What actually happens when you drop clothes off at the dry cleaner?
We explain the process of dry cleaning, plus when to do so.
But as a result, thehowof dry cleaning can be a bit of a mystery.
Credit:Getty Images / domin_domin
Getty Images / domin_domin
What Is Dry Cleaning?
Merriam-Webster defines dry cleaning as “the cleansing of fabrics with substantially nonaqueous organic solvents.”
That is, cleaning fabrics without the use of water or water-based cleaning agents.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Dry cleaning is believed to have been invented in 1825.
When the tablecloth dried, the spots had disappeared.
Eventually, such processes were called dry cleaning because they do not involve the use of water."
Wet cleaning, i.e.
Some clothes need to be spot cleaned, hand cleaned, cleaned using water or hand washed."
If necessary,stains are pretreated.
Embellishments and buttons are inspected for damage or, if they had been removed, reattached to the garment.
Then, a final inspection is performed before the garments are covered in plastic and returned to their owner.
Cotton, linen, polyester, nylon, and spandex are almost always machine washable.
Spandex should not be washed with chlorine bleach.
Hand-laundering is fine for lightweight wool items, but heavy wool garments like overcoats should be professionally cleaned.
“High-value items or precious heirloom items with particular stains should always be brought to a professional.”
