Dry Cleaning for the Busy Professional: How to Save Time on Laundry

As a busy professional, the never-ending cycle of laundry can become overwhelming, especially when juggling work, family, and everything in between. While this time-consuming chore tends to eat into precious free moments, it’s understandable that most of us try to find tips and tricks to get it done faster and more efficiently. However, with careful organization and some smart strategies, you can streamline your laundry routine and get your life back on track, spending time where it matters most. From the experts at Burke Cleaners, here’s how a busy professional can save time on laundry. 

Useful Laundry Tips

The most reliable way to save time on laundry is to invest in the professional help of dry cleaning services. Not only will it save you time and money, but you will be able to guarantee that your clothes are cleaned to the highest professional standards. In addition to dry cleaning, consider the following tips to integrate into your routine: 

  1. Sort Your Laundry in Advance 

Now before you pass this off as just an additional, unnecessary step, you’ll be surprised to learn that sorting your laundry can save a significant amount of time in the long run. Create separate hampers for different types of laundry (whites, delicates, colors, etc.), or invest in other smart storage solutions, so that you can quickly grab the pre-organized load of laundry and waste no time getting it cleaned. 

  1. Create a Laundry Schedule

Creating a laundry schedule will cut down on the stress of overwhelming pile-ups of clothes. Chores that keep getting pushed back cause more anxiety than if they’re completed in an orderly and efficient way, so dedicate specific days and times to carry out this critical task in order to save time and the emotional burden. 

  1. Consider Quality over Quantity

As a busy professional, it is worth considering investing in quality over quantity in terms of types of clothing. Garments that are versatile, easily mixed and matched with other choices, reduce the need for frequent wardrobe changes and cut down on the size of your laundry pile. Quality clothing will last longer as well, which will save you money over time. 

  1. Fold, Organize, and Store Immediately 

Once your clothes have been cleaned, it’s smart to fold, organize, and store them immediately rather than letting them sit around. Not only will this help prevent wrinkles, but it will help keep laundry from piling up again, taking up space and causing unnecessary stress. 

  1. Simplify Your Wardrobe 

You can save time by simplifying your wardrobe - consider decluttering the extra clothes that you don’t wear anymore in order to make it easier to manage, find the garments you’re looking for, and cut down on stress. 

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What is dry cleaning? 

Dry cleaning is a professional cleaning process whereby clothes are cleaned in commercial machinery with special solvents rather than water. Your clothes will first be inspected and treated for any stains and spots. Then the dry cleaners will insert your garments into their dry cleaning machines where they are exposed to a cleaning solvent through a tumbling action not unlike your washing machine at home. The solvent works by lifting stains and dirt away from the fabric, and it is recycled through the machine several times throughout the process - at this stage, grease stains are removed. Finally, the garments undergo post-spot treatment to remove any water-based stains that remain, and then the dry cleaner will steam, iron, or press your items so they are in perfect condition and ready to be used. 

The Time-Saving Power of Dry Cleaning

Hands down, the best way for busy professionals to save time is to invest in dry cleaning services. First and foremost, many people are unaware that practically all types of clothing can be dry cleaned, not just fine garments. Indeed, many people offload all of their laundry needs to a dry cleaner to streamline their laundry schedule, including leather, suedes, and fur, which can be specially cleaned by professionals like Burke Cleaning. 

Dry cleaning is, in fact, a way to save both time and money. Among the many other myths about dry cleaning, you may be surprised to learn that the slightly higher cost of dry cleaning is easily offset by the reduced need for at-home detergent and the prolonged lifespan of clothing, making it a reliable and cost-friendly way to manage your laundry. Furthermore, because dry cleaners such as Burke Cleaners are full-service experts, you can trust the entire cleaning process, including repair and alterations, to be taken care of efficiently in-house. 

