| Many people have an issue with the price | | | | wrinkles pressed out. The entire process |
| of professional dry cleaning. This fact | | | | is more precise and thorough than the |
| alone has led many to seek out | | | | alternative at-home dry cleaning |
| different, less expensive methods such | | | | methods. You get what you pay for. |
| as home dry cleaning treatments. While | | | | Speaking of which, the cost of |
| they provide a cheaper alternative to | | | | professional dry cleaning is a major |
| professional dry cleaning, many remain | | | | drawback. It's expensive, with prices |
| skeptical as to how effective they | | | | ranging from nearly four dollars to over |
| really are. | | | | twenty dollars, depending on the size of |
| The Process | | | | the garment, the fabric and the amount |
| Regardless of its name, dry cleaning | | | | of treatment needed. |
| uses perchloroethylene to remove soil | | | | A little known fact about the process of |
| and stains from fabric. It is able to | | | | professional dry cleaning is that the |
| dissolve greases and oils and prevents | | | | chemical perchloroethylene poses health |
| shrinkage, loss of color, and fabric | | | | risks to both the people handling the |
| distortion. The process begins with the | | | | garments while they are being cleaned, |
| pretreatment of spots and stains using | | | | and the customers who wear the clothes |
| special cleaning agents. The garments | | | | afterward. |
| are then loaded into a machine and | | | | Home dry-cleaning is a cheaper |
| washed with perchloroethylene, then | | | | alternative. It costs less than fifty |
| pressed and packaged. | | | | cents per garment to dry clean at home |
| Two types of home dry cleaning products | | | | if everything is done correctly. It also |
| exist: with a dryer bag (i.e. Dryel) and | | | | freshens and removes wrinkles in one |
| without a dryer bag (i.e. Dry Cleaner's | | | | simple process without the use of |
| Secret). Both processes begin with | | | | harmful chemicals. The biggest drawback |
| removing spots with the provided spot | | | | is that home dry cleaning kits cannot |
| remover before either placing the | | | | remove stains that are larger than a |
| garments into either the dryer bag or | | | | dime and sometimes need to be touched-up |
| directly into the dryer along with the | | | | after the first cycle. |
| cleaning cloth, depending on the | | | | The Verdict |
| product. When the garments come out of | | | | The truth of the matter is that deciding |
| the dryer they are wrinkle-free and | | | | between professional dry cleaning and |
| typically require no other treatment. | | | | home dry cleaning is a matter |
| Benefits and Drawbacks | | | | preference, budget, and necessity. If |
| Professional dry cleaning has obvious | | | | you have heavy or large stains, |
| benefits, obvious drawbacks, and less | | | | professionals can do the best job, but |
| obvious drawbacks that need to be | | | | if you know that your local dry cleaner |
| brought to light. | | | | uses chemicals that may be harmful to |
| When you bring your clothes to a | | | | your health then you might want to avoid |
| professional dry cleaner, you can | | | | using their service. If you have smaller |
| typically expect nothing less than | | | | stains or simply need to refresh a piece |
| perfect. Your clothes will most likely | | | | of clothing, then home dry cleaning is |
| be clean and stain-free, and all the | | | | your best bet. |