/ Magazine / Wet Cleaning garments treatment, instructions for use

Wet Cleaning garments treatment, instructions for use

What is wet cleaning? It is a professional washing system that makes possible to wash with water the garments that can be normally only dry-cleaned. How much efficient is this type of washing? Is it a washing system that could be considered competitive to dry-cleaning? If carried out according to certain criteria, what results can it guarantee? The purpose of this indepth analysis is to balance the virtues and limitations of wet cleaning. A comparison between supporters and critics, ideally transforming this reportage into a sort of a forum of discussion about this washing technique. The confrontation can only involve manufacturers of washing machines and professional ironing machines, as well as professional detergents producers, different sectors that allow for a more defined idea and opinion.

Wet cleaning is an indispensable technique for the washing industry, says Marco Niccolini, the General Sales and Marketing Director of RENZACCI. At Renzacci, we are demonstrating this with our Oceano water line, which innovates and personalizes traditional wet cleaning. TECHSTREME system was specifically designed to avoid mechanical agitation of by providing a high-level hydrodynamic washing action. Let’s delve into what wet cleaning means. Wet cleaning must be a water-based washing technique performed with professional machines and professional detergents. The term wet cleaning certainly does not mean replacing dry-These two techniques, in fact, complement each other rather than eliminate each other, and they have different functions, performances, and specificities. On the other hand, a technique cannot be developed against something but rather in the favour of something. It is necessary to explain the purpose of each one of these techniques and their advantages. Unfortunately, wet cleaning is often performed unprofessionally in many laundries, using domestic washing machines and inappropriate detergents.

And which would be the added value and professionalism in this case? Certainly, the financial cost of acquiring an investment asset (in washing) should not be seen in absolute terms but in relation to the quality of service and profitability that the entrepreneur can have from it. Unfortunately, we must emphasize that market research made among consumers reveals, in several cases, this lack of professionalism.
In the Italian landscape, where many households have a washing machine, consumers are asking themselves: “Why should we go to the laundry if the tools and techniques used are the same as those that we have at home?” At Renzacci S.p.A., we conduct training courses at our campuses across Italy and beyond, to prepare operators to be washing professionals using the Oceano technique. It is not possible to distort techniques by forcing water-based washing to clean what it cannot be effectively washed. The real direction is to bring water-based washing back into the sphere of professionalism”.

We are asking Paolo Fumagalli, the President of PONY, which are the strengths and weaknesses of wet cleaning seen from the point of view of a company producing professional finishing equipment. “Wet cleaning is becoming increasingly popular as a professional washing system. It offers a deep cleaning that restores softness and freshness to garments, and is appreciated for its positive environmental impact, overcoming initial resistance related to wrinkling and dimensional changes of the garment. With the evolution of machinery and products for wet cleaning, it is now possible to successfully treat any kind of garments, even those made from delicate fabrics such as silk and wool. Undoubtedly, ironing water-washed garments is much more demanding and requires, to be productive and profitable, a special approach. This approach involves a delicate but firm initial tensioning action entirely entrusted to the machines, to reshape, re-stretch the seams, and eliminate the fabric’s creases. Only after performing this cycle, carried out with the help of machines, the operator can easily, quickly, and successfully finish the garment. Any other ironing procedure that does not involve the use of these special machines (referred to as mechanized ironing) risks to be unproductive and unsustainable for the laundry’s budget”.

Which are the instruments that can hold together quality and productivity? “In order to fulfill all these needs, PONY has worked ceaselessly to develop a range of form finishers and trousers toppers equipped with both vertical and horizontal tensioning devices, designed to guarantee excellent results during the finishing process, with a special focus on ergonomics and energy savings, says Michele Plebani, the Area Manager of Pony for the Italian market. For outerwear and shirts, models such as the pneumatic tensioning form finisher Formplus-S with, the MG manual tensioning form finisher with wet dummy, and the extremely versatile and functional 404 universal form finisher provide excellent results and are suitable for different levels of productivity.