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Whether it is professional or casual clothing, dry cleaning will provide the best possible clean so that whites will certainly be their whitest, colors will be their brightest, and all clothes will have the best chance for the longest possible lifespan. But perhaps the biggest time-saving ability of dry cleaning comes in the extra services provided by Burke Cleaners, such as our pick-up and delivery services, along with our 24/7 express kiosks. On one hand, you can pre-schedule pick-up and delivery days in order to match your schedule perfectly - this makes it so that laundry is no longer a factor in your busy schedule, completely cleaned and prepared with minimal time required on your end. On the other hand, the 24/7 express kiosks enable you to get last-minute cleaning done, whenever you need. If garments are dropped off before 9 am, you can even expect them to be cleaned and returned to you that very same day! 

The time-saving benefits of dry cleaning are unmatched, making it truly the best way for busy professionals to save time on laundry.

Northern Colorado Dry Cleaning Experts

Burke Cleaners is fully dedicated to making the task of laundry and dry cleaning truly simple. After serving Northern Colorado for over 25 years, we know a thing or two about our local busy professionals, especially what they need most in their busy lives. Saving time is key, and we are proud to make sure you can get back to things that matter most rather than the inconvenience of laundry. Contact our team today to get started or to learn more about why our customers love working with us! 

How to Extend the Life of Your Suit with Professional Dry Cleaning

When it comes to the maintenance of our professional wardrobes and particularly our suits, how we care for them and who we entrust with their care is crucial. In fact, choosing to dry clean your suits is as essential as choosing which quality suit to buy in the first place. Dry cleaning services lend a professional touch that cannot be achieved at home, and through the use of high-quality washing material and the experienced know-how of an expert, the lifetime of a suit can be extended substantially. 

But how does dry cleaning actually extend a suit’s life, and what specific benefits lay behind such a broad claim? From the dry cleaning professionals at Burke Cleaners, here’s all you need to know about extending the life of your suit with professional dry cleaning. 

What is Dry Cleaning? 

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Dry cleaning is a special cleaning process conducted by specialists that utilizes solvents instead of water. While the name is slightly misleading, dry cleaning is not actually a “dry” process, as the solvents used (namely perchloroethylene, i.e. “perc”) are in liquid form. It is only because there is no water involved that it receives the name ‘dry cleaning’. Using the solvent instead of water is what makes it so important for suits, but more on that later. 

Waterless methods of cleaning clothes date back thousands of years to the ancient Greeks and Romans, but the modern iteration of dry cleaning uses a machine very similar to that of a domestic washing machine and clothes dryer. Clothes are placed in the core of the machine and subjected to several cycles of rotation and solvent exposure. The solvent is filtered out and returned to the clothing chamber several times as impurities are washed free, then a drying cycle ensues which includes the garments being tumbled in a stream of warm air that circulates in and through the central chamber. Finally, the finished dry-cleaned clothes are cooled, aired, and often steam-pressed to completion. 

Why Do Suits Need to be Dry Cleaned? 

It is not uncommon for suits to be labeled as “dry clean only”, which means, of course, that dry cleaning should be the only method used for cleaning your suit. This is usually because the materials and particular construction of suits, such as silk, wool, and delicate linings, may not withstand the rough process of regular, water-based cleaning methods. Water-based cleaning methods can cause shrinkage, color bleeding, and other types of damage to these finer fabrics, and furthermore, tailored suits can easily lose their precise shape when exposed to water-based cleaning and traditional drying methods. 

For these reasons, the lifetime of a suit can be greatly extended if it is cleaned using dry cleaning instead of common water-based techniques, and it will maintain its original quality, color, and shape longer. Dry cleaning can also help by removing tough stains, such as oil and grease-based stains that are not easily removed during a water-based cleaning process. Suits, therefore, do not only benefit from an increased lifespan, but they can benefit from the stain-saving power of dry cleaning as well. 

