Dry-Cleaning vs Wet-Cleaning vs Laundry

Do you dry clean? Wet clean? Or do laundry? Are you aware of the difference? Why would you
require either of these? Knowing this information can be useful when deciding which method to use
while washing clothes, especially if the clothing contains sensitive textiles or materials.
When discussing “clean” clothing, the terms dry cleaning, wet cleaning, and laundry are frequently
used interchangeably or as auto-fills.
Are they the same, then? Well, to answer your question – No! These are not the same.
The three techniques are very different from one another in terms of the kind of solvents used, the
methods employed, the types of textiles each is best suited for, and many other minute details taken
into account when choosing the best option.
A few steps in these processes stay similar (Like tagging, inspection, analysis, and finishing
touches), but the crucial difference lies in the cleaning process.
In order to understand the differences, first, a proper understanding of each technique is required.
• Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning is the practice of cleaning garments without the use of water, as opposed to regular
laundry, which employs water and detergent. It uses chemical solvents to remove stains without
harming delicate textiles like silk, wool, and velvet, making it a better cleaning method than water
and detergents on clothing. Dry cleaners specifically use large, highly developed computer-controlled dry cleaning equipment. Dry cleaning is not a technique you should attempt without the
right expertise and tools, despite how easy it might sound – just switching to chemical solvents.
Through dry cleaning, the clothing does become wet, but the liquid solvent used evaporates at a
much faster scale than water does.
The solvent is removed from the machines and later filtered during a standard dry cleaning cycle. It
is not drained and thrown away like dirty water from a washing machine since it is a chemical
solvent rather than water that is being utilized. The solvent is then further purified and distilled until
it is crystal clear and ready for reuse.
Dry cleaning has often faced flak due to the ‘chemicals’ involved. The most used solvent is
tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), sometimes referred to as “perc” in the marketplace.
Perchloroethylene, i.e., perc, is a volatile organic chemical that is not good for the environment and
has been discovered to cause cancer despite its widespread usage. In addition, spills of any size
have the potential to seriously contaminate the groundwater and soil in the area surrounding the dry
cleaning operation. Dry cleaners are now seeking eco-friendly substitutes, such as liquid carbon
dioxide, siloxane, and synthetic petroleum (DF-2000), among others, because of this.
At Starex, organic dry cleaning chemicals are preferred over the competition to do their part in
implementing safer measures for their clients and the environment.
• Wet Cleaning
Wet cleaning can be labeled as a technique developed in order to bypass the toxic perc- based dry
cleaning. As the name suggests, it depends on water for its major cleaning process. However, in
comparison to traditional laundry, it uses computer-controlled machines set at particular
temperatures and settings that are suitable to the textile.
Wet washing is the professional way of garment cleaning that is the most ecologically friendly,
according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It decreases the possibility of
contaminating soil and water because it doesn’t utilize dangerous chemicals, produce hazardous
waste or pollute the air. Specialized detergents and conditioners are employed in the wet clean
procedure and are kinder than products used in domestic laundry. Each product is efficiently
handled by the neighborhood wastewater treatment plant and is disposed of down the drain.
Unlike laundry, wet cleaning doesn’t cause fabric harm or cause the color to bleed or fade. In order
to make wet washing more gentle on the clothing, Starex makes sure to find the ideal balance
between water temperature and solvent type.
• Laundry
Laundry has been a part of history since people began to wear clothes. Therefore the techniques by
which different cultures have dealt with this fundamental human need vary from one another, but
they all have one thing in common: they use a lot of water, soaps, and detergents to wash their
clothes. The Industrial Revolution progressively led to mechanical laundry solutions, most notably
the washing machine and, later, the tumble dryer, but the use of water and commonly accessible
detergents remained the same. While this is bad for the environment because it wastes water, it is
also terrible for fabrics. Furthermore, the use of detergents in the laundry is randomly eye-balled
and not customized to the requirements of the garments, and the water used is typically tapped
water without taking into account the harm that a certain water temperature does to a particular
textile, leading to shrinkage, color bleeds, and making the texture of the garment rougher.
Laundry can be defined as the process of using water and detergents as needed rather than with a
professional approach. It is a practice used in traditional at-home washes, commercial laundromats,
and even washhouses run by local launderers.
Now that the three techniques have been explained, it is easy to notice how much difference dry
cleaning and wet cleaning can make to keep the garments well maintained with the last possibility
of damage.
Is just having the awareness enough to make the right choice?
The next decision sits on the customer’s shoulders to opt for dry cleaners that promise the best
methods applied to their garments.
A dry cleaner that makes responsible choices for both the customer and the environmental
sustenance. And also, a dry cleaner has enough technical knowledge to pick the right choice of
cleaning technique for the customers’ clothes.
At Starex, we are proud to show our badges of earning the ISO certification and organic solvents to
keep our family on Earth and the Earth itself safer. In addition, we host a team of professionals who
will customize the cleaning process specifically for the concerns of your garments, be it dry
Cleaning or wet Cleaning.
Which cleaning technique would you choose for your clothes?