When it comes to trousers finishing, PONY offers a wide range of trousers toppers, including the MPT-DL model, the best-seller, which allows for lateral waist tensioning and vertical leg tensioning to maintain the trousers’ original shape.
All PONY form finishers and trousers toppers are equipped with microprocessors or PLC touch screen computer for precise digital functions control and the ability to store customized cycles to optimize production. PONY product range also includes vacuum and blowing ironing tables or presses, recommended for eventual touch ups after using a form finisher or a trousers topper, as well as modern, eco-friendly spotting equipment, steam generators and innovative ozone and steam sanitizing systems, coming to complete our range of machines in terms of a quality and eco-friendly ironing. High productivity, high finishing quality, work cycles customization, and energy savings – these are the advantages offered by PONY to support the evolution of wet cleaning in the present and in the future”.

“If we put in balance on one side the dry-cleaning, and on the other side the wet cleaning, the balance will strongly lean for the latest”, says Stenilio Morazzini, the General Manager of MONTEGA. “Perchloroethylene, that is by far the most widely used solvent in dry-cleaning, is a chemical solvent considered harmful for the humans and for the environment. In addition to this, the cost-efficiency for the benefit of Wet-Cleaning and the satisfaction degree expressed by the final customer are also extremely important. See as example the following table with a calculation of overall costs per month (in dollars) assigned to dry-cleaning vs. wet cleaning, calculated on 4 small laundries that switched from drycleaning to wet cleaning:

The cost reduction is considerable. A customer satisfaction survey made on the same laundries, shows the percentage of customers satisfied by the dry-cleaning services, with no substantial differences after the transition to wet cleaning.

Wet Cleaning by Montega® is the treatment that enhances the beauty of the finest garments by gently but effectively washing all those items that do not tolerate traditional washing methods and for which the dry-cleaning seems to be the only possible alternative. Fine knitwear or high-quality garments made of precious fibers, and dyed with our Montedel Natural Dye find an effective ally in wet cleaning to remain beautiful, clean, and freshly scented. Wet cleaning translates into the range of products formulated in our Research and Development laboratories and the recipes developed in our application laboratories. These recipes are studied to achieve the best results and work in synergy with the products range. Montega® offers a wide range of detergents, each one specifically formulated to treat different types of fibres: H-Clemont Supra Nature for cotton and synthetic fibers and H-Deliplus Nature for protein fibers such as the finest cashmere.

And we know how to meet the sustainability and wellness demands of the market: the fragrances used in the line are all hypoallergenic, and the surfactants are selected to find the perfect balance between effectiveness, gentleness, and environmental compatibility, starting with their use at low temperatures. During the final rinse, H-Soft Nature imparts an extremely pleasant feel and, with the use of hypoallergenic fragrances, leaves a long-lasting scent. Additionally, it enhances the original color of the garment and eliminates any static charge that may have formed during washing. The wet cleaning line is completed with solutions for specific problems such as H-Montega Color Nature to prevent color transfer, H-Monten Additive Nature as a pre-treatment to be applied directly on stains before washing, and H-Pret AP Aloe Nature for a restructuring and starching effect on garments,” concludes Morazzini.

We meet Marco Oleoni, the Sales Manager Laundry of ELECTROLUX PROFESSIONAL. “The experience we have gained over time and the innovation we have implemented allows us today to wash garments usually suitable only for drycleaning also using the wet cleaning technique, simply and with very similar results compared to dry-cleaning, the garments are not shrinking and the fabrics remain in good condition even after repeated washes. Dry-cleaning has always had the advantage of short execution times; however, it uses solvent-based products such as perchloroethylene, hydrocarbons, and sensene, an important aspect when it comes to environmental quality.

