When your nicest suit needs cleaning, you can’t just throw it into the washing machine and dryer with all of your everyday laundry. The same goes for sport coats, dress shirts, and dress pants. For these items (and other delicate pieces), it’s best to drop them off at your local dry cleaner so they can be professionally cleaned without risking any damage.

While many people use the dry cleaners on a regular basis, few know what the process actually entails. Let’s take a look at how dry cleaning works, as well as how Rema Dri-Vac products can improve fabricare operations.

The Dry-Cleaning Process Explained

As its name states, dry cleaning is a process that essentially cleans clothing without using any water. Instead, it uses a cleaning solvent called perchloroethylene. The dry-cleaning process consists of four main steps, including:

  • Pre-Treatment – This step is designed to make the stain removal process more efficient. During pre-treatment, a special solution is applied to the garment. This product is similar to what you would apply at home before putting stained clothing in your washing machine.
  • Dry Cleaning – During this step, clothing is cleaned using a machine that combines washing, extracting, and drying. Each dry-cleaning machine can hold up to 100 pounds of clothes, which are rotated inside of the appliance in a perforated basket. Pumps within the machine administer a constant flow of solvent into the cleaning basket. The soiled solvent is removed from the system simultaneously as fresh cleaning solution continues to enter it.
    After a cleaning cycle, all solvent is expelled from the machine, and the clothing will then enter the drying phase. This occurs by simply circulating warm air through the garments while they’re still inside the appliance.
    A dry cleaner’s prowess is largely based on the quality control measures deployed within their operations. Those who use high-quality equipment, such as those offered by Rema Dri-Vac, are more likely to deliver a more satisfactory cleaning. For example, our return systems can help dry cleaners maintain a steady temperature during the dry-cleaning process, thus eliminating issues with product quality.
  • Post-Spotting – This step consists of using air, water, steam, and a vacuum to remove stains that still exist after dry cleaning. Again, this is a step that can have mixed results based on the quality of equipment used.
  • Finishing – This step is similar to ironing. However, it doesn’t just serve to remove wrinkles from the garment; it can also repair any issues on it. During the finishing process, the garment is pressed using steam. The steam is then removed with a vacuum and the piece is folded or hung to be given back to the customer. Equipment from Rema Dri-Vac, such as an air vacuum, can help enhance the performance of finishing operations by minimizing the total energy used.

While dry cleaning may seem like a basic process, the results can vary greatly if you don’t use the proper equipment. Rema Dri-Vac has been a leader in the fabricare industry for over 70 years. For more information about our products or to place an order, contact us today.

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