Dry Cleaning Helps you Clean Up Your Act

With saving money on everyone’s mind these days, more people are finding themselves making their clothes last longer, rather than spending frivolously on new ones.  Dry cleaning keeps clothes looking new and in good condition and will often be more effective than home washing in extending the life of certain garments, especially coats and suits.

Dry cleaning has been around since the mid-1800’s, when a French dye-works owner, Jean Jolly, noticed that his tablecloth looked cleaner after his maid accidentally spilled kerosene on it. He then began offering a fabric and clothing cleaning service using a solvent based on kerosene.

Today, most dry cleaners use a solvent called perc (perchlorethylene), which cleans safely and quickly.  When you drop your clothes off at the cleaners, they generally go through the following steps:

1. Tagging and inspection - Some method is used to identify your clothes so they don't get mixed up with everyone else's. Clothes are also examined for missing buttons, tears, etc. so that the dry cleaner won't be blamed for them later..
2. Pre-treatment - The cleaner looks for stains on your clothes and treats them to make removal easier and more complete.
3. Dry cleaning - The clothes are put in a machine and cleaned with a solvent.
4. Post-spotting - Any lingering stains are removed.
5. Finishing - This includes pressing, folding, packaging and other finishing touches.

There is growing demand today for more environmentally friendly cleaning solvents and procedures.  A new innovation is the use of a liquid carbon dioxide based system, and clothes cleaned with this method do not have the customary "dry cleaner smell".  Expect to see more exciting innovations in the future!