Dry cleaning uses solvents to clean clothes without water. Tetrachlorethylene is the most common solvent. Dry cleaning involves four stages and can be harmful to the environment. Check care labels and inspect clothes for damage before taking them to a dry cleaner. The wash cycle takes 15-25 minutes and includes a rinse cycle and extraction process. Clothes are then dried with heated air and a scent is added.
The dry cleaning process uses solvents to clean clothes and fabrics without water. The most commonly used solvent is tetrachlorethylene. Dry cleaning is a service provided by a company with the special equipment required to dry clean materials and safely dispose of waste product. This is a fee-for-use service, with a flat fee for different types of fabrics and additional charges for stain removal.
There are four stages to the dry cleaning process: accepting the clothes, inspecting, washing, and drying. All four stages are required for each item that is dry cleaned. The dry cleaning process involves harsh chemicals and there have been changes to the process as part of a strategy to reduce the environmental impact of the waste product. However, you can check with your dry cleaner to determine if they are using green processes.
Check the care label on your garments to make sure they are dry cleanable. If you have any questions, consult the dry cleaner. He or she will inspect the material and can advise you on the best cleaning method. Some materials, such as cotton shirts, do not require dry cleaning. However, many people take these shirts to the dry cleaner to be steamed and pressed.
Inspect clothing for stains, tears, loose buttons, or threads. It is important to notify the dry cleaner of these items before you accept the garments. In dry cleaning processes, loose threads can unravel clothing and buttons can be lost. Stains can be pre-treated and removed, but only before the process begins.
In the wash stage of the dry cleaning process, clothing is placed inside a chamber that rotates inside a larger cylinder that contains the solvent. Solvent is added to the inner chamber until it is one third full and the clothes are agitated. This takes approximately 15 minutes, using the standard chemicals. If hydrocarbon solvents or green chemicals are used, the process takes at least 25 minutes.
After the wash cycle, there is a rise cycle, where fresh solvent is loaded into the machine. This is done to prevent the garments from reabsorbing dirt. At the end of this cycle the extraction process begins, which removes almost all of the solvent used. In the dry cycle, clothes are placed in a stream of air heated to 145°F (63°C). The air evaporates any traces of the solvent from the garments and a light scent is added to mask the chemical odor.
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