Dry cleaning (or dry-cleaning) is any cleaning process for clothes and textiles utilizing an organic solvent instead of water. In fact, the term “dry cleaning” is misleading; it is called dry cleaning since the fluid consists of little or no water and does not penetrate the fibers as water does. Dry cleaning utilizes perchloroethylene (perc) to remove soil and stains from fabric. It has the ability to dissolve greases and oils and helps prevent shrinkage, loss of color, and fabric distortion. Dry cleaning is necessary for cleaning items that may otherwise be damaged by water and soap or detergent. Dry cleaning is necessary for fabrics which are delicate and may not do well in every day washing.

The Dry Cleaning Process

By the mid-1930s, the dry cleaning industry had adopted tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), colloquially called “perc,” as the ideal solvent. In the early days of dry cleaning, large amounts of perchlorethylene were vented to the atmosphere because it was regarded as cheap and believed to be harmless. However, PERC is now known to have harmful environmental effects and its use must be carefully controlled. Modern dry cleaning machines use a closed-loop system in which the chilled air is reheated and recirculated. These new dry cleaning machines significantly reduce the health risks to dry cleaning shop workers and the environmental pollution.

The first step in the dry cleaning process is to sort garments in accordance with fabrics as well as degree to which the garment is soiled, followed by the pre-treatment of spots and stains using special cleaning agents. The garments are then loaded into a machine and washed with perchloroethylene, then pressed and packaged.

Advantages of dry cleaning

Dry cleaning helps to return garments to a “like-new” condition using measures to avoid shrinkage, loss of colour, and fabric distortion. Among the advantages of dry cleaning is its ability to dissolve greases and oils in a way that water cannot. Synthetic fibers like polyester also respond well to dry cleaning, whereas they can retain oily stains after washing. Unlike wet cleaning, dry cleaning does not require drying time and can be performed during office hours. Due to the fact dry cleaning solvents do not penetrate fibers, the chance for shrinkage and fading are substantially reduced. Numerous research has shown that dry cleaning is the simplest, cheapest and most effective means to lessen dust-mite allergens and alleviate allergy and asthma symptoms. The studies found that, in most cases, laundering only killed some dust-mites, while dry cleaning killed most, if not all of the mites.

Advantages of Dry Cleaning

* It reduces shrinkage (esp. for long items like curtains & highly shrinkable materials like wool).
* It reduces wrinkage (esp. for silk, cotton and linen).
* It reduces the wear and tear of fabric.
* It reduces the colour fading and bleeding.
* It protects the texture of garments.
* It prolongs the life of garments.

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