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What is Drycleaning?

There probably isn't anyone who has not had something drycleaned. However, when asked what "drycleaning" is, many people haven't the foggiest idea.

Drycleaning uses a solvent instead of water at the cleaning process. The solvent contains little or no water; hence, the term "drycleaning".

The Discovery of Drycleaning

The discovery of drycleaning is said to have occurred when a kerosene lamp was tipped over on a table cloth. The petroleum type fluid was spilled on a stain, which was in the fabric. Where the fluid had been spilled the stain was removed. Actual drycleaning dates back as far as the mid-1800's. The original solvents used were naptha, kerosene, benzine, and others. These solvents were extremely flammable and dangerous to use.

The Present Drycleaning Process

The present petrolium solvent was standardized and developed as a safer alternative to these proto-type solvents. In the 1930's perchloroethylene was developed as a nonflammable solvent, and flourocarbon was introduced int he 1970's. In the later 1980's a newer solvent, 111 tricholoroethane was introduced. All of these solvents have different chemical characteristics, but perform well in the cleaning process.

The drycleaning process itself takes place in a machine not unlike a front loading laundry washer in appearance, although much larger. The operation of a drycleaning machine, however, is different in a number of important respects. Since solvent is used instead of water, it is not drained and disposed of as a washing machine does with soiled water. The solvent is, instead, re-circulated through a filter system to remove impurities, and then is returned to the wash cycle as clean solvent. In addition, many cleaners distill the solvent in special "stills" to further purify it.

Drycleaning has two distinct advantages over cleaning with water or "wet" cleaning.

Both solvent and water will wet a fabric, but water also "swells" fibers. It is this swelling action which causes shrinkage and dye fading in many garments. Drycleaning solvents are superior to water in the removal of oily or greasy residues which are the base component in many stains.

Of course, "wet" cleaning is an important part of fabric care also. There are many stains which are removed more readily in wetcleaning. Most drycleaners have special wet-washing equipment for this purpose.

Your professional cleaner does more than just clean your garments:

Spotting: Some stains are not removed readily by solvent or water. They require treatment with other special chemicals.

Finishing: After garments are cleaned, they are steamed or pressed to a finished appearance. Cleaners have specialized finishing equipment, which produce results difficult to duplicate at home with a hand iron.

Repairs and Tailoring: Most cleaners will repair buttons, zippers, tears and other garment damage in addition to cleaning.

Special Services: These are such things as fur cleaning and storage, wedding gown preservation, drapery cleaning, shirt laundering, fire restoration, and others.

Deal with a Professional!

One way to be sure you're dealing with a professional cleaner is to look for their membership in national or state trade associations. These trade associations keep member cleaners informed of changing fabrics and cleaning techniques. Two trade associations in Michigan are the MILD (Michigan Institute of Laundering and Drycleaning), a state association, and IFI (International Fabricare Institute), a national association.