We have that special dress (or tux) that we cannot wash. Of course, the answer to this dilemma would be dry cleaning, but have you ever wondered what happens during dry cleaning? If you do, you should continue reading this article.
Generally, the dry cleaning process takes three to four hours. It would also depend on the level of garment dirtiness, material type, and other factors. Having it dry cleaned will give you the following benefits:
- Your clothes will not get deformed.
- The stains do not interact with water. Thus, it prevents them from becoming larger or changing color and structure.
- Textiles and materials that are not meant to be soaked get cleaned.
How Does It Work?
You can divide dry cleaning into several processes. The first part, which is the clothes examination portion, is essential because it will determine how the cleaners will remove the stain. The cleaners will also identify the level of wear and damage to your clothes.
During this part, the dry cleaning specialist will identify what type of fabric they will be working on. The most common type of clothes that they work on are the following:
- Fake and genuine leather
- Silk
- Cashmere
- Velvet
- Pure wool
The next part of the process is the pre-treatment. This process is essential if the cleaners find a stain (or stains) on your clothes. They would apply high-quality and safe substances to remove the stain without damaging the textile.
After which, the dry cleaning proper begins. Your clothes are sent to special drums where they will be cleaned by exposing them to steam. The cleaners would also add suitable solvents.
After the chemical treatment, your clothes are dried. The drying temperature would depend on the type of material that they will be working on. It may be 25 to 50 degrees Celsius.
Lastly, your clothes are processed, pressed, steamed, and ironed. If, during the first part of the dry cleaning process, the cleaners notice some damage to your clothes, they might repair that offending portion.
How Long Does This Take?
We already mentioned that it takes three to four hours for the process to finish, but we also mentioned that it would depend on the material that is being dry cleaned. It would mean that some materials will have a quick turnaround while others may take longer to process. You also need to consider the number of garments that the cleaners being cleaned at that time.
You might be surprised to learn that many dry cleaners do not have all the dry cleaning equipment onsite. In this case, they would have to send the said garments to a larger facility to finish certain parts of the process. With this said, you need to take into account the transportation time.
Conclusion
If you take a shirt for dry cleaning, this piece of clothing may only require a few hours to process. On the other hand, if you are to bring a wedding gown to the dry cleaners, it may take them a full week or two because of all the ultra-fine layers, beading, and lacework. As mentioned, the dry cleaning process will depend on the clothing material.
If you have special clothes that need extra love, entrust them to Goodfellow Cleaners. In addition to professional dry cleaning services, we offer clothes alterations and tailoring as well. Contact us now to schedule a service!