When a French dye-works owner named Jean-Baptiste Jolly saw that his tablecloth become cleaner after his maid unintentionally spilt kerosene on it in the middle of the 19th century, he came up with the term “dry cleaning.” After experimenting with several cleaners, Jolly discovered that petroleum-based cleaners effectively cleaned garments without causing damage to them. The term “dry cleaning,” which was coined for this kind of cleaning, stuck.
Clothes are cleaned by dry cleaners using a combination of solvents, detergents, and mechanical activity. The solvent is added to the washing machine after the clothes are loaded, and it dissolves and gets rid of stains and filth. After the machine agitates the clothing to remove any remaining dirt, the solvent is emptied from the garments. Finally, heated air is used to dry the clothing. How do you solely dry clean?
Only a professional dry cleaner should clean items that are marked “dry clean only”. The fabric can become harmed or the colors might bleed if you attempt to clean them at home. Professional dry cleaners are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and solvents necessary to safely clean these fragile objects.
Dry cleaning and steam cleaning are not interchangeable. While dry cleaning employs solvents to remove dirt and stains from fabrics, steam cleaning uses hot water vapor to clean and disinfect surfaces. While dry cleaning is primarily for apparel and textiles, steam cleaning may be used on a wide range of surfaces.
For many years, perchloroethylene, sometimes known as perc, was a widely used solvent in dry cleaning. But in recent years, worries about its impact on the environment and public health have prompted many dry cleaners to switch to other solvents. The use of perc in dry cleaning has even been outlawed in California and New York. Since 2021, many dry cleaners have switched to using liquid carbon dioxide or hydrocarbon solvents, which are seen as safer and greener options.
In conclusion, the lack of water used in the cleaning procedure is how dry cleaning acquired its name. Clothes marked “dry clean only” should only be cleaned by a professional because the technique includes solvents, detergents, and mechanical action to clean them. Dry cleaning and steam cleaning are not the same, and many dry cleaners no longer use perc in favor of safer, greener substitutes.