Why Do Dress Clothes Need to be Dry Cleaned?

July 06, 2023

We all have that perfect outfit that's set aside for only the most special occasions. In the end, no matter how much we care for these outfits when we're at home; If you want to show off your best look, you also have to acknowledge the risk of getting stains when you least expect it.

Sophisticated pieces of clothing like nightgowns, dress shirts, and cocktail dresses can be tricky because the fabrics are often delicate. At this point, your worries don't stop at managing to remove a stain when it's time to do your laundry. You also have to think about the damage you could accidentally cause when subjecting these fabrics to generic detergents, the heat of a washer, and other elements.

What Is a Dry Cleaning Service?

Dry cleaning services are known for following a process that cleans fabrics and textiles without the use of water. Instead, the materials are soaked with chemical solvents capable of removing the stains without affecting the fabric's natural color.

Tetrachloroethylene, isopropyl alcohol, and petroleum spirits are among the most common solvents used in the industry, but dry cleaning companies often have multiple solvent mixes in store, choosing the best option according to the material and the type of stains. Some clients take their clothes to the dry cleaners when they want to revamp old garments that have been surrounded by dust, humidity, and stale air for too long. Others need to deal with specific stains caused by grease, perspiration, coffee, and other beverages, etc.

Dry cleaning services are popular when it comes to formal wear and even dress clothes. That's why it's common to have our clothes dry-cleaned before a graduation ceremony or a nice social gathering. Sometimes, no special occasion is needed: if the outfit has esthetic value, chances are you'll go to the dry cleaners instead of visiting the local laundromat.

Should I Have My Dress Clothes Dry Cleaned?

Dry cleaning doesn't look too different from traditional washing at a glance. It takes more or less the same amount of time and, like traditional washing, you need to load your laundry inside a machine to get the dirt out. Basically, liquid solvents replace water as the main ingredient in the cleaning process, leading to a more thorough job.

You may be wondering 'Will it make that much of a difference if I just wash my dress clothes, then?'. Well, both options might look similar at first, but we will introduce some important factors that make dry cleaning the best choice when it comes to dress clothes and delicate fabrics in general:

• Water is to blame for many of the problems you encounter while doing your laundry. It can shrink your clothes after swelling the material's fiber, and even cause discoloration when combined with chemical cleaners and detergents. You've probably seen the effects first-hand if you're in charge of your house chores.


• The heat generated by standard washing machines can also affect a garment's size and elasticity, as well as the fabric's durability.


• Synthetic materials are often chosen by tailors and designers to make formal clothing like shirts, ties, jackets, and dresses. These materials respond poorly to regular laundering, which is why dry cleaning is the go-to option for velvet, silk, suede, wool, and leather.


• Dry cleaning also provides a gentler method to keep small details and accessories in place. This is an asset for clothes with delicate elements like buttons, sequins, and lace. It also helps maintain an outfit's original shape if it has padding and/or pleats keeping it together.


• A professional dry cleaning service does a better job of removing deep stains, dust specs, and dirt. If you stick to your household's washing routine, you'll have to subject your clothes to the same combination of water and detergents much more often. You can get a specialist to actively preserve your clothes' lifespan instead of accelerating the deterioration of delicate fabrics.


• Beyond preventing the discoloration caused by regular washing, dry cleaning methods can actively enhance the fabric's color and vibrancy.

As an aside, everyone knows that washing machines consume large amounts of water. Maybe the environmental effect of traditional washing is not the first thing that comes to mind when choosing the best method for your dress clothes, but this knowledge still comes in handy for those operating in-house laundry services for their businesses.

It's true that dry cleaning has the potential to cause environmental damage depending on the solvents used during the process, but most dry cleaning machines nowadays are equipped to recapture 99.9% of these solvents. Many of the solutions used in professional settings are also odorless and environmentally friendly; their low chemical concentration is one of the reasons why dry cleaning helps preserve the fabric's natural color.

Get the Best Dry Cleaning Service To Make Your Clothes Look Picture Perfect!

Puritan Cleaners & Laundry knows how to treat your dress clothes so you can amaze everyone around you at your next social event. We customize our methods to the needs of each client, and this includes the knowledge to provide meticulous dry cleaning services to treat dress shirts, nightgowns, bespoke suits, and the most expensive clothes inside your closet.


We have a wide variety of cleaners and solvents to ensure satisfying results, and our trained staff will always provide the best care at each stage of the process, from managing the advanced commercial-grade equipment to sorting and folding your clothes appropriately to prevent wrinkles. We deliver your clothes back to you right on schedule and ensure that our performance makes the best impression from the moment you contact our crew.

Whether you need to clean street clothes, work uniforms, or your most elegant party outfit, you can trust our specialists to put all their attention to the task at hand. Let Puritan Cleaners & Laundry take care of your dress clothes and optimize your daily routine. We don't stop at removing all the stains; we enhance your clothes' beauty and preserve your outfit's durability so you can make an impression as often as you want. Contact our specialists today, and we can help you define the best schedule.