Natural Alternatives to Dry Cleaning

Doing laundry is an activity that we are used to performing. In this process the water and the alkali contents in soap work together. The alkali effectively removes greases and ordinary dirt that is stuck in our garments making it loose and washing it out during rinse cycle and centrifugal spin.

Drying laundry can be through hanging of the wet clothes or through drying using electric heated dryer.

Dry cleaning is a process of cleaning clothes without using water. In this process garments are immersed in a liquid solvent thus no water is use.

Downside of Dry Cleaning

Although dry cleaning can effectively clean clothes, it can be very expensive. This is one reason why many people avoid buying garments that need to be dry cleaned.

Another downside to dry cleaning is the chemical used. One of the common chemical is perchloroethylene and it is identified as a carcinogen. Contact to this chemical can cause nausea, dizziness, respiratory problems and more. It is also a hazardous air pollutant and toxic to plants and aquatic animals.

For health conscious individuals this is a very concerning fact. Hence, we should consider natural alternatives to dry cleaning.

Hand Washing

The main reason why fabrics are labelled dry clean only is to keep the shape of the fabric or the embellishments on it. You can wash dry clean only clothes in the sink using cool water with mild detergent except those made from silk, wool or rayon. Rinse the garments thoroughly but avoid wringing. Just squeeze the water gently off of the clothes. Hang to dry.

Delicate Fabrics

Delicate fabrics like silk, wool and rayon need exceptional home cleaning care. Wash the fabric in cool water using very mild detergent with pH above 7. After washing the garments do not squeeze or wring. Just place the cloth on top of a towel and shape it back to its original shape then press it dry between two towels. Lay the item flat until it completely dries.

Steam Cleaning

You can steam clean clothes by putting them in a dryer at medium heat together with a damp towel. Another method is by hanging your clothes in the bathroom and turning your hot shower on. The steam coming from the hot water will penetrate the clothes. During the steam cleaning process brush the garments with a clean towel.

Preventive Care

For sweaters, it would help if you wear an additional item of clothing under the garments that requires dry cleaning. This way you can protect the clothes from odor and sweat stains but this does not protect from external stains.