Dry cleaning, which has existed since ancient Roman times, is the process of using chemicals to clean clothes without soaking the fibers in water as with a standard home washing machine. This is beneficial to certain fabrics and helps prevent stretching, shrinking, and wrinkling of the garment. Here are three facts that you may not know about dry cleaning delivery management.
Dry Cleaning Helps Clothes Last Longer
Standard home washing machines and dryers are quite wearing on clothes. While you should pay special attention to clothes that have “dry clean only” on their label, dry cleaning can be beneficial for most clothes that you want to keep a long time.
Don’t Touch a Stain Yourself
If you have a stain on clothing that you plan to bring to the dry cleaner, resist the urge to attempt to get the stain out and leave that to the professionals. Trying to fix a stain yourself can result in the substance being pushed down into the clothing fibers, making it harder to remove in the end. When at the cleaners, let them know how long a stain has been on the fabric and what caused it, so the professionals can do their job more effectively. For example, there are different methods used to remove water-soluble stains than there are for solvent-soluble stains.
Dry Cleaning Can Be Green
Although most dry cleaners use a solvent called perchloroethylene, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to discourage use of this chemical in the 1990s. Instead, companies can opt to use hydrocarbon, carbon dioxide, or silicone-based based ingredients for the same results. However, the initial investment to go green can be quite high, with machines using carbon dioxide, for example, costing close to $40,000.
Dry cleaning is used for standard cleaning of certain fabrics and for removal of tough stains. Familiarize yourself with the process to get the most out of your visit to the cleaners.
