What is Dry Cleaning?

Dry cleaning is a process of washing garments and fabrics without using water as the washing medium.


What do you use instead of water?

Most modern dry cleaners use perchloroethylene but more are beginning to use hydrocarbon solvents (introduced to replace the "F" clean solvent) which is a white spirit cleaning agent that has a much milder action. There are also Cyclosiloxanes that have very low solvency levels and are therefore milder on garments. This makes them safer on beaded fabrics or those likely to run colour, but less good at removing stains and general soiling.


Why use any liquid in cleaning?

The liquid in cleaning, be it water or solvent, is used as a carrier for dirt and grime. The aim is to suspend the particles of dirt in the liquid and carry this off either to recycle or drain away without re-depositing dirt back on the garments.


Do stains naturally come out in the machine then?

No! very few stains are naturally removed during dry cleaning, even though a powerful soap is added to the wash.


How do you get rid of stains then?

Cleaners use "Reagents" to actually react with different types of stains. Some reagents cover wide groups of stains whereas others are very specific and react only with one type of stain.


How do you know what to use?

In reality it's nice to be told what the stains are, so if you know what's been spilled don't keep it a secret. However, lots of stains aren't seen by the wearer and the cleaner uses experience and common sense to guess what the stains may be. Even then it may take three or four cleans before the cleaner gets it right and removes the stain.


Why do some things go gray?

This can happen in the cleaning machine because of dirty solvent, too much water addition or excessive static. It can also occur because the effect of optical brighteners, added to fabrics to reflect ultra violet light back as visible light, is diminished making the garment appear duller.


My laundry is delivered with plastic packaging, hangers etc. Can I return for recycling?

The Doorstep Laundry continually strives to source biodegradable packaging. We encourage our customers to return any unwanted packaging which; we either recycle or re-direct for professional disposal


Can you wash my laundry with a non bio detergent?

The Doorstep Laundry use a host of household bio and non branded laundry detergents. We will shortly offer eco friendly alternatives.


Can I trust you with my clothes?

You certainly can, and over a thousand people do. All of our drivers and cleaners are subject to extensive testing and training and we have robust systems in place to track every item that is collected by ihateironing.


What do I do if I have any special requests?

You can discuss them by calling the shop or talk to one of the staff who are all experts in dry cleaning and laundry.


Will I get a receipt?

Yes we’ll give you an itemised receipt when we’ve counted the garments - usually within working hours of collection.


Is drycleaning good for cloths?

It removes grit, dust and grease that can damage the fabric if left in too long. Drycleaning not only prolongs the life of a garment, but keeps it looking smart for as long as possible.


I missed my pick up slot. What should I do?

We’ll be happy to pick up your clothing at a more convenient time. Give us a call on to reschedule.


Are there garments that you will not clean?

Currently, we clean most items of clothing. If we decide upon inspection that it would not be sensible to wash one of your garments, we will contact you and agree the best course of action.