Dry-cleaning Dry-cleaning can be defined as the cleaning of fabrics in a non-aqueous liquid medium. The important difference between dry and wet solvents is that while water is absorbed by the fibres, which causes shrinkage, wrinkle formation and colour bleeding; the dry solvents do not cause fibre swelling. Hence dry-cleaning is a safe method for cleaning delicate textiles. For dry-cleaning, the most common solvents used are perchloro-ethylene, a petroleum solvent, or a fluorocarbon solvent.
Dry-cleaning is generally done in industrial establishments and not at the domestic level. The items are brought to the cleaner’s and identified with a tag that includes special instructions. Items are first inspected and treated at a spot board. Because a solvent is used, stains that are water-soluble and other hard-to-remove spots must be treated on the spot board.
Customers who identify the stains for the dry cleaner make the cleaning task easier and ultimately improve their satisfaction with the cleaned product. Additional treatment that many dry cleaners are equipped to do include replacing buttons, doing minor repairs to items, replacing sizing, water repellency and other finishes like permanent creases, moth proofing and cleaning fur and leather. Some dry cleaners also clean and sanitise feather pillows, blankets, quilts and carpets, and clean and press draperies.