Does Dry Cleaning Remove Wrinkles?
Is there anything quite like a wardrobe full of clean, perfectly ironed clothing? Knowing that the laundry load is not an awaiting chore is one of the simple pleasures in life. Whether you choose to wash your items at home or outsource them to a professional cleaning service, the job’s cleaning portion is just one part.
As professional dry cleaners at Love2Laundry, we often get asked if dry cleaning alone will remove wrinkles, as the process is somewhat of a mystery to many people. With the dry cleaning market increasing by 68.4% in 2022, it is clear that this is the clothing cleaning method of choice, so we thought now was the time to answer this common question.
Continue reading as we iron out the creases on this common dry cleaning conundrum.
Are Dry Cleaned Fabrics Wrinkle Free?
Many people associate dry-cleaned clothing with the perfectly pressed items you see returned in suit bags ready to wear. Maybe this is one of the reasons that the dry cleaning market is set to grow by 3.4% CAGR until 2028.
While this is how items are delivered back to customers, that is not the direct result of the treatment that has taken place. This is also one of the main reasons that dry cleaning should not be done at home, as the process is much more detailed than many think.
Dry cleaning removes stains and dirt from garments and other household fabrics. Dry cleaning cleans items without water thanks to a much-researched blend of cleaning products and industrial machinery, which moves the items in a way that activates the stain-removal properties.
While items will be stain and dirt-free after the dry cleaning process, they will still be wrinkled. In fact, they may even feature more creases than if items had been traditionally washed and dried as the dry items have been constantly moved around and had forms of heat put on them for a duration of time. This means that the post-dry clean treatment of fabrics is essential to give them the pristine finish that many expect. This is also why some people believe dry cleaning can still smell after processing, as the solutions used are not designed to add fragrance. They are simply being used to remove stains and dirt.
How Can You Remove Wrinkles From Dry Cleaned Clothing?
Removing wrinkles from dry cleaned clothing is simple as long as you have the right tools for the job. It will also depend on the type of fabric being treated, as many dry clean items are already delicate, so using excessive heat or pressure could lead to permanent damage.
Creases in clothing are removed using the following methods by dry cleaning professionals:
Using a suitable iron or press machine. These are not the same as household products as they have been designed for use with delicate items. They also require much less heat and steam than normal household irons, which puts less pressure on the clothing. This is also important as the chemicals used during dry cleaning can react with different heat levels if the residue has not been completely removed.
Using a steaming machine. As the most common way to treat wrinkled clothing, this allows items to be hand-finished with precise detail for the perfect result. This is an essential method for fabrics such as satins and linens, as little to no heat is required. Steaming also ensures that clothing is left with a soft, ready-to-wear finish as each fibre has been treated.
Using spray bottles or fabric relaxers. If items only have a few creases and are unsuitable for heat exposure, finishing products such as clothing sprays are a great way to remove wrinkles. These work by almost resetting the material to its usual state without adding harmful chemicals or excessive amounts of liquid, which would leave damage.
If you find yourself with a creased dry clean-only item at home, another tip is to use white vinegar dilated with a slight bit of water. When sprayed via a mist setting onto the crease, it will help the fabric to relax.
What Are the Benefits of Dry Cleaning For Wrinkle-Prone Items?
If you think that dry cleaning is essential for getting rid of wrinkles in delicate clothing, then you would be correct. Although the process doesn’t initially leave items perfectly pressed and crease-free, the overall actions include safely finishing treat clothing and fabrics. Some of the main benefits include the following:
Dry Cleaning Clothing Lasts for Longer
If you have items that are prone to creasing, the last thing you want to do is to wash them regularly, as it will mean that extra pressure needs to be put on the fabric each time.
We often get asked if dry cleaned clothes last longer, and the answer is yes. For prone-to-wrinkle items, this offers a way for the material to experience less pressure. Of course, some fabrics will crease every time you wear them, but most will be okay if they are hung properly and treated with fabric products between washes.
This means items will last longer between treatments and have a longer lifespan, saving you money in the long run.
Delicate Fabrics Can Be Thoroughly Cleaned
Another benefit that dry cleaning can offer to delicate items is that a thorough wash can be administered making for a better end result. As there are methods to remove any creases in a safe way, it allows otherwise tricky fabrics to be looked after properly.
The Same Results Cannot Be Achieved With At-Home Products
Even if you find a way to clean, dry clean only items at home, which we would not recommend, delivering the post-cleaning stages is impossible with household products. A standard iron will cause damage to clothing as a much higher heat would be needed to release the wrinkles compared to what professionals would have used.
You can find out more about this in this blog, which looks at what substitutes are available for dry cleaning. This article looked at why dry cleaning is the only option for some clothing items and also speaks about the post-cleaning stages in which wrinkle removal is one of the priorities.
How Does Love2Laundry Ensure No Wrinkles Remain in Clothing?
As expert dry cleaners, a few wrinkles are no match for our talented team! We often get asked if it’s better to wash or dry clean clothing, to which we answer, unless you have a fabric that states otherwise, the decision is yours.
However, we are still huge advocates of dry cleaning as it does help clothes to last for longer, achieves a deeper clean, and also means that tough-to-treat items can be refreshed at any time with complete ease. To ensure that our dry cleaned items are always delivered back without a crease in sight, we do the following:
- When items are delivered to us, we hand-sort everything to ensure the correct dry cleaning method if used for items. Whether you have a delicate dress or heavily dyed curtains, we have a proven way of cleaning all fabrics. If items are dry cleaned correctly with the right solutions, the chance of tough wrinkles remaining is reduced.
- All fabrics are treated with our post-clean ironing, pressing, steaming, and relaxing steps, leaving all products in perfect condition.
- If items are prone to heavy creasing, we will treat them with fewer other items as this reduces the chance of products becoming tangled, resulting in more creases.
- All clothing and household fabrics are also treated quickly, which leaves less time for creases to set in deeply.
Want to find out more about our dry cleaning services? Contact us today! Our laundry app makes life easier for everyone so give us a try.
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