Dry cleaning is the name for a process that cleans clothes and other items using an organic solvent rather than detergent and water. The compound that is generally used is called perchloethylene. Dry cleaning is necessary for any fabric that would be damaged by using water and detergent. You may also wish to use a dry cleaner if you have a stain on your clothes that you don’t know how to get out. Dry cleaners are expert in the care of clothes and they should know how to get out difficult stains. As well as cleaning clothes, dry cleaners can offer a number of other services such as carpet and rug cleaning, fabric restorations, repairs and alterations and duvet cleaning.

It should be noted that although some fabrics such as suede and leather or sequin and beaded materials are best dry cleaned, others are best washed at home. Silk clothes may either need to be dry cleaned or washed carefully at home; it depends on the dye, the finish and the garment style. Knitted clothes are not suitable for dry cleaning as they may stretch when they are exposed to the steam that the dry cleaner uses. Always check the labels inside your clothes to see what the manufacturer recommends.

When choosing a dry cleaner it is important to get one who is skilled in the care of clothes, as well as one that is convenient. If, for example, they are unable to explain to you the difference between pressing silk and linen versus wool then you should not entrust your garments to them. If you have stains on your clothes that you want removed, you should discuss this with the dry cleaner. Dry cleaning is a very effective form of cleaning, but it may not be possible to completely remove all stains.

Laundries may be establishments where you can take your clothes to wash them in the machines provided or companies who offer laundry services to domestic and commercial customers. Domestic laundry services will include washing bed and table linen, shirts, towels and duvets as well as stiff shirts, collars and waistcoats. Many of the laundry companies offer both a dry cleaning and a laundry service, and they may also cover items such as curtains and furniture covers. Items for cleaning are either collected by delivery van or sent via the post.

Tags: dry cleaner, dry cleaning, duvet cleaning, fabric restorations, Laundries, laundry services, rug cleaning

This entry was posted on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 10:18 am and is filed under Dry Cleaners. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.