Why Dry Cleaning is the Best Option for Formal Wear

Dry cleaning is a specialized type of laundry service that cleans clothes that are adversely affected by water. The vast majority of brand-new dress clothes are labeled “dry clean only.” So what benefits do dry cleaning confer for your delicate enough to be labeled “dry clean only” clothes?

The Benefits of Dry Cleaning for Formal Wear

When we call it “dry” cleaning, we are being a bit misleading because dry cleaners do use a liquid solvent. Dry cleaning is any cleaning process for clothing and textiles using a chemical solvent other than water. The solvent used is typically tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), which the industry calls “perc.” It is used to remove grease and oils from the fabric. In short, the process involves washing garments in a liquid solvent to remove stains and grime. The process breaks up and dissolves exterior dirt and stains and helps release any odor trapped in the fabric. Dry cleaning works to delicately remove all dirt and grime from the surface and within the fibers of your garments. Using specialized equipment and technique, dry cleaning professionals are able to preserve the delicate fibers of your delicates and refresh the finish of your fabrics, leaving them looking and smelling clean.

The art of dry cleaning clothes was developed by Thomas L. Jennings in 1821 in New York. As a respected tailor in New York City in the 1820s, he operated in the heart of the bustling lower city, with a business catering to the city’s men and women of wealth. Initially, Jennings worked for another tailor and was dissatisfied with the work methods that had been passed down for generations. He would arrive at work at 3 a.m. to take in the work, then leave the oppressive damp city and set up an industrial-sized brazier in his shed in response to customers’ clothing complaints. Coming from a scientific background, he had an understanding of organic chemistry and had gained some insight into how stinky clothing could be cleaned in the most hygienic manner. As a result, he sold his goods under the new label “Dry Cleaning.”

Definition and Process

Dry cleaning refers to the process of cleaning fabric and clothing in a solution that does not contain water. Dry cleaning is often seen as the most effective method for cleaning formal wear and is particularly important for those made from delicate fabrics such as wool and silk. Traditional laundering can be aggressive to fabric and strip away the natural oils found in wool clothing. Dry cleaning works by breaking down and eliminating soiling and staining while ensuring that the natural oils of the fabric stay in place.

During the initial inspection process that occurs when a new garment comes in to be cleaned by a dry cleaner, the fabric is checked for preexisting damage such as rips, tears, large stains, or oil spots that need to be addressed during the cleaning process.

Clothes, especially those with tough stains, are best taken to a professional dry cleaner. For formal wear, it is best to choose a cleaner who has existing experience with cleaning formal wear. The fabric used in formal wear, like silk, linen, and wool, is delicate and can be damaged if not cleaned properly.

The dry cleaning process involves using either Lucky Loosener or a steam gun to remove the stain as much as possible and then tumbling garments in a large machine that can hold 50–80 pounds. A type of perc or solvent that is often used in dry cleaning is Perchloroethylene, Ken-drike, or Green Earth. The process means that most of the work is performed by a machine, with no members of staff present. With these chemicals, garments are cleaned continuously in the same machine, where they are exposed to both cleaning solvent and fluid, which should be at a set temperature, for 40 minutes. In an average shift, one machine is able to clean between 200 and 250 garments.

After undergoing the tumble dry process, the clothes are described as dry (although they are not). Regular testing then, with a damp cloth on a hidden area, is required to confirm the dryness. The temperature and pressure must then be reduced, so that the goods are then placed in the finalised machine until they are aired. All garments should then be packed in a transparent protective bag, which will ensure that the clothes remain clean and dry.

History of Dry Cleaning

In medieval European towns, goods were often sold in market squares. This required walking through dirt roads and pathways. As such, these practices led to the need for cleaning valuable and luxurious garments made of silk, wool, and fur. Fabric experts and tailors often recommended cleaning by means of substances such as animal hides dissolved in water or ashes using lye-based black soap. While both of these cleaning processes were quite effective, neither one of them was easy for the customers to use, and they were also time-consuming. What’s more, colored clothing, such as blazing reds and navy blues, often lost most of their color after a washing or two.

