Dry cleaning can be considered as one of the fastest, most efficient and ecological cleaning methods available for washing clothes.
But not everything is flowers here. There are some details that are important to know before venturing into dry cleaning.
And in this post here we tell you everything. Come and see!
What is dry cleaning?
As its name suggests, dry cleaning is a type of cleaning that does not require the use of water or, at least, the excessive use of water.
Instead of water, specific chemicals are used for this type of washing, which gently moisten the fibers and surfaces, releasing dirt and stains.
Dry cleaning can be applied to different types of fabrics and surfaces, such as upholstery, curtains, rugs, carpets, blankets, mattresses, clothes and in vehicle bodies and car seats.
How dry cleaning is done
Dry cleaning can be done at home using specific products or in specialized companies, such as laundries.
In this case, depending on what you want to wash, the company goes to the customer’s home, especially when it comes to large and difficult to remove items, such as upholstery, curtains and carpets.
Advantages of dry cleaning
Preserves the fabric
One of the biggest advantages of dry cleaning is the preservation of fabric fibers. This is because in conventional washing, the water expands the fibers and after drying, the fabric may end up suffering from deformations.
In dry cleaning this does not happen and, therefore, this type of washing ends up contributing to a longer durability of your pieces.
Environmentally friendly
Did you know that washing a car can consume up to 400 liters of water? A lot of things! With dry cleaning, the amount of water does not exceed two liters, and in some cases, depending on the product used, only 300 ml of water is needed.
A significant difference, especially in those times when sustainability and the preservation of natural resources are so important.
Quick
Dry cleaning is much faster than regular washing. That is, you wash everything and still get a little free time to be silly.
More efficient
Another big advantage of dry cleaning is efficiency. Do you know when you have tried all the possible stain removal techniques and none of them worked? Well, that’s when dry cleaning comes in.
This type of washing can remove difficult stains much more efficiently and in less time, especially if you take the garment in a laundry room, since there are used jets of compressed air over the stains, which almost always results in a garment with an appearance again.
Prevents odors, mold and mites
Dry cleaning prevents the appearance of mold, mites and bad odors. This is thanks to the super fast drying of the fibers, since the fabric is only moistened.
Disadvantages of dry cleaning
Price
The price is one of the biggest disadvantages of this type of washing, especially when compared to other cleaning methods that practically have zero cost, at least with respect to labor.
The solution in this case is to try to dry clean at home, but for this it is important to have the right products.
Dependence on a professional
Another problem with dry cleaning is that, in some cases, you may be dependent on a company or professional, as in the case of washing upholstery and carpets, for example.
Therefore, it is essential to research well about the company that will be hired to not suffer from times or frustrations. Look for directions and don’t be put off by the price of the service.
Upholstery dry cleaning
Upholstery dry cleaning is one of the most common and popular. The great advantage of this type of washing on sofas is that it preserves the fibers of the fabric and promotes a gentle, but at the same time very effective cleaning.
This type of washing when done by a specialized company usually relies on the use of specific vacuum cleaners, in addition to dry cleaning products.
But you can dry clean upholstery at home. For this, you will only need baking soda and vacuum cleaner.
The procedure is very simple, just sprinkle the baking soda over the entire sofa and wait about fifteen minutes. Then remove with a vacuum cleaner.
For even more efficient cleaning, spray a little alcohol with the baking soda, since the product has rapid evaporation and therefore does not wet the sofa, allowing it to dry quickly.
Car dry cleaning
Dry cleaning can also be applied to the car, both on the outside (cart, tires and wheels), as well as on the inside (seats and roof).
A great advantage of dry cleaning the car is that cleaning is talked about for a longer time, since the product creates a type of protective film on the entire body, preventing dust and other dirt from getting impregnated in the bodywork.
In order to dry clean the car it is necessary to pay attention to some important details. Check out:
- Leave the car parked in the shade or inside the garage to perform the procedure, so you avoid stains, scratches and scratches on the body.
- It is not necessary to wet the car before dry cleaning, just remove excess dust if the car is very dirty.
- However, if the car is very, very dirty, with clay plates impregnated, for example, the most recommended is to do the conventional washing.
Write down the materials needed to dry clean the car:
- Car dry cleaning product (easily found in automotive stores)
- Dilution water according to the manufacturer’s recommendations (in general, one part product is recommended for 30 parts water)
- Sprinkler
- 3 to 4 dry and soft cloths
- Soft bristle brush
Start by diluting the product in the recommended amount of water. Then spray it over the entire surface of the car.
With a soft, dry cloth, remove the product with light and smooth movements, there is no need to rub or apply pressure. When you notice that the cloth is already dirty, replace it with a clean and dry one.
After wiping the entire car with the product and removing the product, finish with a dry cloth, just like polishing or polishing.
The car’s wheels and tires can be cleaned in the same way. Just spray the product and remove it with a soft bristle brush.
The inside of the car must be cleaned using the same procedure for dry cleaning upholstery, using bicarbonate, alcohol and vacuum cleaner.
How much does dry cleaning cost?
The price of a dry cleaning varies according to the type of surface to be cleaned, the size and, of course, the region where you live.
A dry cleaning of an automobile, for example, can cost between R $ 35 and R $ 75. But if you choose to do this at home, the cost drops to approximately R $ 24, the price of the product to be used, but with a detail: the 500 ml package yields about 6 washes. In this case, the total value of each wash is R $ 4, on average.
For a sofa dry cleaning, the average value for a two-seater sofa is R $ 120. The same value is used for dry cleaning of mattresses.
