Dry Cleaning

[3rd/4th Semester Accommodation Operations | UNIT 4.7 BHM204]

Here is a quick video from business insider showing dry cleaning process in a commercial laundry:

Dry Cleaning is a process by which textiles are cleaned using a solvent other than water. This solvent is usually an organic liquid that acts first to remove the layer of grease which bonds most grease particles to the surface and then to carry this dirt away. The solvents used are

1. Perchloroethylene 2. Tri-chloro-tri-fluoro-ethane

The solvent is removed first by centrifugal action and finally by evaporation. The solvent being expensive is filtered and recycled.

Darker coloured articles are dry-cleaned after the lighter coloured ones. All articles require being aired after the dry-cleaning process.

Where Perchloroethylene is not suitable, a system called Aquatex from Iowa Techniques is used. It involves the use of bio-degradable chemicals and water and a controlled stage-by-stage drying temperature that restores the article to its original condition.

As technology vendors strive to automate every face of operations, some might think that laundry services have been left behind. Computerized laundry systems have been in use since the mid-eighties and today as hoteliers realize the potential benefits of cleaning up the laundry operations, more and more streamlining processes are starting to filter into the industry. Some hotels are experimenting with Windows-based laundry software and ozone washing.

Ozone washing is an energy efficient system that can cut laundry costs by 50%. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer formed when an electric current is passed through oxygen. Ozone washing became popular in the US in the mid-eighties. It is carried out by mass injecting ozone into the laundry system via the cold water lines. The resulting ozonated water facilitates the breakdown of insoluble soils leading to a whole host of benefits. Ozone washing, the brainchild of GuestCare inc., cuts detergent use by 60%.

It reduces the need for hot water and can cut energy costs by 80%. The returns on investment could be as little as two years. Little hot water, reduced chemicals and shorter wash cycles greatly extends the life of linen and also the life of the laundry staff.