Wet cleaning? Dry cleaning? Do you know the difference? Why do you need one or the other? Understanding this information can be helpful when it comes time to determine which process you should use when washing clothes, particularly for sensitive fabrics or materials.
To learn the differences between wet cleaning and dry cleaning, you should first understand the definition of “dry cleaning” as a technique.
Dry Cleaning
Dry Cleaning is nothing but a Garment cleaning process that uses liquid solvents instead of detergents in technically advanced and computer controlled Dry cleaning Machines. This process uses little or no water. Hence, known as “Dry” cleaning. Dry cleaning has generally been using PERC and other petrochemicals to clean the garments. PERC & petrochemicals being damaging to the environment & harmful for humans, the industry has been evolving for the last decade. Wet Cleaning is the result of one such evolution.
Wet Cleaning
Wet Cleaning is a newer and more eco-friendly solution to garment care. Special equipment, softeners and additives have been developed specifically for wet cleaning. It is now deemed safe to clean almost every garment using the Wet Cleaning process.
Wet cleaning uses only water and biodegradable detergents rather than the different kinds of solvents used in traditional dry cleaning. Fabrics may retain better colour and softness due to lack of harsh chemicals and solvents. Wet cleaning may fail if the water used for the process is not well treated or lack of training or faulty or incorrect equipment. But if wet cleaning is done with proper training, equipment and care, it will extend the life of the fabric. It removes stains better than dry cleaning process and takes a turnaround time that is almost half of the traditional dry cleaning process. Wet cleaning leaves fabric with a fresh and clean scent unlike the chemical odour left by dry cleaning. It has been proven kind to sensitive skin, as well.
Wet Cleaning works in the following manner:
- Sorting: Load is first sorted according to textile, colour, weight & soiling.
- Spotting: High pressure air and water with a vacuum pump are used to push and pull stains out of fabrics with the help of spot removal agents & minimal energy use.
- Cleaning: Wet clean cycles are then selected that correspond with the material and treatment required. Most cycles are run at dynamic temperatures.
- Treating: Machines initially coat items in a layer of dirt-repelling molecules that prevent stains from re-depositing on the items during processing. A mixture of slow mechanical action, soaking and a shower pump inside the drum gently removes dirt and stains before a final rinse and conditioning.
- Finishing: The garments are then dried using specialised computer programs that analyse the water content of the garment dynamically. The temperature decreases as the cycle progresses to prevent shrinking. After items are dried they are finished by hand using a former that uses steam to remove all creases and relax the fibres into position.
Wet cleaning is an always evolving technology and becomes better each year. We at Fabrico keep updating our process constantly to provide you a worry free Garment Care Experience.