Benefits of Dry Cleaning for Extending a Suit’s Life

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Beyond the strict dry cleaning process itself, there are several secondary benefits that extend the life of a suit, including: 

  1. Professional Experience and Care 

Professional dry cleaners are experts at what they do. These individuals and companies have experience working with high-quality garment fabrics along with the highest-quality washing material that is not normally available for use at your home. Moreover, they are aware of how and where to use the cleaning material for removing stains. Between having optimal experience, training, equipment, ingredients, and techniques, professional dry cleaning services give your suit the best possible chance at longevity. 

  1. Attention to Details

Precise attention to detail on all parts of your suit goes that extra mile in conserving the quality and integrity of its fabrics. Your suit will be immaculately cleaned, stains are quickly and accurately addressed, and each of the surfaces and crease lines are carefully and precisely ironed. Our clothes are representative of the image we carry, so ensuring your suit is cared for and intentionally extending its lifespan are important parts of ownership. 

  1. Odor Removal 

Dry cleaners are especially effective at removing odor from suits by making use of special cleaning products. It’s likely that such professional-grade cleaning products are unavailable for you to use at home, so entrusting your suit to professional dry cleaning services will ensure that their smell is well-maintained in coordination with its extended lifespan. 

  1. Preservation and Restoration

In addition to the highest-quality cleaning methods that use solvents and drying techniques inherently designed to preserve your fabrics, professional dry cleaning services have experts who can restore your suit and mend flaws that may not be immediately visible to you. It’s obvious that delicate clothes like your suit need special care. As such, they should be handled and preserved by the experts that can do it better than anyone else. 

How Often Does a Suit Need to be Dry Cleaned? 

There is no set rule around how much your suit needs to be cleaned, but we recommend getting your suit dry cleaned every three to four times it is worn. If the suit is stained, gets a spot, or begins to smell, you can certainly have the suit cleaned more frequently. However, if you’re ever unsure about the best way to care for your suit, we recommend consulting your tailor or dry cleaner to get a more personalized answer based on how frequently and how long you use the suit on a day-to-day basis. 

Northern Colorado Dry Cleaners 

Dry cleaning is the most important factor that will extend the life of your suit. Due to its gentle solvents and drying methods along with the expertise and care provided by dry cleaning professionals, dry cleaning is imperative for the best possible care for your suit. If you’re in the Northern Colorado area, consider reaching out to the expert dry cleaners at Burke Cleaners in order to put your suit in highly capable hands. 

Exploring the Cost of Dry Cleaning: Is It Worth the Investment for Your Wardrobe?

The relative superiority of dry cleaning compared to conventional at-home washing machine methods is undebatable. However, because dry cleaning tends to come with a price tag that appears higher than local grocery store-based detergent, customers reasonably wonder whether the cost of dry cleaning is worth the investment for their wardrobe. 

Before making this decision for yourself, it’s important to know all the facts about dry cleaning including how it works, its benefits, and what variables affect cost. With all the details in front of you, we’re confident that you’ll be able to make an informed decision about whether it’s worth it for your wardrobe. If you have any more questions after reading this article, don’t hesitate to call the dry cleaning experts at Burke Cleaners today! 

How does dry cleaning work? 

Dry cleaning uses a specialized, large machine that cleans clothing using a solvent - this means that it uses a waterless cleaning process in order to remove dirt and debris from clothing. The solvent is then extracted from the clothes, and the garments are subsequently air-dried and steam-pressed. The fact that dry cleaning uses waterless methods to clean your clothes is very key to its importance - some garments, for example, are easily damaged when cleaned with water. The solvents used in dry cleaning gently pass through the seams and fabrics of clothing, causing less distortion, shrinking, and deterioration.

