check your garment label for the recommended method of cleaning. The care label symbol for dry clean is a circle, and some labels indicate the recommended type of dry cleaning solvent by a letter inside the circle.
- Inform your dry cleaner about any stains.
- Don’t try to clean "dry clean only" garments at home.
Dry cleaning removes stains such as oil and sweat that are difficult to remove using other methods. It keeps clothes looking newer for longer by avoiding moisture that can cause wrinkles and damage fabrics.
In conclusion, dry cleaning is a specialized cleaning method that uses solvents to clean garments and fabrics without the use of water, suitable for delicate fabrics and removing tough stains.