Stains or dirt on things that are almost impossible to remove at home can be easily removed by dry cleaning. At the same time, the fabric remains unharmed, and the clothes look like new. Dry cleaning of clothes is carried out using liquids containing chemicals. Solvents are hazardous to human health and the environment, so working with them requires special care. Clothes are cleaned using special equipment - a dry cleaning machine.
Stages of the technological process depending on the type of pollution
Dry cleaning of clothes is a chemical-physical process using effective solvents of different compositions. The most common cleaning agent used for cleaning clothes is perchlorethylene (PCE). It is also possible to use water and special surfactant liquids - detergents.
In addition to solvents, when cleaning clothes, other chemical materials are used for degreasing, stripping and stain removal. Liquids are selected depending on the technology (cleaning with water, solvents containing carbohydrates or perchlorethylene), the type of contaminants, and the material from which the items are made.
The stages of the technological process include:
- receiving clothes - this stage is very important. During the appointment, the specialist determines the type of material, defects of things, type of contamination, selects the necessary substances to remove stains, and processing technology. In addition, a contract is drawn up;
- sorting - at this stage, batches of items are completed for subsequent loading into a special machine that performs chemical cleaning. Sorting is carried out according to the texture of the fabric, the color of the items, the level of contamination, since due to the individual characteristics, each fabric feels differently in the machine. Sorting by color is necessary so that dyes do not move from one thing to another;
- stain removal - this process is also called preliminary cleaning. The process is suitable for the most contaminated areas of clothing. To remove stains at this level, detergents and solvents are used. Surfaces are cleaned to remove stains using local light. Such tables are a surface with a hood located on them. Compressed air and steam are supplied using guns. A powerful air flow combined with water, solvents and fabric detergents effectively removes stains;
- Dry cleaning in a machine involves drawing out dirt using solvents from the fibers of the material and dissolving them. Dry cleaning equipment operates in a closed cycle. In the container, perchlorethylene, which has already absorbed dirt from things, is filtered and passes into the distiller, where it is cleaned. To protect workers and customers, dry cleaning equipment is equipped with an adsorber. The device absorbs solvent vapors formed during drying and, accordingly, removes them from things and the drum;
- finishing operations - basically, the finishing stage consists of ironing. This occurs on ironing surfaces using irons with steam supplied from the built-in steam generator. Mannequins and presses are also used.
Reception of clothesSubsequently, after ironing is completed, the clothes are checked for dry cleaning quality and the products are packaged. Sometimes clothes are cleaned if dirt remains.
Sorting 
Removing stains 
Machine washable 
Ironing Contamination occurs on the entire surface or locally. The most noticeable ones are stains or dust. The hardness of the material from salt, which is present in foods or sweat, is less visible. The color changes and appears bad smell from acid or alkali contamination.
There are many substances that contaminate clothes, but some contaminants are similar to each other. They can be divided into the following groups:
- Soluble are those contaminants that dissolve during degreasing. These include fatty substances, oils, and waxes. Such contaminants do not dissolve in water;
- water-soluble - stains are divided into two types. The first type (sugar, salt) is easily dissolved in water, the second - partially (sauces, soups). These contaminants are called food contaminants;
- insoluble - these contaminants are completely insoluble in water or solvents. These include dust, soot, and pigment substances. The process of removing stains from fabric uses dry cleaning. The problem is that stains can appear after removal; resorption occurs, causing things to look gray;
- pollution on small areas products, which include varnish stains, blood, paint, are removed with preliminary cleaning, often manually using special tools.
In the conditions of dry cleaning enterprises, the factors that influence the ease and quality of removal are the type of contamination of the material, the number and type of stains, and the length of time they remain on things. 
The cleaning method is selected depending on the type of contamination
Dry cleaning symbols on labels
Experienced employees of enterprises involved in professional dry cleaning can easily determine how to clean an item. If there is any difficulty, additional information can be obtained by paying attention to the labels on the clothing. The circle icon indicates that the product can be dry cleaned, but only if it is not crossed out. English letters, located on the symbols, indicate the following:
- P - perchlorethylene or tetrachlorethylene;
- F - highly flammable;
- A - any;
- W - wet.
One dash located in a horizontal position means that the dry cleaning conditions must be delicate. In this case, restrictions on humidity, mechanical influence, and temperature conditions are applied.
Two lines placed horizontally at the bottom of the symbol indicate very delicate handling of the product. IN in this case the amount of humidity, mechanical action and temperature is limited.
Dry professional dry cleaning is carried out with any of the solvents with the symbol F. With a limitation of solvents, dry dry cleaning with the symbol P is used. Conventional dry cleaning (F) is carried out using hydrocarbons, boiling temperatures up to 210 degrees, ignition temperatures up to 60 degrees.
