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 a 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 Pick My Laundry, 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 labelled 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 colour to bleed or fade. In order to make wet washing more gentle on the clothing, Pick My Laundry 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, colour 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 Pick My Laundry, 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?