When compared to machine washing, dry cleaning does far less damage to clothes.
Dry cleaning helps clothes to remain soft, and will ensure that colors stay intact.
Additionally, you will never have to worry about your clothes shrinking after the
cleaning process.
The Process
Dry cleaning is a process that cleans clothes without water.
The cleaning fluid is actually a liquid solvent, and because there is no water used during the
process, it is referred to as "dry."
When you bring your garments in for dry cleaning, there is a standard procedure which
is followed. This procedure is the following:
- Tagging and inspection - A small paper tag, is used to identify your clothes so they don't get
mixed up with everyone else's. Clothes are also examined for missing buttons, tears, etc. These
defects can be fixed on site for a small fee.
- Pre-treatment - We look for stains and pre-treat them to make removal easier
and more complete.
- Dry cleaning - The clothes are put in a machine and cleaned with a solvent.
- Post-spotting - Any remaining stains are removed, if necessary.
- Finishing - This includes pressing, folding, packaging and other finishing touches.
Origin
In 1855, Jean Baptiste Jolly, a French dye-works owner, noticed that his table cloth
became cleaner after his maid accidentally overturned a kerosene lamp on it. Operating
through his dye-works company, Jolly offered a new service and called it "dry cleaning."
Early dry cleaners used a variety of solvents -- including gasoline and kerosene -- to
clean clothes and fabrics.
Nate Marks, Debra Luhring. "How Dry Cleaning Works". April 01, 2000
http://science.howstuffworks.com/dry-cleaning.htm (March 13, 2008)