In recent years, several local “cleaning centers” have begun popping up. These cleaning centers serve as a one-stop shop where busy professional men and women can knock out several errands all in one spot. They offer an array of dry cleaning services for everything from comforters and suits to wedding dresses. For the professional who must “suit up” on a daily basis, clothing maintenance and care is especially important to upholding the professionalism, respect, and trust of others. For those who dress formally and use silk ties, wool suits, dress pants, and the like, dry cleaning is the most effective and safest way to protect clothing. Dry cleaning remains a relevant service in modern-day society.

Importance of Dry Cleaning for Formal Wear

The formal wears are usually expensive and made from specific types of fancy fabrics. Dry cleaning is the best way to preserve the quality of expensive types of fabric. In the case of dry cleaning, the moisture of the fabric will be preserved, and the fabric will remain in good condition. Dry cleaning will help you to keep your formal wear (suits, blazers, dresses, tuxedos, evening gowns, etc.) fresher, brighter, and last longer.

Dry cleaning uses solvents instead of water to keep the fabric in a good form. Dry cleaning also eliminates the need for tumbling in washing machines, which can cause damage to fragile fabrics. Dry cleaning helps to eliminate the problem of shattering the fabric during the process of washing with water. Dry cleaning is essential if your formal wear is used occasionally, and this formal dress is clean and pressed for social, business, or any formal events as they avoid keeping in the closet until you need them again.

Moreover, when daily wear is laundered repeatedly, lint and pills will be produced and caused the fabric to look dreary. An invisible barrier known as “Sizing” will be added during the dry cleaning process of formal wear. This sizing will make the fabric repel oil and water-based spills. It also makes it easier to remove the spills and stains even after it sets. Moreover, dry cleaning removes old and new stains that appear simple discoloration. Most stains cannot be removed with water. The dry cleaner uses a solvent and various treatments to remove the stain during the dry cleaning process. This process contributes to your formal wear’s cleaner and brighter look and preserves the garment’s life.

Preserving Fabric Quality

Fabric can be a fragile thing. This is especially true for high-quality formal wear, which is often composed of delicate, fine fabrics and features detailed designs. Keeping this in mind, it makes sense to find the best way of protecting such investment garments. Dry cleaning, the practice of professional garment cleansing, is perfect for maintaining a formal wardrobe for a number of reasons. While normal laundering can cause damage to fabric fibers and dull colors, professional dry cleaning preserves the vibrancy of outfits. In addition to color retention, dry cleaning can also amplify each formal wear’s structural detail, bringing out the shades and textures of all silks, velvets, and crepe.

Normal washing machines are hard on clothes. Especially during each cycle’s spin phase, fibers can be pushed and stretched past their breaking point. It’s for this very reason that dry cleaning has become the preferred clothing care solution among those with fancy wardrobes. The process itself is simple. Clothes are first pre-spotted with cleaners that target stains directly, followed by a specialized cleaning process that uses the right mix of heat, chemistry, and agitation to safely and effectively remove dirt, oil, and grime. Finally, clothes are finished with professional pressing and folding equipment that ensures millimetric precision. Through these actions and more, it’s no wonder that fans of formal wear quickly turn to the professional guys whenever they’re in a pinch.

Removing Tough Stains

The toughest stains are generally ink and oil. This means that even if the stain is not particularly noticeable, the ink is difficult to remove by hand and your cleanser is unlikely to have managed it completely. On the other hand, oil shows up straight away and leaves an ugly mark that will be very difficult to remove. In general, while some natural home remedies may work for some stains, the only way to guarantee the stain removal is to use dry cleaning services. This makes a formal suit, wedding dress dry cleaning, and other formal or professional garments a much more tempting proposition.

