Dropping off our clothing at a dry cleaner store is pretty routine for most of us. We take our garments in, get a ticket, go back out to our car and drive off to more errands, We return within the week to retrieve our cleaned items and take them home. Easy-Peasy right? Have you ever wondered about what it is that happens in the middle? What was the process of cleaning your clothes and how did it all begin? This post will offer up some interesting history about dry cleaning.
Dry Cleaning Information | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC
It is thought that dry cleaning goes back to the beginning of textile clothing. In the ruins of Pompeii, there is evidence of a developed trade called “fullers” which were tradesmen who cleaned others clothing. The name comes from the clay that was used called “filler’s earth” that was combined with ammonia and lye. This combination could then be used to remove the grease and soil from the clothing which was deemed too fragile for washing. Although it is referred to as dry cleaning, garments are actually soaked in a solvent but not water.
There is also the idea that dry cleaning was accidentally discovered when a petroleum-based fluid was spilled by accident on a greasy stain. It was found that the fluid evaporated and the stains were gone. Jolly-Berlin was a company in Paris that is credited with being the first dry cleaning service in the 1840s.
The fluids used to dry clean were highly flammable in the early days. It made this a hazardous business. Today’s dry cleaners use newer solvents that are much safer. There are also dry cleaning machines used that hold the solvent and soak the items. Most of these machines clean the item and then dry it as well. Your clothing is examined for stains and heaviness of soil. The time needed for a cleaning cycle is then set.
Most cycles can be between 8-15 minutes long. The distilled solvent is used to rinse the garment. The solvents used do not discolor the items either. The solvent that is extracted during the rinse cycle is reused. There is an amazing 99.9% recovery in today’s modern machines. Some of the solvents used are Hydrocarbons, Perchloroethylene, Trichloroethylene, and Supercritical CO2.
Dry cleaning your clothing will help it last longer. It is also a great way to have your business attire looking as good as possible. Many will drop business shirts off to be dry cleaned and pressed using a degree of starch to keep them looking good all day long. The dry cleaner is a good way to get your larger, bulky items cleaned as well. Coats, comforters, and expensive evening wear are all items you want to take special care off. Many home washing machines and dryers cannot handle these items. Pricing is usually by the item and same day, next day service is usually available upon request.
Laundry Express | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC
We hope that when you drop off your clothes for a cleaning you will now have a knowledge of just what goes into getting your clothes clean as can be. If you need laundry done and a good place to do it try our state of the art laundromat service. Laundry Express also offers coin laundry in Raleigh NC, a dry cleaning service as well as a wash, dry, fold service. Call us or come by today!
