Pros and Cons of Machine Washing and Dry Cleaning

Posted by on Jan 24th, 2018 in Clothing | 0 comments

Commercial laundry services in Singapore offers more than just laundry pick up and laundry delivery. Usually, wash and fold services also includes the following options: machine-wash, dry cleaning, laundry for spa, steam-cleaning, spot-cleaning, pressing, uniform laundry, and linen washing.

Most 24 hour laundry service primarily use washing machines for their customers, but there are other available options for fabrics that cannot be washed with water and water-based detergent. Let’s look at three options.

Machine Washing

Commercial laundry services use high-efficiency washers that have more features than most residential-type washing machines. Front-loader washing machines for example, will need less water, but it has a faster spin and shorter drying time. However, this can also pose a problem for self-service laundry service customers because the waiting time is longer.

This means that because the washing machine is using less water, the wash cycles have to be longer. If you do not have the time for self-service laundry, you can opt for a laundry pick up and laundry delivery service in Singapore like www.laundryfirst.sg that offers 24 hour laundry service. Washing machines used in commercial laundry services can hold at least 25 pounds of clothing per cycle, so don’t worry if you haven’t visited the laundry service for more than a week.

Before taking your clothes and linen to the laundry shop, however, you need to remember which fabrics can be safely machine-washed or hand-washed in water-based detergent, because not all materials are suitable for such a method. Even waterproof items can be damaged when loaded in a washing machine because of the excessive agitation and shaking. Always check the care label instructions on the tags before taking your soiled clothes and linen to the nearest commercial laundry services shop in Singapore.

Take note of washer and dryer combinations as well when reading the labels, because some fabrics can be washed in washing machines, but should not be machine-dried. Before the clothes are washed, the staff will sort through the clothes and pre-treat the stains. Depending on the type of laundry service you need, the clothes will also be ironed or pressed, folded, and repaired. Most cotton blends and polyester blends can be machine-washed, but fabrics such as lace, satin, and chiffon should not be ironed.

Dry Cleaning

Dry cleaning got its name from the use of a chemical solvent instead of a water-based detergent. This method is also popular in commercial laundry services because it’s fast, effective, and will not damage a variety of delicate fabrics. Not all fabrics should be soaked or washed in water because they tend to degrade, shrink or stretch. Furthermore, some fabrics that can be washed in water-based detergent should not also be machine washed because they are delicate and cannot withstand the washing cycle.

Fabrics that can be dry-cleaned include linen, rayon, silk, and wool. However, fabrics with polyurethane, plastic, and PVC cannot be dry-cleaned because they will deteriorate. If machine-wash and hand-wash are not the best options, or if the care label instructions say that the fabric is a dry clean-only fabric, then you should take it to dry cleaning laundry service. Dry cleaning can also be used for other types of fabric that can be machine-washed, such as uniform laundry, towel washing, and linen washing.

Regardless of your preferred method, make sure to read every clothing piece’s care label. It gives you directions on how to use wash and clean your garments properly without compromising its condition.