Difference Between Dry Cleaning and Washing

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Difference Between Dry Cleaning and Washing

Depending on the type of clothing you have, it may need to be dry cleaned or wet-washed. Each methods has its advantages but knowing the best way to wash your clothes will ensure years of wear and enjoyment.

Dry Cleaning

The dry cleaning process uses solvents or chemicals to clean the clothes. It is “dry” because it doesn’t use water, as in normal wet laundering. Most laundries use the chemical perchloroethylene (PERC) to remove grease and stains from clothing. The clothes are put into a machine and washed during the tumbling cycle. Then the solvents are removed, filtered and recycled. Next, the clothes are dried in the dry cleaning machine and removed for steaming and ironing to remove wrinkles. Dry cleaning has some advantages over normal laundering: It effectively gets rid of grease and oil stains better; reduces garment shrinkage; minimizes decolonization; and protects the original condition of clothing.

Laundry or Wet Cleaning

The traditional wet laundry cleaning method involves using detergent in water with the clothing during the washing cycle. Sometimes a spot remover is sprayed on a stain before washing. The detergent removes the dirt during the agitation process. Then the water then removed from the clothes during the spin cycle. The clothes are dried either in a dryer or hung up to dry and afterwards steamed and pressed to remove the wrinkles. Wet laundry also has its benefits: it is cheaper as only water and detergent are used; a quicker process since you can wash and dry at home in a few hours; no chemical odors as associated with chemicals used in dry cleaning; cloth softeners can be added for fragrance; laundry is more energy efficient, because energy consumption is almost fifty percent less than dry cleaning. While each method has its benefits, before you decide on which cleaning method to use, read the care label found on the clothing item or ask a professional at a laundry service for advise.

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