Does Dry Cleaning Cause Damage to Your Clothes?

Everyone has done it – we have all put an article of clothing in our washer or dryer only to end up with it shrinking, staining, or pilling. You might ask yourself, is dry cleaning a better alternative for my clothes than regular washing? The answer is, Yes! In fact, dry cleaning actually helps to preserve your clothes rather than damage them. Keep reading to learn more about the dry cleaning process and what clothes should and should not be dry cleaned. 

What is Dry Cleaning?

Dry cleaning is a process that uses non-water based chemical solvents to clean clothing, bedding, upholstery, and other types of fabrics. Because water can be damaging to certain fabrics and the washing machine can damage delicate items, dry cleaning is an excellent alternative option. The dry cleaning process has quite a few steps including inspection and tagging, pre-spotting, the dry cleaning process, post spotting, and finishing touches. 

During the dry cleaning process, your clothes are placed into a machine and submerged into a non-water based solvent. They are then rotated in a perforated cylinder, releasing the cleaning solvent in a steady amount throughout the process. From there, the machine spins rapidly to get rid of any excess solvent from the clothes and releases warm air. Your clothes emerge completely dry. 

What Clothes Should be Dry Cleaned?

It is highly recommended to dry cleaning any of the following fabrics/materials:

• Silk: If cared for properly, silk garments can last you a lifetime. Professional dry cleaning is the safest way to ensure that the fabric does not lose its luster or change color. Additionally, silk garments with bright colors, prints, or lining should always be dry cleaned. 
• Suede: This is a special type of leather made mainly from cow, lambskin, and goat hide. It is an expensive fabric and very difficult to maintain. It is also sensitive to moisture, light, and water-based cleaners as well as chemical-based cleaners. Using professional dry cleaners who are using non-toxic chemical solvents assures you that your suede will be properly maintained and cared for. 
• Wool: Wool fabric can be quite durable. However, water can cause it to shrink. Dry cleaning helps you to avoid this risk, ensuring that your wool garments will last a long time. 
• Leather: Taking your leather garments to the dry cleaners will help keep them looking sharp and supple. A professional dry cleaner will be able to remove any tough stains without causing the leather to shrink or crack. 
• Linen: Linen is a strong and absorbent fabric that dries relatively fast. While it can be hand washed and air dried, it often requires ironing due to its flax fibers. If handled incorrectly, linen garments can lose their crispness and their overall quality may deteriorate. 
• Denim: Contrary to what many believe, denim is not supposed to be put through a dryer. Although it is durable, proper jean care should include washing the fabric inside-out in color water and then hung up to dry. If you have high-end denim, it will benefit more from dry cleaning. 

What Clothes Should Not Be Dry Cleaned?

There are many garments and fabrics that will benefit from dry cleaning, but there is no need to go overboard. For ordinary care of the following garments, you can stick to your home washer and dryer. 

• Cotton: More often than not, cotton does not need to be dry cleaned. However, you will want to make sure that you wash cold or warm with similar colors. Most cotton clothing has already been preshrunk, so drying in a machine is safe. 
• Synthetic fabrics: These fabrics include nylon, polyester, spandex, acrylic, and acetate. These fabrics won’t shrink, making them safe to wash in warm water. You will want to go on a gentle or low drying cycle to prevent permanent wrinkles. 

Contact Hanger’s Cleaners Today

Whether you are in need of more time or just want to avoid the hassle of laundry, our team of professionals at Hangers Cleaners is here to help. From dry cleaning services to wet services, alterations, pressing clothes, and many more, Hangers Cleaners has got you covered! We know that life can get busy – that’s why we offer free dry cleaning delivery and pickup for all of our customers! Call us at 501-227-8500 to schedule services for all of your laundry needs today.