The question “Does dry cleaning shrink clothes?” lingers on people’s minds whenever their clothes are dry cleaned. Nothing would be bad compared to getting your best outfit shrink!
The simple answer here is: It shouldn’t. Under normal conditions, the procedure of dry cleaning should not shrink your clothes. We will take a closer look at the possibility of dry cleaning shrinking your clothes in this article.
Why Does Clothing Shrink?
Fabric is a cloth or other materials made by weaving or knitting fibers. Fabric shrinkage is usually caused by excessive heat or moisture in the solvent during dry cleaning.
Wet fabric shrinks because heat causes water molecules from the dry cleaning machine to evaporate, evaporation of water then makes the gaps shrink and the fiber draws close together. Natural fibers (like wool and cotton) are more exposed to shrinkage. Clothing that hasn’t been properly pre-shrunk is also more susceptible.
Shrinkage can also occur, if the dry cleaning machines are not maintained properly or if they malfunction during the cleaning process. Garment manufacturing defects can also cause shrinkage once they are dry cleaned for the first time.
How to Prevent Shrinking
Clothes can be prevented from shrinking, if you know and understand the washing instructions for each piece. Most clothes must be washed only in cold water and can’t be exposed to hot water. While some clothes should not be put in a washing machine at all, Items labeled “dry cleaning only” are to be handed to dry cleaners.
Always follow the washing instructions found on the tag because there are some clothes that can be washed but not put in a dryer. These must be hung or flat dried.
The Dry Cleaning Process
Dry cleaning is a process of using chemical solvents (water-free liquid solvents) in a machine that both washes and dries your clothes without the use of water to remove dirt, stain and freshen clothing. This process provides a superior clean and preserves clothing for longer than conventional washing.
However, shrinkage can also occur, if the dry cleaning machines are not maintained properly or if they malfunction during the cleaning process. Garment manufacturing defects can also cause shrinkage once they are dry cleaned for the first time.
Another issue can be a problem with the chiller which prevents the dry cleaning solvent from getting too hot. A malfunction or broken chiller can cause the solvent to overheat, which may result in fabric shrinkage.
Water separator is a component of the dry cleaning machine that prevents the moisture content of the solvent from exceeding safe limits. A malfunction or broken water separator will allow too much water to build up in the solvent causing fabric shrinkage.
What To Do If You Notice Shrinkage In Dry Cleaned Clothing
If you’ve noticed a shrinkage in your sleeves or collar each time you get back from the dry cleaners, it’s probably time to look for a new one with guarantee (but that would be definitely hard to find!).
Tips: Look for a dry cleaner that uses a liquid carbon dioxide dry cleaning method. This process of dry cleaning doesn’t use heat, but the pressure to clean clothing.
Find a dry cleaning services that offer expertise in all type of fabrics and cleaning methods
Conclusion
The dry cleaning process doesn’t result in shrinkage of clothes when compared to washing them. However, when the machine is involved in the process of dry cleaning there are many possibilities of shrinkage.
If the machine isn’t properly maintained or when the garment is defective, then the chances of your cloth shrinking elevate. However, if you want to get out of the risk zone, try looking out for dry cleaning services that offer a guarantee.
