Dry Cleaning Is Still Necessary

Fashion changes often, and over the course of the past 30 years it has changed dramatically with regards to what is considered "formal wear." In the past, nothing short of pressed suits and gowns were considered as formal attire, and nobody would ever consider dressing in less than a coat and tie at a formal event.  Culture does change, and over the past few years, there has been a wider acceptance of what is considered formal attire.  Today, there is nothing wrong with wearing garments made out of fabrics that can be washed in a traditional washing machine, as well as being worn without being professionally pressed.  Because of this shift towards a more casual attitude of what is considered formal, dry cleaners have seen a reduction in the amount of formal attire that they perform their services on.  This does not negate the need for dry cleaning of garments considered traditionally "formal," and does not replace the method that is the only satisfactory method of cleaning them.

Dry cleaning is the process of using any liquid except water to clean dirt and debris from garments.  It is specifically designed to remove stains, dirt, and debris from materials that do not respond well to water, like silks and wool as well as many other types of fabrics.  The process works by using chemical baths that are created to remove debris from specific types of material without damaging it, then that liquid is removed from the clothing using an extruding process.  This cleanses the garment and prepares it for professional pressing, creating a clean, crisp look that is quite difficult to achieve using any other process.  This will enable your expensive clothing to be cleaned without damaging it, and will also keep it looking good far longer than if you attempted to clean it using any other method.

Wearing a suit every day used to be the norm for anyone working in an office, or in any setting that required the employees to maintain a certain level of professionalism.  While many offices have loosened their standards and do not require the daily wearing of a formal outfit, a suit is still generally promoted in situations where you are attempting to show a professional look.  Because you are not wearing your suit every day, you will probably not have to have it dry cleaned as often as you once did, but it will still be a good idea to dry clean it after a few wearings.  This same principal goes for any garment that you consider more "dressy" or which is made out of materials that cannot be washed with water.  If stains that are associated with regular wearing start to build up, as is the example of oils from the skin creating yellow stains in armpits and around collars, the removal process will be far more difficult than if the garments are cleaned regularly.  For this reason, alone, you should schedule some time to get your clothing to the dry cleaner at least once a month.

Many dry cleaners will offer free pickup and drop-off of your clothing within a few miles of their locations.  This convenience is offered in order to assist busy professionals who want and need to have their clothing dry cleaned, but cannot make time in their schedule to visit the store. While there is little that a dry cleaner can do to make their services more convenient above and beyond not requiring you to even visit the store, the need for dry cleaning of suits, delicate fabrics, wedding dresses, curtains and bedspreads will continue.  There is little chance that shifting fashion will ever change that.