In the dry cleaning industry, there is a lot of terminology that can be tricky to understand for those outside of the trade or for people just getting started in the sector. It may feel like a lot to learn at first, but it will help you out in the long run and is especially useful for those looking to be a dry cleaning professional. Your customers will appreciate using a service which can really walk the talk discussing the likes of chemical breakdown and distillation. So if you are looking to learn the key dry cleaning terminology, this glossary is your go to guide which covers everything from from the basics to the more advanced terms.
Glossary
Alterations
Adjustments made to items of clothing are known as alterations and is an additional service often offered by a dry cleaners. Some examples of alterations include shortening sleeves or hemming trousers to adjust the fit.
Assembly
The final stage in the cleaning process is known as assembly. This is where garments are sorted into the correct groups, bagged and racked on a conveyor ready to give back to the customer.
Bleach
Bleach is used to remove stains and brighten fabrics. It’s a strong substance that is used with caution and there are two main types: oxygen bleach and chlorine bleach. Chlorine is suitable for whites and oxygen is safer for a range of colours and materials.
Button Trap
A button trap is a component found in some dry cleaning machines and washing machines. It’s designed to protect buttons and zippers from items of clothing and stop small objects like buttons from entering the solvent pump.
Chemical Breakdown
When a solvent or detergent lifts dirt from fabrics, the process is known as a chemical breakdown. During the dry cleaning process, professionals will use solvents like perchloroethylene to target tough stains without using water.
Classification
This is where fabrics are sorted into groups at the start of the process depending on colour, material and the type of treatment required.
Crease
A crease is a fold line within an item of clothing. During the finishing process, a dry cleaner will intentionally add neat creases to items like trousers and shirts to leave a professional look. A crease is achieved using heat, steam and pressure often combined with a pressing machine.
Delicates
Garments that are made from fabrics like silk or cashmere are known as delicates. They may also have extra detailing like beading or embroidery. A dry cleaner will use special techniques like mild solvents and low temperatures to protect delicate fabrics.
Distillation
This is a common term where solvents that have been used to clean garments are purified to remove content like dirt and oils. The solvent will be heated and turned into vapour, leaving all the impurities behind. It will then be turned back into liquid form, ready to use again.
Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning is a service which uses solvents to remove dirt, odors and stains from garments. Items will be pre-treated for stains, cleaned with solvents such as perc, dried and then pressed for a crisp finish. This service is particularly good for delicate items that can’t be cleaned at home such as woollen coats or silk shirts.
Eco-Friendly Solvents
These are environmentally friendly solvents used to clean clothes instead of traditional, more harsh solvents. The most common example is liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) which is biodegradable, non-toxic and gentle on fabrics. It’s a much safer and greener alternative for us and the planet.
Finishing
This is the final stage of the dry clean process where cleaned clothes are pressed, steamed and reshaped back to their original form ready for the customer. Garments will be inspected and may also be placed into a protective cover if needed.
Garment Care Label
On the inside of every clothing item you’ll find a small label where information about how to clean and dry the garment is found. A combination of symbols indicate care methods such as recommended water temperature and whether the item should be machine or hand washed. They help dry cleaners determine the best method for the cleaning process.
Garment Inspection
An important part of the cleaning process is quality control where every item meets a high standard before being given back to the customer. Garments will be checked for any issues such as remaining stains or missing buttons. If needed, additional treatments and repairs will be made.
Laundry Net
Smaller items are put into laundry nets to prevent them from getting tangled up and potentially snagged with larger items of clothing. Water and cleaning solvents can still access through the net while helping to maintain the fabrics.
Lint
Lint are the small fibers that collect from clothing when being cleaned. Tools like lint rollers and brushes can be used to remove loose fibers without damaging the items.
Marking
This is a term used for the first stage in the dry cleaning process where items are tagged or stamped to help identify them.
Odor Removal
Part of the dry cleaning process is to remove odor such as sweat or smoke from garments. Common ways to remove unwanted smells include using enzymatic cleaners or sprays. An extra wash cycle with specific detergents will also do the trick.
Perchloroethylene (Perc)
Perc is the most effective and popular choice of dry cleaning solvent. Due to its strong materials and risk to air and ground pollution, many services now use eco-friendly alternatives such as liquid carbon dioxide or wet cleaning.
Pickup and Delivery
P&D is an additional service offered by laundromats and dry cleaners where customers can have their laundry picked up, cleaned and then dropped back off to their home. It’s a convenient option that removes the need for people to handle their laundry themselves.
Pressing
Pressing is used to remove any unwanted creases from garments, leaving them with a neat and clean appearance. Professionals use specialized equipment such as irons and steam presses and it’s a particularly important step for items that need structure such as jackets and suit trousers.
Shrinkage
Too much exposure to heat and moisture can cause a garment to reduce in size. A dry cleaners will use controlled temperatures and careful handling to make sure items retain their original size and fit. Reading fabric care labels will also provide advice on how best to wash the specific item.
Sodium Bisulfite
Sodium Bisulfite is a reducing bleach used to remove the effects of oxidizing agents during the stain removal process such as chlorine bleach. This removal helps prevent damage or discoloration to fabrics.
Solvent
A solvent is a liquid substance such as perchloroethylene used to dissolve stains such as oil and grease from fabrics without needing to use water. It’s a substance used by dry cleaners to lift dirt from fibers without damaging any material.
Spotting
Spot cleaning is part of the dry clean process where stains are treated before the garments are cleaned. Stain removal products are applied to stains using brushes to target and remove the dirt without damaging the fabric. Different types of stains require different solutions in order for the dirt to be broken down effectively without causing damage to clothing.
Steam Press
A steam press is used in dry cleaning to remove creases from garments, leaving them with a crisp finish. A combination of pressure and heat from the steam press helps to relax fibers, smoothing out any lines and wrinkles from fabrics.
Tumble Cleaning
Clothes are placed into a rotating drum with cleaning solvents to dissolve dirt and stains from fabrics while the machine is spinning. Tumble cleaning helps activate the solvents while protecting the colour and material of the garments.
Wet Cleaning
Wet cleaning is a cleaning method where water and biodegradable detergents are used to clean garments instead of the usual dry cleaning solvents. It’s a more eco-friendly method compared to strong chemicals and effectively cleans items, removing dirt and stains while remaining gentle on fibers.
Dry cleaning terminology is key to understand for the dry cleaning industry, as an owner and a customer who is looking to get to know this type of service better. If you are looking to open your own dry cleaning business, check out CleanCloud, a POS system packed with all the essential tools, integrations and more designed to make the day-to-day operations simple.