What is Wet Cleaning?
Wet cleaning is the process of professionally cleaning “Dry Clean Only” clothes in water, instead of using a chemical solvent.
Plain water, that would otherwise damage ”Dry Clean Only” clothes, is treated with special chemicals that make it safe to use; similar to the way “Woolite” works. While professional cleaners have always employed some form of water-based cleaning methods, often by hand, these historic methods bear little resemblance to the new machine-based wet cleaning process.
Wet cleaning is not the same thing as home laundry and can only be done successfully by trained professional cleaners using specialized machines and specially-formulated detergents and additives to gently wash and dry clothes. These machines are computerized, and like drycleaning machines, can be programmed to control many variables and allow cleaners to customize the cleaning for different garments. Wet cleaned garment require more work to press and specialized labor-saving equipment has been developed to press and finish wet cleaned garments.
Although wet cleaning is often offered up as an environmentally preferred method to dry cleaning clothes, according to the EPA, “…there are unanswered questions about the potential environmental impact of wet cleaning, in particular regarding water and energy use. Wet cleaning detergents and additives usually end up going down the drain, and the potential environmental effects of these new products are largely unknown. Certain chemicals traditionally used in detergents may pose concern for aquatic toxicity if they are also found in wetcleaning products.”
Tags: dry cleaning alternatives, wet cleaning
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