What Is Dry Cleaning And Why Does It Get Your Clothes Wet

Did you know your clothes can still get wet when they're being dry cleaned?

Sounds strange, doesn't it?

Despite the name, dry cleaning isn't actually dry. Your clothes aren't cleaned without liquid — they're cleaned without the water and detergent you'd normally use in a washing machine.

Instead, professional dry cleaning uses specialist cleaning solvents designed to clean garments while helping to protect delicate fabrics, colours, shapes and finishes.

So, what exactly happens when you take a suit, coat or favourite dress to the dry cleaner? Let's take a look.

So, why is it called “dry” cleaning?

The name comes from the fact that water isn't used as the main cleaning liquid.

In a normal washing machine, water is used to carry detergent through your clothes and remove dirt. Dry cleaning uses a specialist solvent instead.

The solvent is still a liquid — which means your clothes are not literally dry throughout the cleaning process.

The difference is what liquid is being used to clean them.

Why can't everything just go in the washing machine?

It can be tempting to throw everything into the washing machine and hope for the best.

But some garments simply aren't designed for a traditional wash.

Certain fabrics can shrink, lose their shape, bleed colour or have their finish affected by water, heat or agitation.

Structured garments such as suits and tailored jackets can also be particularly difficult to wash at home without affecting their shape.

That's where professional dry cleaning comes in.

It provides a specialist cleaning process for garments where a normal wash may not be suitable.

What clothes are usually dry cleaned?

Dry cleaning is commonly used for garments such as:

• Suits and tailored jackets
• Coats and jackets
• Dresses
• Evening and occasion wear
• Trousers and skirts
• Delicate fabrics
• Formalwear
• Some knitwear
• Garments with specialist finishes

The most important thing is always to check the care label.

If it says “dry clean only”, that's a pretty good indication that your washing machine should stay well away.

Can dry cleaning remove stains?

One of the reasons people use professional dry cleaning is to deal with marks and stains that may be difficult to tackle at home.

Different stains require different approaches, and professional cleaners can assess the garment and determine the most appropriate treatment.

However, no cleaning process can guarantee that every stain will disappear completely.

And when it comes to stains, the sooner they're dealt with, the better.

Trying several different stain removers at home can sometimes make a stain more difficult to treat or even damage the fabric.

If you're unsure, it's often better to bring the garment to a professional.

Does dry cleaning make clothes last longer?

Professional cleaning isn't a magic solution, but looking after your clothes properly can help you get more wear out of them.

A suit, coat or special occasion outfit can represent a significant investment.

Cleaning garments according to their care instructions and avoiding unnecessary washing can help maintain their appearance and condition.

It's also one of the reasons we're big believers in looking after clothes rather than automatically replacing them.

Sometimes your favourite outfit doesn't need replacing — it just needs a little professional attention.

How often should you dry clean something?

There's no universal answer.

It depends on the garment, how often you wear it and how it has been used.

A suit worn occasionally may not need cleaning after every wear, while a coat worn throughout the winter may benefit from professional cleaning at the end of the season.

Always check the care label and consider the condition of the garment.

And if you're not sure, ask us.

What if you're not sure whether something needs dry cleaning?

This is probably one of the most common questions we get.

If you're standing at home holding a garment thinking “Can I wash this?”, don't take the risk if you're unsure.

Bring it into The Steam Shop on Hyndland Road and we'll be happy to have a look.

We offer professional dry cleaning alongside our laundry and ironing services, so you don't have to figure everything out yourself.

And you don't even have to come to us

If getting to the laundrette isn't convenient, we also offer a collection and delivery service.

We can collect your laundry and dry cleaning from you, take care of it professionally and return it once it's ready.

It's ideal if you're busy, have a larger load to deal with, or simply don't fancy carrying a bag of laundry across Glasgow.

So, is dry cleaning actually “dry”?

No — and that's the surprising bit.

Your clothes can still get wet during the dry cleaning process. The difference is that professional dry cleaning uses specialist solvents rather than a traditional water-based wash.

So the next time you see “Dry Clean Only” on a care label, you'll know a little more about what it actually means.

And if you're still unsure about a garment, don't risk ruining it at home.

Bring it to The Steam Shop on Hyndland Road, Glasgow, or use our collection and delivery service and let us take care of it for you.