(F)s.svg means dry cleaning is permitted. (A).svg - dry cleaning with various solvents is allowed. Water cleaning (W).svg is ordinary wet cleaning, and (W)s.svg is delicate. The (W)ss.svg mark refers to delicate wet cleaning of products.
Clothes whose stains cannot be removed independently with conventional detergents must be dry cleaned using special equipment, solvents, and reagents in special factories. Dry cleaning clothes is a process performed by professionals that effectively cleans garments and keeps them fresh, new and beautiful.
Video
Each of us has used dry cleaning services at least once in our lives. Wedding and evening dresses, men's and women's suits, leather jackets, sheepskin coats, fur coats - all these and many other products cannot be properly cleaned of dirt at home. However, even those who have already repeatedly gone to dry cleaning, for the most part know nothing about it, except, perhaps, that things go there dirty and come back clean.
How does a dry cleaning company work? The client brings the product to the receiving point, where the receiving administrator subjects it to a thorough inspection. Determines the composition, color, degree of contamination, percentage of wear, manufacturing and operational defects, studies the labeling with care symbols, agrees with the client on the processing technology of the product, as well as the timing of the order, fills out the contract receipt and marks the product with a number identical to the receipt number.
Then the product goes from the receiving point directly to the factory, namely to the tailor's shop, where all removable fittings that may be damaged during processing are removed from it and parts that cannot be removed are protected. From there, the product is sent to the workshop, where the products are re-inspected by a dry cleaner, batches are assembled for processing, the most contaminated areas are cleaned, and stains are removed. After preparatory operations, the products are processed in special machines depending on the agreed technology. As a rule, there are three such technologies: dry cleaning (or cleaning in a solvent), aqua-cleaning (processing products using a special technology in an aqueous solution of detergents) and professional washing. After processing in the machines is completed, the master again inspects the products for stains and other contaminants that may not have been removed the first time. If dirt and stains are not completely removed from the product, it is sent for reprocessing. Clean products are sent to the ironing shop for final finishing. Here the master, using special ironing equipment, restores the dimensions of the product, gives it shape, frame and proper appearance. After this, the product is returned to the tailor’s shop, where the previously removed fittings are sewn onto it, the protection is removed, and the operation of zippers and buttons is checked. Then the products undergo a quality control procedure for the services provided and are sent for packaging.
On the appointed day, the product awaits its customer at the receiving point.
Our dry cleaning is one of the leading enterprises on the Russian market. Having opened four years ago, the UNISEC company has developed a wide network of collection points throughout Moscow and the Moscow region and provides the full range of services in demand in this industry.
Dry cleaning - what do they do with our clothes? Why is it not so rare that “something goes wrong”? In recent years, new technologies have appeared in the service of such services, but should we expect miracles from them?
What hopes should you place on dry cleaning, and what should you not expect from it? We decided to study the work of this service from the inside. They took several shirts, T-shirts and trousers and thoroughly stained them: gouache, vegetable oil, berry syrup, balsamic vinegar, spray paint... and sent it all for processing. First of all, the technologist determines what can and cannot be done with the thing. Its factory marking helps - and becomes more difficult if the tag is cut off. The problem may also arise due to the fault of the manufacturer.
If the label allows chemical treatment, this must mean that the manufacturer made the buttons from a resistant material. But in reality this is not always the case, especially with cheap clothes. The fittings may break in the drum or be damaged by solvents (some types of plastic and finishes literally melt). Therefore, if possible, good dry cleaners pack protruding elements in protective cases. And sometimes they just cut it off (by the way, they don’t have to sew it back) to save it from the main cleaner - perchlorethylene! It will even dissolve glue, for example, that is used to glue rhinestones. The responsible master will always discuss in advance possible consequences with the client, and they will jointly decide what to do best.
So, the item is prepared and sent for preliminary cleaning. A specialist studies the origin of the stains - which are greasy, which are protein, which are from paint, and which are from fruit. At this stage, the technologist decides which active substances and in what concentration will be added to the chemical or aqua treatment machine. The difference is that in one case water is used, in the other it is not.
Only perchlorethylene will work here. This is a solvent from the group of substances that gave rise to dry cleaning. In 1855, the owner of a Parisian dyeing factory, Jean Baptiste Jolly, noticed that the tablecloth on which the maid had spilled kerosene became cleaner. He offered a stain removal service using this oil product - few people would want to do this at home, but giving it to a special service and getting a clean result is great, the service has gained popularity. At the beginning of the 20th century, less flammable white spirit began to be used instead of kerosene. In the 30s it was replaced by completely fireproof perchlorethylene.
