16th Dec 2022 love2laundry Uncategorised

Why Should Dry Cleaning Not Be Done At Home?

All over the world, there are so many individuals and businesses who rely on dry cleaning and laundry facilities on a daily basis. In fact, the global dry cleaning and laundry market value is expected to grow to $79.91 billion by the year 2027, so there are no signs of the industry slowing down.

Dry cleaning is the process of cleaning clothes, without using water. Instead, the garments are immersed in a chemical solution, which cleans them thoroughly and lifts tough stains and foul odours.

The process of dry cleaning is gentler on clothes than machine washing is. Once the items have been professionally dry cleaned, they will look and smell clean and fresh, ready to wear or to put away in storage.

In this article, we will answer the question ‘why should dry cleaning not be done at home?’, which we hope you find helpful.

What are the advantages of getting your items professionally dry cleaned?

Your garments will be returned to you, professionally cleaned, pressed and ready to wear!
It saves you the time and effort of washing and drying your garments yourself, which are time-consuming, laborious and physically demanding tasks.
Dry cleaning will help remove stubborn stains and odours from your garments.
Many dry cleaners offer a pick-up and drop-off service, which is super convenient for your lifestyle.
Because dry cleaning does not use water, there is far less risk of the colours in your garments running or fading, which can happen over time with machine washes.
It is better to trust a professional dry cleaners to clean your garments and remove stains; using a home method could potentially ruin your favourite outfit or bedding item, which can be expensive to replace.

What items can be dry cleaned?

Dry cleaning is acceptable for many fabrics, such as linen, silk, suede, rayon, cotton, polyester, wool, chiffon, velvet and taffeta.

There is a multitude of items that can be professionally dry cleaned, including everyday laundries such as shirts, blouses, trousers, dresses, skirts and underwear, as well as special garments like wedding dresses, formal suits and partywear.

You can also take your household furnishings such as bedding, towels, blankets and curtains to be dry cleaned.

Outdoor clothing is also suitable for dry cleaning, so you can get your coats, blazers, jackets and gilets cleaned professionally.

What fabrics should NOT be dry cleaned?

There are a select few fabrics which are unsuitable for dry cleaning.

Always check the label on your clothing and furnishings, as the care instructions will specify whether they are suitable for dry cleaning only, machine washing only, or hand washing only (or suitable for all three methods).

Here is a list of fabrics which should not be dry-cleaned:

Fine-hair wool: because the chemicals used in dry cleaning can be harsh on the fragile hair of woollen items.
Denim: because the chemicals used in dry cleaning can strip the natural textures in the fabric.
Garments containing lots of embellishment work, such as sequins and gemstones: because the process of dry cleaning might add too much pressure on the embellishment and cause damage.
Spandex/Lycra: dry cleaning can cause the fibres in the material to swell, which will result in the garment becoming misshaped.
Synthetic fabrics such as nylon, plastic, PVC and polyurethane: because dry cleaning can cause wear and tear, and thus decrease their lifespan.

Why should dry cleaning not be done at home?

You should never attempt to ‘dry clean’ your clothes at home. DIY dry cleaning will not effectively clean your garments, as you will not see the results you desire.

You won’t have access to the chemical solvent that professional dry cleaners use to treat those pesky stains and foul odours.

So, if you use any household chemicals to try and ‘dry clean’ your garments without using your water, you may end up tearing, ripping, or damaging your items altogether.

Chemicals such as cleaning liquids and bleach should never be mixed together, so you could seriously injure yourself or others if you try to ‘dry clean’ your garments at home.

Simply sticking your clothes in the washing machine won’t give you the same results as dry cleaning- washing machines work on a wash and spin process, whereas dry cleaning machines are reliant on heating elements, to encourage the chemicals to work.

Some companies sell ‘dry cleaning at-home kits’, to try and entice customers into buying their products. You should be wary of these, as they may contain harsh chemicals and fragrances that are harmful for your skin and health.

