Laundry vs Dry Clean
Cleaning our clothes and furnishings regularly is essential for removing dirt and dust that builds up through everyday use. Laundry refers to the process of washing clothes with soap, detergents, and water. In contrast, dry cleaning is a method used to clean expensive garments without water. Some people may not understand the real differences between laundry and dry cleaning, so this article will discuss the distinctions between these two cleaning processes.
Laundry
Laundry is a verb that has been used for a long time to describe the washing of clothes. Laundering also encompasses starching and ironing clothes, although the term laundry generally refers to washing clothes using soap and water. Washing machines are found in households across the country for laundry purposes, allowing people to wash and dry their clothes. However, these dry clothes are usually hung outside to ensure any remaining moisture evaporates before ironing and wearing them again. Some people prefer to hand-wash their clothes because they believe washing machines do not provide a thorough clean. This method involves soaking dirty clothes in detergent and water or rubbing soap bars on stains and spots on the garments.
Key Takeaways
- Laundry refers to traditional washing of clothes using water and detergent in washing machines.
- Dry cleaning is a process that cleans clothes without using water, often used for expensive garments.
- Some fabrics are better suited to dry-cleaning than laundry, as dry-cleaning is considered gentler on certain materials.
Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning is a method of cleaning clothes that does not use water. The process is somewhat mysterious, as most individuals do not understand what happens to their clothes when they hand them over to a dry cleaning shop. Humans discovered dry cleaning accidentally, and the service was initially started after a man saw how his tablecloth was cleaned when his maid spilled kerosene on it. In the early stages, petrol and kerosene were the primary solvents used by dry cleaners to remove dirt and dust. Today, most dry cleaners use perchlorethylene, known as perc, a volatile solvent. Before immersing garments in this solvent, dirty spots are pretreated with a stain remover. Clothes are inspected again after cleaning to remove any remaining stains. Finally, the garments are pressed and folded before being returned to the customers.
Laundry vs Dry Cleaning
• Laundry involves traditional washing of clothes and cleaning them using water and detergent in washing machines.
• Dry cleaning cleans clothes without water, making it ideal for delicate and expensive garments.
• Gasoline and kerosene were initially used for dry cleaning, but most dry cleaners now use perc, a volatile liquid.
• The solvent used in dry cleaning is a liquid but not water.
• Some fabrics are better suited for dry-cleaning, as it is considered gentler on certain materials.
• Dry cleaning is more expensive than laundry.
• Dry cleaning reduces wrinkling and shrinkage of cotton fabrics.
• Men’s suits and expensive woolen garments are typically dry cleaned rather than laundered.
• Dry cleaning reduces fading and wear and tear on clothes.
• Delicate garments are better suited for dry cleaning.
