What to dry clean vs wet clean:
One of our customers came in recently concerned about a wool sweater with blood on it. She assumed there was absolutely nothing that could be done to 
clean the wool sweater and that it was ruined. Fortunately for this customer,
in addition to our best in the Harrisburg, PA area dry cleaning, Quality Cleaners is also a local pioneer in the emerging science of wet cleaning.
What is wet cleaning?
Wet cleaning is a cleaning process that involves gentle machine washing using water, biodegradable soaps, and conditioners. Essentially, the conditioner mixes with the water before it touches the clothes. This inhibits the fibers’ ability to absorb the water. Thi is the main cause of shrinkage in the garment and renegade dye transfer.
As found on Wikipedia, “According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), wet cleaning is the most environmentally sensitive professional method of garment cleaning. It does not use hazardous chemicals, it does not generate hazardous waste, nor does the process create air pollution and it reduces the potential for water and soil contamination. The specialized detergents and conditioner used in the wet clean process are milder than home laundry products. All of the products are disposed of down the drain and easily handled by the local waste water treatment facility.”
The other benefit- wet cleaning offers a better cleaning solution to water soluble stains (food, blood, soda, alcohol, etc.) than dry cleaning. This came in especially handy for Quality Cleaners in the case of this wool sweater with blood on it. It also works on many other garments that come into our Harrisburg, PA area plant.
Isn’t wet cleaning just washing?
Wet cleaning is similar to washing but with a few key differences. Firstly, the water is conditioned before touching the clothing as noted above. Secondly, there is significantly less water used in the wet cleaning process. Also, although done in a machine that is also capable of washing, wet
cleaning demands a much more specific and gentle mechanical action based on the type of garment. The specifics include the time and speed in ‘tumble’, the temperature of the water, and the extraction time and speed. There are also significantly different soaps and conditioners involved in the wet cleaning process. Typically these soaps and conditioners are also ‘GREEN‘, biodegradable, safe for the people using it, and the environment.
What garments do you use wet cleaning vs dry cleaning?
At Quality Cleaners we have found success wet cleaning many beaded and/or decorated garments that have been historically less successful in dry cleaning. We have also had tremendous success in our Fire and Water Restoration business wet cleaning textiles that have soot damage, smoke damage, mold damage, mildew damage, water damage or other malodorous issues.
Contact us any time for more information on our wet cleaning process or our dry cleaning in the Harrisburg, PA area. Please contact us if you have any water damage, smoke damage, or other damage restoration needs. Quality Cleaners is also available for rug cleaning in the Harrisburg, PA area.
It is our pleasure to clean hand-me-down, antique, and sentimental wedding gowns. Over the years we have cleaning hundreds or thousands of aged gowns, dresses, veils, suits, and other wedding celebratory garments. We take extreme care of these items, and our experience yields fantastic results. 
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