The Laundry Forum

[mohd]

Hi everyone, I am newbie in laundry industry by owning a laundry shop in Bangkok Thailand.
In my country, people just bring their suit to laundry shop for dry cleaning but in fact, most of the shop does not use solvent even some claimed that solvent is used but in fact nobody know indeed.

In case of washing suit, can I use liquid detergent to replacing the using of solvent? Anything different after finishing?

[Barry Bosshard]

Washing of suits, and the results, depend on the fabic. Most fabrics used in suits will if washed shrink. Three factors cause shrinkage, 1 Mechanical action, 2 Temperature, and 3 Moisture. There are special soaps and conditioners that can be used to keep shrinkage to a minimum. The washer must be able to pretreat the water with solution prior to weting the fabric. The mechanical action and or rotation must be controllable so that the wheel will move slowly. They must not be totally dryed or at a hot temperature. They should be air dryed or in a dryer equipped with a residual moisture sensor that will dry them about 75 to 80 %. After washing special finishing equipment is required to stretch the material back to shape. These are called tensioning units.

[mohd]

Washing of suits, and the results, depend on the fabic. Most fabrics used in suits will if washed shrink. Three factors cause shrinkage, 1 Mechanical action, 2 Temperature, and 3 Moisture. There are special soaps and conditioners that can be used to keep shrinkage to a minimum. The washer must be able to pretreat the water with solution prior to weting the fabric. The mechanical action and or rotation must be controllable so that the wheel will move slowly. They must not be totally dryed or at a hot temperature. They should be air dryed or in a dryer equipped with a residual moisture sensor that will dry them about 75 to 80 %. After washing special finishing equipment is required to stretch the material back to shape. These are called tensioning units.

Did you regard to the method of wet clean and solvent dry cleaning to avoid the shirking?
In Thailand, people just believe that washing suit must only the way of dry cleaning caused many major laundry shops claim them by method of washing. Dry cleaning by solvent. Dry cleaning by silicone... so and so!

My shop use diluted F60/ Sodium Ether Sulfate or Mild shampoo to wash suit and silk items. Suits are normally washed in machine programs as delicate or wool but silk normal did by hand. Spin dry at 500 rpm or 800 rpm and air dry! I wash all suit by inside out and zipping in the laundry net. Could you please to give me some suggestion by email at suilaundry@yahoo.com.sg or talk to me directly at sabiqjun@hotmail.com via MSM

[tunnelsforever]

Why not keep this conversation going here on this forum? That way we can all learn the tricks of the trade. I think thats why the guy made this forum.

[laundryman]

Yes, that is why I came up with it! Please share with the group.

[Barry Bosshard]

Unfortunately, I am not an expert in wetcleaning of garments. I am in California, USA where any solvent drycleaning is looked at as bad. Wetcleaning is the prefered alternative the regulators are pushing. I have been researching the process of late to see if it a viable alternative or complementary process to add. I have wetcleaned in the past in bath in stainless sinks and other methods but only in extreme cases. There is a larger forum of dry cleaners on yahoo.com listed as fabricare. There are members who are wetcleaning suits and might be able to give you more info. Shampoo is a very mild detergeant since it is meant to clean hair without damage but I have never tried it. I use a neutral lubricant that is formulated for the process. I do use shapoo to wash my car as it is less likely to remove waxes and other paint treatments.

Barry

[mohd]

Some major laundry shop in Thailand turned them to be SME that most of them once an expert to clean and finishing royal silken cloth in the palace.
Many items formulated under the name of No1 and No2. The item that formulated for washing is contain mild shampoo BUT No2 contain vinyl (Softener is unnecessary but use No2 in the process of softening treatment) after using of No2 let the suit or silk item to air dry.. God! Those come in to shape that unbelievable.
Close you eyes and image back to 50 years ago… washing machine and any system that all dry clean just forget it…. But they can do the cloth for the royal family that means what? Expert or what they should to be!

[John Kelleher]

Washing garments with different fabrics and blends is a very difficult and time consuming process. Shrinkage and dye bleeding is a huge problem. Must garments are removed from dryers with a 10% water retention and hung out to dry before pressing because of shrinkage. Finishing is a problem and most wet cleaners have to use special tension equipment due to shrinkage.
Mfg claim you can due 100% of clothes in wet cleaning. I think maybe 30-40% is reasonable in most dry cleaners. Experience is a must. You can't have anyone just load the machines, detergents and additives are a must. It works fairly well in small operations. The washers can usually be loaded at half the capacity of the washers. (50# washers should be loaded with 25 # of garments) For example a mans jacket will have problems with shoulder pads, linings and thread used for the sewing of the garments. I hope this helps.

[laundryboarder]

glad i dont do drycleaning after reading all this. you guys dont get enough credit or money probably for the work that goes into it!

[John Kelleher]

This is only one of the methods used for cleaning clothes and you are right it is no easy task and the cleaners should get more $$$ for their services. Dry cleaning is probably a lot easier to process. Especially with the newer solvents and systems available.