You can’t use perchlorethylene at home - it requires special temperatures and pressure, and the substance is potentially toxic. But in dry cleaning conditions, of course, there is no danger - all possible protections are thought out there. For almost a hundred years, perchlorethylene reigned supreme among solvents. But in recent years it has been replaced with a mixture of modified alcohols - they give a double effect - dry chemical and wet water cleaning at once. That is, things do not need to be processed in two different machines. And the new composition treats buttons more delicately. The risk of ruining an item in such a machine is reduced. Therefore, if you are concerned about the fate of your clothes, it is better to clarify what technology is used by the dry cleaning service whose services you are used to using.
Let's return to our experiment. In parallel with the professionals, testers Katya Kondratyeva and Sasha Tsygankov are trying to wash the same soiled clothes on their own. In service: a popular liquid product in a recognizable purple bottle for 130 rubles, a special anti-stain soap for 30 rubles, and a line of solvents from different types pollution - 200 rubles per piece.
All products, according to manufacturers, are suitable for any fabrics and stains. But they work differently. The basis of soap is surfactants that bind water molecules to dirt particles and wash the latter out of the fabric. In the gel from the purple bottle, the so-called “active oxygen” is compounds that are ready to give up their oxygen molecule to oxidize the stain, breaking it down into carbon dioxide and water. The bottles contain solvents that break down contaminants pointwise. The latest remedies are almost like professional ones, only not as strong. With soap and popular stain remover, pre-soaking is required. Katya and Sasha did it. When they reached semi-professional bottles, the situation became more complicated - it was no longer possible to identify contaminants, which means it was difficult to apply the correct powder or liquid.
No miracle happened! Yes, our cases are a little invented, out of the ordinary, but nevertheless: home stain removal is a difficult and thankless task. Even if you have specialized products at your disposal, how do you decide which one to use in order to remove, for example, a trace of borscht, which contains three pollutants of different natures: fat, beets and sour cream? In the experiment we conducted, dry cleaning did a much better job. The most difficult ones for her were colored polos and blouses (increasing the concentration of solvents along with the stain would remove the dye from the fabric), and a T-shirt with long sleeve- here the composition contained delicate synthetics.
In general, as we understand, a good cleaning specialist is like an artist - he works creatively, which gives a positive result. In practice, this means that you can only find a good dry cleaner... through reviews! No one is immune from the human factor. But still, experts assure that this happens less often than domestic incidents when people try to resuscitate things themselves. Often, inept stain removal only preserves the dirt, and then nothing can be done with it. And then even professionals will not help.
All full episodes of the “Miracle of Technology” program are located.
Dry cleaning, dry cleaning - some dry cleaning users are simply scared to hear these names. Communicating clearly and intelligibly what is happening in a dry cleaning machine to the end consumer is not an easy task. I will help everyone by giving a simple description of dry cleaning technology.
How do they clean things at the dry cleaner?
Today is a short review of the solvents used in dry cleaning.
Solvents themselves are not cleaning agents. This is just a cleaning medium. The most important property of the solvent is to easily penetrate deep into the fiber and through the fibers. But, if it easily penetrated and passed through without creating resistance, then it did not remove anything from the tissue.
Dry cleaning technology in perchlorethylene
The most popular solvent for dry cleaning is perchlorethylene. You probably know this smell - the most common smell in dry cleaners is perchlor (as professionals call it). Quite a pungent odor; long-term inhalation of even a small amount of perchlorethylene dissolved in the air causes spasms of the vocal cords, sore throat and cough in those who are particularly sensitive.
For dry cleaning, perchlorethylene is good because it is denser than water - almost 2 times (1.76) - this means that the mechanical effect on the product in the drum will be very effective. Imagine being lowered down a mountain in a barrel of stones or pillows. What will hurt more? Right. For good cleaning, high mechanical stress is required.
Why is perchlorethylene bad? Because it is a highly toxic substance (SDYAV), essentially. I breathed in the perchloric acid for a longer period of time - my mood immediately became better, my head began to spin, my eyes turned red. Then pulmonary edema and rest. It also accumulates in the liver and kidneys.
There are stories that during the dry ban (and even a little later), binge alcoholics relieved withdrawal symptoms with perchlorethylene vapor (slightly warmed in a cup) - they got hangovers, to put it simply. True, such a tool required some skill. If perchlorethylene is heated strongly in air, it produces phosgene. Chemical warfare agent.
Nature defenders and ecologists are actively fighting against perchlorethylene. I believe that this is a kind of lobbying of interests. And it all started in America.
In the USA they threatened to ban perchlorethylene in dry cleaners completely by 2016, in Germany by 2018, France has already banned it. So you might want to think about buying used equipment from Europe. It is unrealistic to imagine dry cleaning in Russia without perchlorethylene in the near future.
KWL dry cleaning technology - hydrocarbon solvent
KWL is a hydrocarbon solvent. For all lovers of dry cleaning and barbecue. KWL is a fire starter. A little greasy to the touch. Yes, you know what kind of remedy it is.
