Knowing the Difference: Cleaning Processes & Clothing Care

Various processes can be used to clean clothes. The basics are hand washing, machine washing, and dry cleaning.

It is important to follow your clothing care label to prevent otherwise avoidable damage.

• Hand washing involves soaking the item in water and detergent to gently remove soils from the fabric. This method is very restrictive and has little or no agitation.
• Machine Washing garments are cleaned in a machine with water and detergent. This is the most widely known method for household laundry. Bleach and/or other laundry additives may be used. Garments are subjected to mechanical action by an agitator. Although there are several different cycles available on most washing machines, they are not as gentle as hand washing.
• Wet cleaning is the profession­al process of removing soils from garments and other textile items through the use of water in specialized equipment. This equipment allows precise control of additives (such as detergents) water level, temperature, and rotation speed. Careful control of these factors is necessary to prevent shrinkage, loss of color, and fabric distortion.
• Dry cleaning uses solvents to remove soils and stains from fabric. The term “dry cleaning” can be misleading; it is called dry cleaning because the solvents contain little or no water and do not penetrate the fibers like water.

In most cases, garments are cleaned and dried in the same machine — they go in dry and come out dry. This process is followed by finishing procedures using special equipment, such as presses and puff irons.

Anton’s commitment to environmental excellence is real, continuous, and unwavering.

We are proud to use GreenEarth and Hydrocarbon-based solvents.

What is PERC?

A common solvent currently used by many dry cleaners is perchloroethylene (“perc” for short), which is among the harshest solvents available and poses additional concerns. Check with your local dry cleaner about their cleaning process.

Anton’s equipment replacement plan is based on an ongoing process of analyzing and researching environmentally friendly alternative drycleaning fluids. Anton’s Cleaners has installed Green Earth™ and/or EcoSolv® fluid dry cleaning machines in all plant locations. We are proud to be 100% PERC-free.

To learn more about the cleaning process at Anton’s, our EcoClean Clothing Care, and recycling efforts, click here, or reach out to our very own expert and Chief Operating Officer, Arthur Anton, Jr.

Sources: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha3253.pdf