Dry Cleaning and Laundry Tips

You spend about a third of your life napping, sleeping, or attempting to sleep (usually) with a cozy comforter. It’s important, therefore, to keep your bedding as clean as possible; nothing makes sleep more uncomfortable than knowing you’re snoozing on dirty sheets.

In addition, because you sleep about five and a half hours a night, dirt accumulates on the covers. Dead skin cells, oils, dust, and even dust mites lurk in the fabric fibers. As such, your bedding needs a deep clean.

You have two choices: laundry and dry cleaning services. Dry cleaning is generally the preferable option, but a conventional laundry wash is better in a few cases.

Should You Have It Dry Cleaned?

The first thing you have to check is the washing label. This indicates if the comforter should be machine-washed or dry cleaned.

• A Circle label means that the fabric should be dry cleaned.
• A Circle with an X symbol means the fabric shouldn’t be dry cleaned.
• A Washing Bowl means the fabric should be machine-washed.
• A Washing Bowl with an X symbol means the fabric shouldn’t be dry cleaned.

If there’s no label or if the labels offer you a choice, check the comforter's material.

• Down Comforters are best laundered because the chemicals used in dry cleaning may alter the down.
• Synthetic Comforters are made of synthetic fabrics that can withstand dry cleaning.
• Wool Comforters always need to be dry cleaned. If machine-washed, the wool might shrink. Additionally, wool fibers are strong and thick enough to withstand dry cleaning.
• Silk Comforters need to be taken to a professional dry cleaning service. Conventional laundry processes aren’t recommended because the dryers damage the silk. 

Why Dry Clean Is a Reliable Choice

If the material offers the choice between laundry and dry cleaning, choose to have your comforter dry cleaned.

Dry Cleaning Cleans Just as Well — If Not Better

Comforters fold and twist in washing machines and driers. In some cases, some creased areas are not properly cleaned. In contrast, the solvents used in a dry cleaning service penetrate the thick layers of fabric and remove dirt and stains. You’ll sleep with a truly clean comforter.

Additionally, huge comforters could damage your home washing machine. It’s better to bring them to professionals.

Dry Cleaning Doesn’t Shrink the Fabric

Washing fabrics in hot water or drying them using hot air shrinks fabric. This is because the fibers stretched out when they were made into comforters. Once the heat is applied, tension releases, and the fibers return to their former, shorter length.

Dry cleaning doesn’t use high heat to dry the fabric. The solvents evaporate quickly, so the comforter doesn’t need to be put in a dryer.

Dry Cleaning Preserves Colors

One of the biggest differences between laundry and dry cleaning is that the latter is less likely to cause fading.

In machine-washing, the water, detergent, agitation, and drying process contribute to fading. In contrast, dry cleaning preserves the color of your comforter, so you won’t have to replace it any time soon. 

But take note that dry cleaning is only as good as the dry cleaning services you get. Starcrest Cleaners offers top-of-the-line dry cleaning for comforters, sheets, and other household linen, like drapes and tablecloths. Before the dry cleaning process, we inspect each item to check for stains and other concerns.

Save time and enjoy premier services with Starcrest Cleaners. Inquire now!