Commercial Dry Cleaning and Laundry Services

Contradictory by definition, dry cleaning is the removal of stains from clothes and fabrics, using a chemical solvent, as opposed to laundry, which uses water. Cleaning is done on the fabric’s surface, thus, little to no water is used in the process- as water penetrates fabrics during wash.

History of Dry Cleaning Chemicals

It began in Roman times. Attempting to avoid shrinkage of wool caused by hot water, woollen togas were cleaned using ammonia. After, cleaners began using petroleum-based solvents like gasoline and kerosene, but these were deemed dangerous for use due to their high-level flammability.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) was adopted in the 1930s. It is non-flammable and has excellent cleaning power, compatible with most garments. Because it is stable, tetrachloroethylene is readily recycled. Perchloroethylene is referred to as perc and is  carcinogenic to humans.

Green Dry cleaning was introduced in the 1990s. This is based on a carbon dioxide detergent system and cleaning machines which removes soil by applying pressure to draw liquid carbon dioxide through the fabrics. No heat is involved, thus effectively reducing rigour on the fabric.

Taking a look at modern-day dry cleaners in London, the process begins immediately you make the drop-off. The dirty laundry is transported to a central cleaning facility because most dry cleaners don’t have large and expensive cleaning equipment on-site.

Steps of Commercial Dry Cleaning

1. Tagging Garments

For track records, all items brought in are tagged with an identification tag. Some cleaners make use of paper tags stapled to the garment while some others use an iron-strip with a permanently assigned barcode for regular customers. This is necessary because similar soiled clothes from several different customers are cleaned together, effectively preventing any mix-up.

2. Inspection of Garment

All items brought for cleaning go through a stage of thorough inspection for rips, tears, missing buttons or any objects left in the pockets. Any discoveries will be jotted down as issues known before cleaning. All found items are returned to the customers.

3. Stain Pretreatment

The third process — still part of the inspection — involves the dry cleaner checking for stains on the clothes, treating them before the solvent cleaning. For the best results on this process, you’re advised to inform the cleaner about the source of the stain, if known.

A good cleaner also covers the delicate buttons and trims at this stage. This is to prevent any damage to said parts.

4. Machine Dry Cleaning

The soiled clothes and garments are then loaded into a large drum to be cleaned using a water-free chemical solvent. The system is then gently rocked so as to loosen the soils from the surface of the fabric. After which the solvent is drained, it is filtered and recycled. Then the clothes are somewhat rinsed, but with a  fresh solvent solution, for wiping off any residual soils.

5. Post Spotting

The solvents work wonders on oil-based stains but performs poorly on other types of stains. Thus, all items go through an extra spotting stage,  in case of residual soils. If any, they are treated with water, steam or a vacuum.

6. Finishing

Finally, the garment is prepared to be worn. This includes steaming, pressing out wrinkles, reattaching buttons or general repairs. Then the clothes are either hung or folded, ready to be returned to the customer.

Plastic bags are used to shield your clothes against any stains when going home, but it’s necessary you remove your clothes from the bags immediately you get home. This is to prevent the clothes from stains due to accumulated moisture.

Tips for a smoother process

• Reading Labels

Although very obvious, many don’t check the labels in their clothing. Some even tear the labels off. A good dry cleaner should always refer to the labels before cleaning, but if anything, the customer should initially bring up any special care instructions in unique fabrics to help clean them properly and effectively.

• Saving It For The Dry Cleaners

In many cases, the “Do it yourself” mindset might work fine, saving you time and money, but always leave your dry cleaning to the professionals. More often than not, you end up pushing the stain deeper into the fabric where the solvents might not reach, making it difficult or impossible to get the stain off.

• Pointing Out Stains During Drop-Off

For proper, and effective cleaning, you’re encouraged to point out all the stains sustained by the garment. By doing this, a notice will be put out, and the cleaner focuses on those areas.

• Making Special Care Requests Up Front

Finally, always point out any stains, delicate fabrics or embellishments immediately you make the drop-off. Do not leave it by chance or make assumptions. Discuss it with the cleaner; it makes for much better results.

If you are in need of commercial dry cleaning and laundry in or around London, do well to reach out to us at Master Dry Cleaners. We will make sure your time and money is worth it. Reach us today by calling 020 73285621.