Did you know that your clothes can be cleaned using a variety of methods? Dry cleaning is one of the popular ways of getting your clothes cleaned. It is the process of cleaning cloth with chemical solvents instead of water. You may be thinking that why will I want to dry clean my clothes when I can easily just wash them at home and save myself some money?? Well, dry cleaning has a lot of benefits but the most common reason why you dry clean some of your clothes is because some fabrics don’t handle water very well like wool and some other kind of fabric.
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History of Dry Cleaning.
Dry-cleaning originated in France and became popular in Europe and America before World War I. The history of dry cleaning goes way back to 1855. The idea was brought to America by a Frenchman named George Appel who was the first person to patent the dry cleaning method. Since then, this has become one of the most popular methods of clothing cleaning around the world.
Dry cleaning started with the use of kerosene and gasoline to clean clothes. Then it got more advanced with the help of dry cleaning fluid which is also known as perchloroethylene popularly called perc
Perc is a chlorinated solvent that can dissolve grease and oil pretty well as opposed to water. The use of this chemical made the process of dry cleaning a lot more efficient as it can easily remove dirt from the surface of the cloth.
However, this chemical has some health hazards associated with it as it can cause skin irritation and potential damage to kidneys. The use of perc is strictly regulated for dry cleaning purposes.
Are Dry Cleaning Chemicals Harmful?
Perc is the most common type of chemical used in dry cleaning. However, in the recent past, people have started to become concerned about the effect that this chemical has on human health. To address these concerns, chemists are constantly working on developing alternative chemicals which are less harmful but can still get the job done efficiently for you without damaging your clothes.
Dry cleaning chemicals can cause several health issues when exposed to the air, water, and even land.
How Dry Cleaning Works.
We all know that the standard method of washing clothes at home involves the use of water. However, dry cleaning methods don’t involve any kind of water which makes it a preferable option for those who have some sensitive clothing they wish not to wash with water as they can be damaged if submerged in water
So how does it work? Let’s look at how
1. The cloth is put in a bag and tied to prevent it from moving around. The cloth is then fed into the machine and the dry cleaning fluid (Perc) is forced through the fibers of the cloth which loosens up all that dirt, oil, and grime that has been ground into your clothes over time. This process is called mechanical action and it also helps in softening the fibers of your cloth.
2. After this, a series of rollers compress the cloth and push the solution out through another hose. This process is called the wringing operation.
3. The dirty solvent is then fed to a machine where it goes through a process to recover any usable solvent.
4. The cloth is then rinsed in a fresh solvent and put in the dryer to remove any excess fluid it might have absorbed.
5. Finally, the clothes are hung up for some time so that they can get completely dried out before being sent back to you.
Why People Prefer Dry Cleaning their Clothes instead of Washing them.
Well, dry cleaning has a few benefits that make people prefer it over traditional methods of washing clothes. Some of the reasons you might want to go for dry clean include:
1. Some fabrics are not suited for washing with water which is why you need to get them dry cleaned by professionals who know what they are doing!
2. If you have some delicate clothing that can get damaged with water, dry cleaning is your best bet.
3. Dry cleaning is the only way to get rid of certain stains that are impossible to remove even by washing them!
4. Dry cleaning can remove all kinds of odors from your clothing that you might not be able to remove from the washing machine.
5. Some people don’t trust themselves to clean their clothes and prefer getting dry cleaned as they want it done by a professional who knows how to work with delicate materials and fabric.
6. Dry cleaning preserves the quality of cloth as they don’t use water which can cause the fabric to wear away at the seams and fade as well as destroy delicate textures.
7. It prevents shrinking and shrinkage of clothes which is a common problem with water-based washing.
How Much Does Dry Cleaning Cost?
This depends mostly on where you live. in most parts of the world, dry cleaning price is usually around $2 per item which might go up depending on the type of fabric and how delicate it is. Some places also offer discounts for getting multiple items done at once so that costs will be split between different items.
The Commercial Dry Cleaning Process.
While the commercial drycleaning process might cost more than the home-based cleaning method, it is much safer and effective when it comes to removing all kinds of stains. The process starts by
- Tagging: When you drop off your cloth at the dry cleaner, each item is tagged with an identification number to avoid mix-ups
- Inspection: the materials are inspected before the process begins to ensure that all chemicals used are compatible with the fabric. and to note the condition of the cloth before beginning the process.
- Pre-stain removal: the items are pre-treated to loosen up stains and dirt before the actual cleaning process begins.
- Dry Cleaning: is when the actual cleaning with the solvent is done. After this, the items are run through a drying machine to ensure that the solvent has been completely removed.
- Post dry cleaning inspection: the final step involves an inspection of each item to check for any stains or areas that were not properly cleaned. any problem area is then treated with extra chemicals until it is clean enough.
- Packaging; the items are then packed and sent back to the customers.
In conclusion, you should go for dry cleaning your cloth as it gives you a lot more benefits than the regular washing method. while the commercial drycleaning process might cost more than the home-based cleaning method, it is much safer and effective when it comes to removing all kinds of stains.