Dry Cleaning at Cloud Dhobi
Life would be much easier if you could simply toss all the clothes into the washer. But alas, not every fabric is created equal. Some fabrics are drama queens when it comes to water and requires special care. And so dry cleaning has always been the luxury wash option used only for expensive garments. For most of us, it is a mind-boggling process shrouded in mystery. Ever wondered how clothes stay dry while washing? Why do some clothes require dry cleaning but others can be hand washed? How does this dry washing even work? If all these questions have succeeded in amping up your curiosity, read on to remove the veil of mystery from the process of dry cleaning.
The science of dry cleaning
Well quite simply put, dry cleaning is washing clothes without using water and detergent. Despite its name, the process isn’t really ‘dry’. It is the preferred method for some fabrics like silk, wool, suede, leather, linen, and some others that are difficult to maintain and regular washing can cause them to shrink or stretch. They cannot handle the tumble and rigor of a washer-dryer. So, to clean these sensitive fabrics you need something that doesn’t penetrate the fibers like water causing them to stretch and change their structure.
Therefore, dry cleaning uses chemical solvents that are highly effective at removing dirt and debris while maintaining the fiber structure. Three kinds of solvents can be used in this process, one of which is petroleum-based like gasoline or kerosene. This type of solvent is not very common as it is highly flammable and dangerous to use. Another chlorinated solvent that is quite commonly used is perchloroethylene or ‘perc’, but is carcinogenic to humans.
Finally, the breakthrough in this process was green dry cleaning, which uses carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon, or silicon-based cleaners. The machines apply pressure to draw liquid carbon dioxide through fabrics to remove dirt. This process uses no heat meaning less energy is used and is the gentlest on clothes. The method is non-toxic, eco-friendly, and safe for the consumers too.
What happens behind the scenes?
Now you know what is the science behind the process of dry cleaning, let’s move on to the next step for your clothes after a dry-cleaning pickup and before the clothes are sent for cleaning. Once the garments are brought in, they go through six steps before being delivered back to you.
1. Identification & Inspection
Before being put in the cleaning machines, the garments are tagged with an identification number which stays on till they are returned to you. They are inspected for any rips, missing buttons, tears, and stains. These problems are noted before cleaning and mentioned on the tag.
2. Pre-spotting
As a major part of the dry-cleaning process, the clothes are checked for stains and go through a pre-treatment to ensure the stain comes off during cleaning. It is extremely helpful to let your dry cleaner know what caused the stain, which means whether it is oil or water-based so that an effective solvent can be used on it to get the best results. The dry cleaner will skillfully cover the spots with specialized solutions which are then heated and vacuumed off. Any delicate buttons are also covered in this step before sending it to the machines.
3. Sorting
Even though all the garments are in line to be dry cleaned, not every fabric is the same and each piece requires different care. So, the garments are sorted according to colors, fabric, stains, and the recommended manufacturer instructions labeled on. This is very important as each garment will go through a different cleaning cycle to ensure quality cleaning.
4. Dry Cleaning
Now comes the main part of the process where clothes are loaded into a large drum machine and submerged into the water-free solvent. The machine gently agitates the clothes in a perforated drum where the tiny holes pump out the solvent steadily during the whole process. This rotation loosens the struck dirt and grease. The solvent is flushed, filtered, and recycled to rinse the clothes once more for any last remains stuck in them. Once the cleaning cycle is finished, the drum swiftly spins the clothes to remove any leftover solvent. In the dry cycle, warm air is released, the solvent evaporates and is recycled.
5. Post-spotting
The cleaning cycle works wonders to remove oil-based stains but sometimes other kinds of stains remain. Therefore, the clothes are once again checked over for any residue and if found, the same procedure in pre-spotting is used to remove them.
6. Finishing
This is the final step in the process to make your garments ready to wear. The clothes are sent to make last-minute repairs, buttons reattached, steam ironed to remove wrinkles, crumples, and any dust mites or microscopic bacteria. Ironing completely sanitizes the clothes and they are folded or hung in packaging to be delivered back to you.
Finally, the mystery of dry cleaning has been solved. Now you know how the clothes look brand new after they are returned to you. Once broken down, it doesn’t seem as intimidating anymore, does it? It’s as simple as scheduling a dry-cleaning pickup and delivery. If you too are searching for the best dry cleaners near you, rest assured that Cloud Dhobi professionals will ensure the quality cleansing of each garment.