Advantage - does not degrease to 0. Important for fur and skin. That is, it’s easier to process the fur coat later.
Cleaning ability is weak. But there are masters who work wonders with hydrocarbons. Seek and you will find.
A small “bonus” - since the solvent is based on petroleum fractions, it is naturally flammable (I already talked about lighter fluid) and the flash point is 55 degrees. “One tablet” is enough and he will come white and fluffy. Distillation takes place under vacuum, and there is also a nitrogen cylinder in the car - so that if anything happens, the whole thing can be extinguished.
It does not burn by itself. But fabric soaked in this solvent burns beautifully. In old dry cleaning machines, before the craze for these solvents, there were... gates to remove the blast wave.
Dry cleaning technology in silicone solvent
Silicone solvent. Also fatty. The same thing - fur coats, leather jackets, but also wedding dresses Super clean. (If it's not ble... but). Also flammable, also dangerous.
Sensene dry cleaning technology
The German company Safechem (a subsidiary of the DOW holding company, which makes, among other things, perchlorethylene) has released its solvent based on modified alcohols and called it. The manufacturer keeps the composition and name of these alcohols secret. The alkoxypropanol composition of the SENSENE solvent is from 50 to 70%, from 30 to 50% of the solvent composition is hydrocarbons, c11-c13 isoparaffin and flavorings. Distinctive feature Sensene solvent is its horse KB-value (kauri-butanol number) - 161. Even perchlor with its 90 was not close.
Intense dry cleaning technology
Seitz, a well-known Russian manufacturer of chemicals for dry cleaning and laundries, introduced Intense dry cleaning solvent in 2016. According to information from the safety data sheet, Intense consists of more than 30% aliphatic hydrocarbons, 50-75% hydrocarbons, C11-C14 nephras, isoalkanes, cyclic compounds,< 2% ароматических присадок относящихся к классификации Xn R65 R66. На момент публикации в России замечено 3 предприятия, пробующих технологию Intense, поэтому подробностей не так много.
I hope that this publication about solvents was useful to those who only use dry cleaning as a client, as well as to those for whom dry cleaning is a business.
Sometimes it is useful to know both the trade names and the scientific name of the solvents. Meet:
Hydrocarbon (KWL),
Silicone (D5, GreenEarth, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, GEC-5)
Solvon K4 (Dibutoxymethane/1,1-(methylenebisoxy) dibutane),
Rynex 3-E (Dipropylene glycol tetra-butyl ether),
Higlo,
If you have questions or comments, write in the comments (registration is not required to comment) or write a private message to me.
Dry cleaning is a set of chemical and physical processes that are designed to remove contaminants from textiles. Dry cleaning is a technology that differs from washing and water cleaning in that products are processed not in an aqueous environment, but in an environment of organic or carbon solvents.
There are various dry cleaning machines designed to handle organic and carbon solvents. At enterprises providing services to the public, dry cleaning machines are installed, in which the main processing of all things takes place.
What does a dry cleaner do?
Dry cleaning is an enterprise that provides services to the public and legal entities for dry cleaning of things using special equipment and professional employees.
Dry cleaning using organic solvents
Dry cleaning using organic solvents is most common in dry cleaners in St. Petersburg.
The most popular organic solvent is perchlorethylene. At the Clean Expert dry cleaner, products are processed using modern dry cleaning equipment using perchloroethylene.
In terms of cleaning power, this organic solvent is considered the most powerful solvent. This product cleans products best, but is not suitable for processing delicate items. Since during the cleaning process it can melt expensive fittings or change the color of the product.
Perchlorethylene is designed for cleaning everyday clothes: coats, suits, trousers and other items.
X cleaning using carbon solvents
Some dry cleaners use machines that use hydrocarbon solvents, such as hydrocarbon.
Hydrocarbon solvents are milder, making them ideal for cleaning delicate items. They have a good effect on the structure of the fabric. However, hydrocarbon solvents have lower cleaning power compared to organic ones.
Hydrocarbon solvents perfectly clean fur products. With this treatment, the fur turns out to be very fluffy, and the core is softer. Products acquire additional protection against moths.
Dry cleaning equipment
Specialized equipment for dry cleaning is a closed-cycle machine in which all processes are automatic. Things are loaded into a special drum. The preparations are supplied automatically, filling the washing chamber to approximately a third of its volume. The drum rotates with things loaded into it. During the dry cleaning process, fresh solvent is supplied to the chamber in accordance with the selected program. Spent drugs are automatically removed from the chamber.
Before loading into the machine, all products are inspected by a specialist. Stains and heavily rubbed dirt undergo preliminary cleaning and stain removal.
Depending on the composition of the stains, various preparations are used to remove them. For greasy stains Treatment with perchlorethylene is quite sufficient, and various stain removers are used to destroy stains of a water nature, such as coffee or wine stains.
