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