What is Wet Cleaning?

Wet cleaning is professional fabric care using water and special non-toxic soaps. Wet cleaning will use water, biodegradable soap, steam, and computer-controlled washing machines as an environmentally friendly alternative to dry cleaning. It is the elimination of using dry chemical solvents. The wet cleaning processes includes professional, labor-intensive cleaning techniques and high-tech washing and drying machines that use soap and water to clean clothes. As more high end designers are gearing away from the use of dry cleaning solvents (designers are becoming more environmentally friendly), there will be more garments with the labeling of ‘do not dry clean’; these high end garments (and fine fabrics) should be professionally wet-cleaned. The wet cleaning process is the most advanced system available without the use of dry chemical solvents.

Benefits of Wet Cleaning

• Wet-cleaning is environmentally friendly to the environment.
• Wet-cleaning will eliminate the use of dry cleaning solvents.
• Many soils are easily removed with water than a chemical solvent.
• Wet-cleaned garments tend to have a pleasant smell, compared to dry cleaning. The garments tend to have that fresh smell.
• Wet cleaning can help to keep the white garments whiter. Sometimes white garments can be dulled when cleaned with recycled PERC or other solvents.
• Nearly all garments labeled "Dry Clean Only" can be wet cleaned
• Wet Cleaning will reduce the use of perchloroethylene -- the most commonly used dry cleaning solvent.
• Wet cleaning can reduce concerns regarding environmental and health impacts of the garment-cleaning industry.