Benefits of Dry Cleaning 

There are several distinct advantages of dry cleaning over traditional cleaning methods, making it a valuable investment for the preservation of your garments. These benefits include: 

Preservation of Fabrics

Dry cleaning is specially designed to benefit delicate fabrics such as silk, wool, denim, linen, and other sensitive materials that require gentle care and handling. Water-based cleaning methods agitate clothes with the rough and relatively large molecular construction of water, and with the addition of high heat, traditional cleaning methods can cause these delicate fabrics to lose durability and color, fray, shrink, and ultimately distort their shape. For the preservation of fabrics, both delicate and ordinary, dry cleaning is the only sure way. 

Garment Longevity

Dry cleaning extends the lifespan of your clothes by being more gentle and causing less deterioration, but it also effectively removes stains, dirt, grime, and other contaminants that can weaken clothing and negatively impact its appearance. By investing in dry cleaning, you can be confident that your garments will last much longer - long-lasting garments mean fewer repairs and replacements thus saving you time and money as well. 

Advanced Stain Removal

Traditional methods of cleaning do not always have the capability of removing certain stubborn stains from clothing. Dry cleaning, however, uses specialized solvents and techniques to break down and lift stains from various fabrics without causing damage. 

Superior Appearance and Freshness

Dry cleaning helps to improve the appearance and freshness of your clothes far beyond the ability of traditional cleaning methods. The expert training and specialized techniques of professional dry cleaners can help remove wrinkles and odors so that your garments are always maintained to the highest quality. 

Additional Services On-Demand

Professional dry cleaning also offers additional services when garments are brought in to be cleaned. Tailoring, repairs, alterations, ironing, folding and hanging services, drop-off, and delivery are all additional benefits of dry cleaning that should be factored into the evaluation of whether dry cleaning is a worthwhile investment. 

Variables that Affect Cleaning Costs 

Dry cleaning costs are certainly dependent upon a number of variables. Understanding what these variables are can help you determine whether dry cleaning is a worthwhile investment. 

Garment type, fabric type, and additional services such as folding and hanging can all contribute to the cost of dry cleaning. 

Factors to Consider 

As you begin to evaluate whether dry cleaning is a worthwhile investment, it’s important to consider individual articles of clothing as it may be more important to get certain clothes dry cleaned than others. For example, if you have delicate fabrics that will be ruined from traditional washing methods, then it is of course a good idea to get them dry cleaned. Be sure to also evaluate the frequency in which you use your clothes, because clothes that you wear all the time are likely to deteriorate faster and thus should receive the extra care and attention provided by dry cleaning.

Furthermore, if your goal is to present yourself as best as possible for special occasions like weddings, business events, and other important functions, dry cleaning will ensure that your chosen garments will appear immaculate and create a lasting impression. And finally, it is also worth considering the convenience that comes with the extra cost. By having your clothes cleaned, pressed, folded, hung, and even delivered for you, you will be able to save an enormous amount of time. 

Is Dry Cleaning Worth the Investment?

When it comes to the question of whether dry cleaning is a worthwhile investment, there’s no doubt that dry cleaning is well worth the cost for certain delicate fabrics as well as expensive, higher-quality garments. However, when you begin to factor in the longevity and aesthetic quality that is maintained even for regular clothing (along with the cost savings of repairs and replacements down the road), a case can be made that dry cleaning is incredibly worthwhile for all laundry. 

Burke Cleaners is a professional dry cleaning service that can help you maintain your clothes to the highest standards without being hard on your budget. If you’re looking for dry cleaning solutions in Fort Collins, don’t hesitate to reach out to Burke Cleaners today. 

Winter Wardrobe Care: How Dry Cleaning Can Preserve Your Heavy Fabrics

As we approach the spring season, most people are planning to shift out of their winter wardrobe into items more suited for our lovely Colorado sunshine. Before storing your heavy fabrics and coats away until next year, it’s important to give them a good clean so that they’re fresh and ready to go when you need them again. Be aware, however, that the single best way to clean your fabrics is with the help of a dry cleaner. 

Dry cleaning your fabrics will help preserve your best clothes, increasing their longevity and ensuring they can be worn for years to come. From the experts here at Burke Cleaners, here’s how dry cleaning can preserve your heavy fabrics. 