Drycleaning involves maintenance-intensive machines and requires scrupulous waste management. Manufacturers of water-based washing machines have designed a functional, and credible alternative that guarantees customer satisfaction. For the proper functioning of the wet cleaning system, it is necessary an adequate training for the operators. Detergency also plays a significant role. All types of garments and fabrics, most types of leather, and even shoes can be effectively treated with our Lagoon Advanced Care wet cleaning system, while protecting the environment. Which is the support of what I am stating? External certifications. As Electrolux Professional, we have two types of certifications: the Woolmark certification, which has been using our washing machines and tumble dryers in their laboratories since 2004 and approving our programs for washing pure virgin wool garments labelled “dry-clean only.”

Then we have the certification released by the Hohenstein Institute, which conducted various comparative tests on the results of both lagoon Advanced Care and solvent washing on the same delicate garments. After over 10 washes were evaluated the colour, fabric strength, and dimensional stability: the result is that the techniques are similar in terms of results. Water-based washing performs better on light stains and odours, while dry-cleaning has the advantage of removing greasy stains due to the solvent’s action. In these cases, it is necessary to make a pre-spotting treatment before proceeding with the wet cleaning”. Are the costs of the two techniques equivalent? “Yes, certainly. For wet cleaning, we use a minimal amount of detergent, and the water bath is also lower than it was a few years ago. The mechanical action of traditional washing machines is replaced in the case of our lagoon Advanced Care washing machine by a hydraulic action through a technology called ProV’tex: using a recirculation pump inside the washing machine, the washing solution is sprayed from the top of the drum with an ultra-gentle shower effect on every type of fibre and fabric.

Expertise, technology, adequate detergents, and training for laundry operators are the key factors for successful wet cleaning. For example, the training is not made by a salesperson or installation technician but by the manager of a laundry that we use as a training consultant. Who would be more indicated and more credible to sustain this training than someone who comes specifically from working field? The trainer conducts an initial day of training and then remains available to the laundry operators for any clarification or advice ensuring the best atmosphere for every stage of their work. This model is used by Electrolux Professional with the same formula and measure in all countries around the world,” concludes Oleoni.

“Wet cleaning and dry-cleaning are two complementary techniques because certain garments (soiled with certain types of dirt) would require too many pre-treatments if washed only with water. This would be uneconomical and incompatible with reducing consumption,” this is how it starts our interview Corinna Mapelli, the Co-owner of TREVIL, a company that produces professional finishing machines. “Some dry-cleaners proceed with dry-cleaning first and then with water-washing. Like this, the most stubborn dirt is firstly removed, and then the garments will have a different fragrance and freshness after washed with water. This cleaning method ensures an impeccable result”.

Which are the effects of wet cleaning when it comes to professional ironing?
“A garment washed with water is undoubtedly more challenging to iron than one washed with dry-cleaning. Dryleaning doesn’t wrinkle the treated garment; it usually keeps the wearing creases. If we take a dry-cleaned pair of trousers or a jacket, we’ll only see creases at the elbows, behind the knees, and in the crotch area. A garment that has been washed with water is more wrinkled, with seams that have tightened and creases spread throughout the entire garment. The water-washed garment requires a thoroughly finishing treatment. Automated ironing ensures both performance and productivity. Tensioned form finishers are designed with the aim of ironing the garment to restore its original shape without time wasting”.

How is the actual situation of wet cleaning, generally speaking? “There are some stringent regulations in certain countries that necessarily push towards wet cleaning. There are more hybrid situations where environmental regulations are less strict and where the two techniques are used in parallel. We are facing a mentality change that is gaining terrain especially among young people, so if washing is done with a solvent that is environmentally harmful, consumers will make different decisions. Dry-cleaning manufacturers are aware of this and have been questioning for some years now on how to make dry-cleaning increasingly eco-friendly, and the same goes for detergent producers”.

