1.What is dry cleaning?
Dry cleaning is a method of removing soils and stains by using little or no water. Actually, dry cleaning is not "dry" as solvents, or liquids, are used to perform the cleaning, but with little water and since these solvents do not penetrate the fibers as water does thus the term "dry".

Dry cleaning machines are similar to large front-loading washing machines.  Garments are placed in the basket of this machine, which is then partially filled with dry cleaning solvent and tumbled while circulating the solvent through filters. This agitation and flushing action of the solvent are responsible for the majority of the cleaning.  Then the solvent is extracted by spinning the basket.  Further, the garments are “dried” to remove the remaining solvent in the clothing.  Today’s Dry cleaning machines are called Dry to Dry machines since cleaning, extracting and drying is all done in the same machine, thus when the clothing is removed form the machine after cleaning they are completely dry.

Modern Dry cleaning systems are complex and include a rotating wash cylinder, a tank (or more) for storing solvent, a pump to circulate the solvent, a dryer, filters, a distillation system to maintain the solvent, and of course the solvent itself. Other components which may or not be found include vapor absorbers or refrigerated condenser for capturing solvent vapors, detergent, sizing and moisture injection systems, computer or card controllers, and much more.

The solvents most widely used are perchloroethylene and hydrocarbon. The cleaning solution is comprised of approximately 98% pure solvent, 1% water, and 1% sizings and detergents. If impurities comprise any more than an additional 1% of the cleaning solution, the cleaning quality can be detrimentally affected by odor and dinginess.

And mind well not all soils and stains will be removed by simply running the garments through the dry cleaning machine. Some of the more difficult stains are removed with the use of chemical agents, water, steam, air, and vacuum on what is called a "spotting board". This technique is performed both before and after cleaning and the stains are removed individually.

2.What is spot cleaning?
Spot cleaning a garment is basically what the title implies. A garment is hand cleaned only in the areas where spots are noticeable. We perform spot cleaning before and after the garments are dry cleaned or wet cleaned or laundered.  And mind well not all soils and stains will be removed by simply running the garments through the dry cleaning machine. Some of the more difficult stains are removed with the use of chemical agents, water, steam, air, and vacuum on what is called a "spotting board".

Spot cleaning is also performed if portions of the garment are not capable of withstanding an overall cleaning method i.e. immersion method of cleaning.

3.How do I locate a fine dry cleaner?
First find out if the dry cleaner has any affiliation with Dry Cleaner Associations.  Affiliated dry cleaners are better-informed cleaners.  Check if the owner or the manager has any certification such as Certified Professional Drycleaner or Certified Professional Wetcleaner or Certified Environmental Drycleaner.

Much of the states do not require any type of certification, however if a drycleaner is Certified where he does not have to be, in our opinion, he cares more about his business than his competitors.  More likely then not he will care more about you as his customer.

A fine dry cleaner these days should do a lot of hand washing and wet cleaning.

On your first visit ask to see some of their work. Ask if you can see at their cleaning facilities, if the place is dirty, say thanks and keep looking.

Additionally, there should be no sign hanging behind the drycleaner’s counter that says, “Not responsible for buttons, trims, and zippers.” And, the cleaner must be responsive to your needs, especially when a problem occurs.

4.Why do clothes smell of chemicals when I pick them up form the dry cleaner?
If your clothes are returned to you from the dry cleaner and smell of solvent, it's time to change cleaners. This smell is a sign of impure solvent and bacteria growth in the system, not too strong a solution as commonly thought. When a dry cleaner does not maintain the cleaning solvent and the dry cleaning system in crystal clear condition bacteria grows in the system. This bacteria holds on to the garments and the solvent molecules and slowly releases the solvent, thus the smell.