In a pinch, it is also useful that you will be protected from the attention, stress, and time consumption of trying to manually clean a formal suit or clothes before an event. After all, it takes a lot of time to rub a stain—and that’s not even always successful. Since dry cleaning is so quick when customers are served, it’s definitely a relief for anyone who just needs their item back as soon as possible. Again, if you are a regular customer, you can choose the one-hour dry cleaning option in order to quickly remove any unattractive stains.

Professional Dry Cleaning vs. At-Home Methods

Few other moments or events call for formal wear quite like a wedding. Over 80% of couples include formal wear in their wedding ceremonies, and purchasing a tuxedo is one of the most expensive wedding planning decisions for 60% of engaged couples. The cost of renting a tux is only half the cost of purchasing one. Whether you are purchasing a tux or just renting one for the wedding, proper tuxedo and formal wear care is important. The most common formal wear care advice is to have suits professionally cleaned and maintained at a dry cleaner. There is a reason we often encourage the use of professional cleaners. This post dives into the benefits of professional dry cleaning for formal wear.

Professional dry cleaning services are superior to at-home washing methods for a few reasons. The first reason is that dry cleaning companies use heavy-duty equipment that a regular person would not have in their home. This is an excellent reason when it comes to formal wear garments because most garments that require professional care are in some way delicate. From bridesmaid dresses to men’s suits and tuxedos, formal wear deserves a little extra TLC. From sequins or silk to other fabrics that often call for dry cleaning, you deserve the expertise and reliability of a dry cleaning company.

Tips for Maximizing the Benefits of Dry Cleaning

Dry cleaning is the ideal way to protect and clean your formal wear, but there are additional steps that can be taken to get the most from this front. The first thing to focus on is how often you really need to dry clean a largely unworn outfit. Some clothes benefit from scheduling regular cleanings, such as suits worn for business, but most formal wear that’s only worn out to events every few months can be cleaned less frequently. This is especially true for those items like tuxedo shirts, dress slacks, and dresses. Left in the bags they dry cleaned in, they can get an “old” odor as they are left to sit.

However, this can also be a perk, as some weddings are destination affairs, and storing the clothes in dry cleaning bags actually serves as a natural wrinkle-retardant. Remove the clothes from the bags the day before and let them sit, the fabric will smell fresh and wrinkle-free before the event begins. For those that have had heavy spraying, alterations, and sweating occur, a dry clean after the event can extend the life of the fabric. Some stores will dry clean ties that have been stained, provided they are all returned. Button any buttons on the shirts, and ask about whether the ties can be cleaned, and then store the items. Regularly checking the collar, cuffs, hemline or underarms for odor and sweat buildup can help to keep you informed of when cleaning the formal wear is right for you.

Preserving Your Formal Wear with Professional Care at So Fresh Dry Cleaners

When it comes to maintaining the elegance and longevity of your formal wear, entrusting your garments to a reliable and expert dry cleaning service is paramount. So Fresh Dry Cleaners in London stands out as a premier choice, offering meticulous care tailored to the unique needs of delicate fabrics like silk, wool, and linen. Their commitment to excellence ensures that your formal attire remains in pristine condition, ready for any special occasion.

At So Fresh Dry Cleaners, the process goes beyond simple cleaning. Each garment undergoes a thorough inspection to identify stains and any pre-existing damage, followed by a careful and precise cleaning method that protects the fabric’s integrity. With state-of-the-art equipment and a team of professionals dedicated to garment care, So Fresh Dry Cleaners provides a level of service that not only cleans but also revitalizes your clothing, extending its life and preserving its beauty.

By choosing So Fresh Dry Cleaners, you are investing in the long-term care of your formal wardrobe. Their expertise in handling high-quality garments ensures that every item you entrust to them will be returned looking as good as new, if not better. For those who value their formal wear and want to keep it in top condition, So Fresh Dry Cleaners is the trusted partner you can rely on. Whether it’s for a tuxedo, a wedding dress, or a favorite evening gown, their services offer the peace of mind that comes with knowing your clothes are in the best possible hands.