The wet cleaning market is under a continuous development. A constant growth resulted from the installations made so far. As GRANDIMPIANTI, tells us Gabriele Giotto, the Sales and Product Manager of the company, we see a lot of attention dedicated to the water treatment of delicate garments. The difference is that, compared to the past, the water-based cleaning combined with the appropriate detergents and the right washing and drying programs, is experiencing a great success. We have a broad presence in the knitwear sector, where Italian laundry laboratories represent absolute excellence; until a few years ago no one would have thought to see such widespread use of water treatments. We think that the treatment technique of delicate items should be performed in a certain way: programmable washing machine, suitable detergents, and a drying carried out to perfection, understood as the process of removing water from garments.

Lately we see a consolidated tendency in the small laundry and dyeing shops, for installing wet cleaning machines alongside a dry-cleaning machine. Which is the added value of your wet cleaning machines? We are providing a versatile equipment, customizable to the laundry’s needs. An experienced and professional operator should be able to use the machines according to its purposes and needs. Better said, the machine is a functional tool for the laundry operator. The unique Wavy control between the washing machine and the tumble dryer, is another outstanding characteristic of our offer. It is, in fact, common to find washing machines designed with many programs and advanced control alongside tumble dryers that are more limited and with more basic functions. For us, both the washing machine as well as the tumble dryer are customizable and versatile machines, equipped with multiple programs in perfect symbiosis, designed with same comprehensive icons and descriptions.

Another particular aspect of the washing machines is related to the loading. The user can set the most appropriate loading ratio for each washing program in order to maintain an adequate and optimal level of mechanical action in accordance with the sensitivity of the fabric to be treated. The loading ratio is freely established by the user in relation also to the recommendations of detergents producers. The use of our equipment is increasingly responding to the principle of “one touch and go,” which means that the operator does not need to be a kind of alchemist in front of the machine. It is the machine that must adapt to the right use and the will of the operator, and not the other way around. All our machines are designed for Gentlewash® use – this the name that Grandimpianti gave for wet cleaning, share the same approach. A range from 8 to 60 kg loading capacity and this applies to washing machines as well as to tumble dryers,” concludes Giotto.

The significant changes that have affected the professional cleaning over the last decade, certainly influenced by increasingly informal clothing even in the workplace, have as a major consequence the shift of investments towards washing in water with the aim of achieving always better results, this is how it begins Marco Vaccari, the co-owner and Export and Research Manager of SURFCHIMICA, a company specialized in producing and supplying chemical products and detergents for both dry-cleaning and wet cleaning. The development of wet-cleaning falls within this perspective, the improvement of which led us to create the Aquafactor® System. To obtain the expected result with this system, it is necessary to use specific products containing a fibro-protective substance. This type of product reduces the hydrophilic properties of natural fibers, preventing the penetration of water into them and thus avoiding shrinkage.

The use of a specific concentrated fibroprotective finishing agent is also advisable because, thanks to its action, the garments reach the final spin cycle with a very low water content and are therefore better prepared to undergo the drying action of the tumble dryer. With Aquafactor® System it is possible to clean a significant percentage of clothing in water, including: silk, wool, cotton, linen, viscose, microfibre sportswear, windbreakers, raincoats and all clothing with the “washable in water” mark on the label, as well as leather and suede items. Wet- cleaning renews the fibre, giving the garment its original appearance and allowing excellent cleaning to be combined with softness and freshness. The results obtained make it not an alternative, but an excellent complement to modern dry-cleaning systems.

“Wet cleaning is a textiles treatment process that starts with stain removal and ends with ironing. For several years now, wet cleaning has gained popularity as treatment of excellence for delicate garments, especially clothing items, and it serves as an alternative to chemical solvents, which require specific installation and operational rules for the laundries”. We discuss about this with Carlo Miotto, the CEO of IMESA, a company producing water washing machines. “Wet cleaning optimizes the use of water-based washing machines for both garments and linen, reduces machinery costs, and minimizes environmental impact”.

