Dry cleaning is a cleaning process that uses a liquid solvent instead of water. The garments are tumbled in a machine that bathes them in solvent, lifts dirt and oily residues, and then drains and dries them. Despite the name, dry cleaning is not actually dry — it just avoids the water that can shrink, warp or distort delicate fabrics.
The most common solvents are perchloroethylene (perc) and modern hydrocarbon-based solvents. Cleaners can also pre-treat stains by hand before the wash cycle, and inspect garments individually after cleaning.
Dry cleaning is the right process for items labeled 'dry clean only' — typically wool, silk, linen blends, structured tailoring, and delicate dresses. Water-based washing can shrink wool, distort the lining of a suit, or pull the shape of a tailored garment out of true.
At Joy Dry Cleaners, every garment is inspected at intake, pre-treated where needed, cleaned, then pressed by hand and returned on hangers.