Course Introduction

PREFACE

While the cleaning phase is central to the total process of fabric care, it should not be viewed in isolation from the whole. The cleaning process is part of a continuum that begins with the receipt of incoming garments and ends with the delivery of quality-finished items.

Each step impacts the next – from initial examination and classification, to stain removal, to cleaning, to pressing/finishing, to inspection, to packaging, and to delivery. The reader, therefore, is urged to think of the term “drycleaning” in the broader context of the word rather than merely a single link in the production chain.

This course addresses the origins of drycleaning, various solvents used in the cleaning phase, different types of drycleaning equipment, quality and safety standards – and more. It is written as an orientation tool for individuals who are moving into the drycleaning phase of production – or for owners, managers, and other experienced cleaners who wish to refresh and update information about drycleaning.

OVERVIEW

This course is for anyone who works in a drycleaning plant or store and is new to drycleaning. It presents basic information to help you understand the drycleaning process, whatever your position in the drycleaning business

What Is Covered in This Course?

• Classifications of soils found in fabrics and garments.
• The basic principles of drycleaning.
• The major pieces of equipment used in drycleaning.
• Solvents and detergents used in drycleaning.
• Filtration and distillation.
• The factors that determine drycleaning quality.
• Basic drycleaning safety practices.

Course Format

This course presents information in brief chunks followed by review questions and answers. These are provided to help you apply and remember what you have read.

A Final Review covers all the material in the course.

Time Required

There is too much information in this course to take it all in at once. It is best to study one section of the course at a time. For best results, divide your study into sessions of 45 minutes or so, with a break in between.

INTRODUCTION TO DRYCLEANING

The purpose of drycleaning is simple: to rid drycleanable garments and fabrics of dirt and stains and restore them to as close to their original appearance as possible. Although this purpose is simple, and most people tend to take quality drycleaning for granted, the drycleaning process is more complicated than most people realize.

In general, the overall process that we call drycleaning can be divided into seven phases:

1. Invoice and Tagging
2. Stain Removal
3. Cleaning
4. Pressing/Finishing
5. Inspection
6. Assembling
7. Packaging

This course deals primarily with the third phase, the cleaning phase. Many factors go into the successful cleaning of a garment. These include:

• identifying the type of fabric,
• identifying the types of substances that are soiling the garment,
• choosing appropriate solvents and detergents,
• choosing appropriate cleaning and drying times and temperatures,
• operating the drycleaning machinery correctly, and
• using safe procedures.

Thus, to be a skilled drycleaning operator requires substantial technical knowledge of fabrics, soils, and drycleaning methods, as well as skill in operating the drycleaning equipment.

This course covers the basic knowledge needed for an understanding of the cleaning phase of the drycleaning process. It will not, however, give you the skills required to be a proficient drycleaning operator. Those can come only with experience in a real setting.