Which is the proposal of IMESA for the market? “First and foremost, with the latest LM SERIES generation of washing machines that allow maximum customization of washing cycles through the IM11 digital interface and equipped with an acceleration sensor to monitor in real-time the movements of the washing unit, composed by drum and tank. Thus, a single washing machine can meet multiple washing needs through cycles customized in every single parameter: phases, time, temperature, water, spinning speed, and detergent quantities. The versatility of the washing machine enables the laundry to handle different treatments without the need of using so much equipment, thus saving on machinery purchase and operating costs. Water washing, once considered impossible for some types of fabrics, protects the fibre from shrinkage and deformation, acts gently without stressing the garments but at the same time cleans and removes stains, and ensures careful control of water and energy consumption.

The combination of washing machine (mechanical) and detergents (chemical) is successful when there is a deep understanding of the washing process and the ability to perfectly calibrate each individual cycle. For this reason, IMESA is available to its customers for personalized consultancy. However, wet cleaning is not just about water; it also involves air and steam in the drying and finishing phases. IMESA’s offer is completed by the ES line of rotary tumble dryers, programmable and equipped with drying speed control, alongside a line of tensioned form finishers, specifically designed for finishing wet cleaned items. IMESA’s wet cleaning range is delicate, effective, but above all, fibres- and eco-friendly”.

“Wet cleaning is an essential technique, particularly relevant for washing delicate garments in nursing homes. For over twenty years, at ÈCOSÌ, emphasizes Antonio Ciccarella, the Laundry Division Manager of the company that produces detergents, we have been using specific, delicate, and highly efficient products, without necessarily labelling them as for wet cleaning. We know that the goal of a professional laundry, or of a nursing home, is to have zero waste. Our approach demonstrates that wet cleaning can be achieved with traditional products at reduced costs, using specifically designed and tested washing systems. This method ensures cleanliness, fabric care, economic and eco-sustainability.

The real secret for the success of wet cleaning lies in the combination of biodegradable detergents and advanced washing technologies, which allow precise control of temperature, humidity and mechanical movements. This ensures gentle and effective cleaning even for delicate fabrics such as wool, silk and cashmere. The use of our detergents, limits exposure to harmful chemicals, improving air quality in laundries and creating a healthier working environment. This is particularly important in nursing homes, where the health and well-being of guests and staff is a priority. Despite its advantages, wet cleaning is still not as widespread as traditional dry-cleaning, mainly due to the initial equipment costs and the need for specific training. However, the increasing demand for ecofriendly solutions is driving laundries to adopt this washing technology,” concludes Ciccarella.

“In a period of careful reduction of pollution and costs, BRENTARENO has been searching for alternative solutions to traditional dry-cleaning that could guarantee and enhance washing performance, always keeping a big focus on ecology, and at the same time reducing the economic investment of customers,” says Marzio Klos, the Sales Director of the company. Following this goal, Brentareno was the first to support and help the development of new types of traditional laundries, no longer called dry-cleanings but wet cleaning laundries. brings countless advantages. These days, when even the classic dress has become increasingly “technical,” made from new synthetic or blended fabrics that are now used more and more frequently, traditional dry-cleaning can be even risky.

With the use of wet cleaning technology, a carefully designed combination of: very performant high spin washing machines, particularly created and calibrated programs, and of course the combination of specially designed detergent products, makes it possible to water-wash the garments with higher quality results and lower risks. These results, are moreover achieved with a focus on ecology, eliminating the use of chemicals such as perchloroethylene, which can be hazardous to industry workers and for the environment. Wet cleaning technique not only that ensures a very high level of hygiene but it is also much more effective for removing light stains (such as sweat, dust, and urine) and coloured stains like coffee, tea, or fat.

Additionally, it eliminates all odours that previously remained in the garments with traditional washing (such as the smell of sweat, urine, etc.). Cleanliness and hygiene are guaranteed thanks to the antibacterial products that Brentareno offers its customers, which not only that sanitize the garments, but also the machines at the end of the cycle. This treatment is so efficient that it guarantees a 99,9% reduction in bacteria. The advantages also translate into a significant cost reduction, allowing for up to a 40% cost savings compared to dry-cleaning, beneficial for the profit margins”.

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