If you want to get your garments dry cleaned, then you should trust a professional dry cleaners to do the job for you. They have the expertise on how best to clean clothing and furnishings, and they will return your items to you, fresh, clean, and in pristine condition.

What is an alternative to dry cleaning at home?

Now you know why should dry cleaning not be done at home, you are probably wondering what the alternative is.

Well, machine washing or hand washing your garments will do the trick.

The care instructions on the label of your garment will always specify whether you should ‘hand wash only’, ‘dry clean only’, or if the item is machine washable.

How can I get stains out of ‘dry clean only’ items?

We all have those clothing pieces in our wardrobe or household furnishings where the care label says ‘dry clean only’.

But what if you don’t have the time to get your favourite outfit dry cleaned, but the care label says ‘dry clean only’?

Well, here are our handy tips to remove stains from your ‘dry clean only’ items, without actually dry cleaning them:

Always scrape off the excess blobs on a stain, using a butter knife.
Grab a clean cloth and dip it in cold water. Blot the stain gently.
If water is not enough to lift the stain, then make a cleaning solution of equal parts white vinegar and washing up liquid. Dab a clean cloth in this cleaning solution and then blot it gently on the stain.
If the stain on your garment is greasy or oily, then sprinkle a small amount of bicarbonate of soda or cornstarch on the stain. Use a clean cloth or clean brush to work the powder into the stain. Wait a few minutes- this should hopefully absorb the stain.

Where can I access laundry and dry cleaning services?

Here at Love2Laundry, we are an on-demand laundry service, serving London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bolton and Bury.

We provide a door-to-door service, so we will collect your items, wash, dry and fold or hang them up, and then deliver them straight to your door!

We also offer ironing services across London, as well as dry cleaning, shoe repairs, upholstery cleaning and alterations.

All you have to do is make an order online on our website, or through our mobile app (iOS and Android).

You can choose a location and time slot that works for you, and our friendly couriers will collect your laundry items. We will then professionally clean your items and return them to you- all within 24 hours!

Our prices are affordable- for example, the ‘wash, dry, and fold’ package starts from £2.65 per kg. See the prices on our website here.

At Love2Laundry, we are not your typical launderette. We operate a cashless system, so you will pay for your order via our mobile app or online via our website.

We accept various forms of payment including American Express, Visa and MasterCard.

No more worrying about finding the correct change, or physically dropping off your laundry items- simply input your order with just a click of your fingers, and the rest is up to us!

Love2Laundry’s Hotel Quality Linen Cleaning Service in London

Here at Love2Laundry, we also offer an on-demand linen cleaning service for hotels and Airbnb hosts. All you have to do is make an order, and we will pick up your dirty linens on the same day and professionally clean them for you.

We also offer all the essentials that you need to keep your guests comfortable and happy, including a complete range of bed linens, towels, hotel toiletries, bath mats, kitchen cloths and more.

Click here to learn more about our Hotel Quality Linen Cleaning Service in London and request a quote.

What is the best way to hand wash clothes?

To hand wash your garments, you should:

Always read the care label of your garments, to check that hand washing is suitable.
Fill a tub or sink with cold or lukewarm water.
Add a teaspoon of laundry detergent or soap powder. Mild, unscented ones are best.
Use your hands to swish the garments around the water.
You can knead the garments gently with your hands, but don’t scrub them harshly, as this can destroy the fibres in the fabric.
Rinse and repeat.
Avoid wringing the garments harshly.
Allow the garments to fully dry, by air-drying outside in fresh air, or in a well-ventilated area indoors.

About Love2Laundry

You should now hopefully have the answer to the question ‘why should dry cleaning not be done at home?’

For more content like this, check out our blog here to read more articles.

Find out more about Love2Laundry’s dry cleaning and laundry services by visiting our website here.

Download our Love2Laundry app on the Apple App Store here or on Google Play here.