In the world of professional garment cleaning, the most common methods are dry cleaning and wet cleaning. Although both have their applications, wet cleaning emerges as the most sustainable, effective and healthy alternative—with the caveat of certain extremely delicate fabrics.
What is dry cleaning?
It is the cleaning process that does not use water, but chemical solvents (such as perchloroethylene, known as perc, hydrocarbons or silicone fluids) in special machines. It is ideal for fabrics that react poorly to water, such as viscose, silk or garments with embellishments, as it minimises deformations and texture changes.
Advantages:
- Excellent for removing oily-type stains.
- Preserves the shape and texture of sensitive garments.
- Modern processes recover up to almost 100% of the solvent.
Drawbacks:
- Use of toxic chemicals such as perc, linked to health and environmental problems.
- Emission of pollutants into air, soil and water, and risks for operators.
- In general, expensive and less sustainable.
- It can leave residues on clothing.
What is wet cleaning?
It is based on the use of water together with biodegradable detergents and conditioners and specialised computer-controlled machines. It is a professional alternative to traditional dry cleaning, without using harmful solvents.
Clear advantages:
- Environmentally clean method: it does not generate hazardous waste or pollution.
- Gentle on fabrics: it controls temperature, agitation and drying to avoid shrinkage or deformation.
- Safer for the health of users and workers, as it does not use VOCs.
- Effective at removing stains and odours, especially water-based ones, leaving garments fresh and soft.
- Lower operating cost and less need for specialised labour (with modern machinery).
Drawbacks:
- It requires investment in specialised machinery.
- It can generate wastewater (although manageable and biodegradable).
- For very delicate fabrics or garments labelled “dry clean only”, it is necessary to confirm that wet cleaning is safe.
Laundry Plan recommendation
For most garments, wet cleaning should be the first option. It is more sustainable, healthier, effective and potentially more economical.
Only in cases of extremely delicate fabrics, garments with special ornaments, or when a piece is clearly identified as “dry clean only” for a technical reason, should professional dry cleaning be considered—always emphasising the use of less toxic alternatives or wet cleaning when viable.