You’ve probably taken your best suit or dress to the dry cleaners in the past, confident that they will remove the awkward stain and treat your garments to the clean they need and deserve.But, have you ever considered what the differences are between laundry cleaning and dry cleaning? It’s not just that a dry cleaning service is a professional business, while your laundry cleaning is usually done in a domestic machine at home or at the local launderette. But aside from the technical differences between the two processes, you must also take into account the environmental repercussions of using this method both to the world around us and your very own skin. Check out Aqualogic Commercial Laundries Dryers. They are a great option for commercial laundry facilities and have a proven track record of high quality work.There are a number of differences you should know about. You’ll see that with a little more time and effort, you can have clean clothes and a clean conscious associated with your imprint on the environment:
The ProcessWhen you do laundry cleaning, a traditional washing machine with dedicated laundry detergents is used. These detergents should be environmentally friendly and proven to help remove even the toughest of stains. Your washing will come out smelling fresh but in need of drying.Dry cleaning, in contrast, does not use any water. Instead a chemical solvent is used. Your garments are rinsed in this solvent to get rid of all the dirt and grime; without using water.The chemical solvent that is used is usually perchlorethylene, often called dry-cleaning fluid. It is also used to degrease metal parts, and appears in a few consumer products including paint strippers.However, it is essential to note that this is a chemical solvent. It will stay in the clothes and if you have sensitive skin you are likely to suffer. Even if you don’t have sensitive skin you have to consider the effects of these chemicals on your body.Separate ProcessesLaundry cleaning involves putting your items in a machine with the right detergents and leaving them to wash. Water is essential in this process to agitate the dirt and get the required result.Dry cleaning is completed in stages. The first step is the solvent rinse described above. The garments are then placed into a machine to be tumbled. In effect the clothes are tossed round; removing the dirt and the chemicals; which can actually be reused for future washes.When dry cleaning, your clothes will have not been exposed to water but they will still need to be dried from the chemical rinse. This is done in a special drying machine, that doesn’t rely on heat or hanging your clothes on a line. To finish, your dry cleaner will hang your clothes and steam them. This helps to ensure they are not damaged by the process and removes any wrinkles; allowing you to collect perfect clothes ready to wear again.By contrast, the laundry cleaning process may leave your clothes in need of an iron. However, while you may not have access to a clothing drier you can always hang your clothes out to dry. This is the most effective way of drying because it is least damaging to garments.But, there is another important benefit to laundry cleaning and natural drying. The UV rays from the sun will actually kill bacteria and dust mites in your clothes; reducing the risk of allergic reactions and giving you healthier clothes.There is no process that can compete with the dry cleaning process in this regard.The Pros & ConsThe biggest benefit of using a dry cleaner is the time that it will save you. You simply drop your clothes off and then pick them up clean.However, it will cost you considerably more than laundry cleaning at home; even if you’re forced to use your drier. But it’s not just your wallet that will be grateful if you choose to do laundry cleaning; it is actually more environmentally friendly. Research shows it uses 50% less energy than dry cleaning. Dry cleaning may have its place but the convenience, health benefits, cost savings and environmental advantages means you should seriously consider laundry cleaning whenever possible; it’s not just a matter of getting your clothes clean. There’s a lot more at a stake.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Speak Your Mind