What is dry cleaning?

While the cleaning process is called ‘dry’ cleaning, most people are surprised to learn that it still utilizes liquids in order to clean your clothes. The name refers to the fact that dry cleaning does not utilize water; it uses different forms of solvents, or chemicals, instead. These chemicals include tetrachlorethylene, perchloroethylene (perc), and petroleum-based solvents. 

Dry cleaning involves a multi-phase process where clothes are soaked in a water-free liquid solvent and processed through a machine very similar to that of a domestic washing machine. Garments are loaded into a central drum at the core of the machine, and solvent filling approximately one-third of the surrounding shell agitates grit, dirt, dust, and other impurities from the fabric. During the washing cycle, used solvent is recycled through a filtration chamber and then fed back into the central drum, thus repeating until the cleaning process is completed. The final step typically includes drying the clothes through the application of heat and some form of steam finishing. 

General Benefits of Dry Cleaning 

There are several benefits to dry cleaning clothes. Compared to traditional, home-based cleaning, dry cleaning provides: 

Heavy Fabrics That Need Dry Cleaning 

It is recommended to dry clean clothes before putting them into storage after the winter. Washing your garments through the dry cleaning process will remove any lingering odors, such as sweat, and your clothes will be less likely to attract bugs or have a stale, musty smell when you take them out of storage again. Furthermore, many heavy fabrics are simply too large to be cleaned using at-home washing machines and dryers - this doesn’t negate the need to have them cleaned.

Dry cleaning, therefore, is the most efficient and effective method for cleaning your heavy fabrics, but several different types of heavy fabrics should be professionally cleaned without question. 

Wool

Winter Wardrobe Care How Dry Cleaning Can Preserve Your Heavy Fabrics Wool

If not treated properly (such as washing in water using an at-home washing machine), wool can easily be damaged, warped, or shrunk. Heavy soaking, heat, and a rough washing machine environment causes damage to wool, so it’s usually best to bring your wool jackets, coats, sweaters, scarves, and other garments into a dry cleaner to have them cleaned safely and effectively. 

Velvet

Winter Wardrobe Care How Dry Cleaning Can Preserve Your Heavy Fabrics Velvet

Velvet winter clothes should also be dry cleaned, but unlike wool, it is because velvet is an extremely delicate fabric. Velvet can be warped and crushed, and the fabric can be expanded and distorted by a rough washing machine. Similarly, water alone will cause velvet to deteriorate faster than normal because water is a thicker substance than dry cleaner solvents. So when it comes to your winter velvet clothes, the best bet will always be a dry cleaner. 

Structured or Lined Jackets

Winter Wardrobe Care How Dry Cleaning Can Preserve Your Heavy Fabrics structured

While not a specific fabric type, structured or lined jackets, vests, and coats are all susceptible to damage when cleaned in a normal washing machine with water. The best way to maintain the beautiful structure, shape, and integrity of these types of winter garments from year to year is to have them dry-cleaned. 

Leather and Suede

Winter Wardrobe Care How Dry Cleaning Can Preserve Your Heavy Fabrics leather

Leather and suede winter attire can be among the most expensive. However, it is critical to note that dry cleaning leather and suede is not suitable in an at-home washing machine OR dry cleaning. Cleaning leather and suede improperly can remove their natural oils, causing them to become dry, stiff, and prone to cracking. It’s very important to find a professional cleaner that offers specialized leather and suede cleaning services in order to keep these fine winter garments looking their best and lasting as long as possible.

Safe and Effective Winter Wardrobe Cleaning

The bottom line is that dry cleaning is the best way to preserve your heavy fabrics. Your winter wardrobe likely consists of a variety of wools, velvets, leather, suede, and other structured jackets and winter garments. These garments can be cleaned safely and effectively, limiting the amount of damage done to individual fibers when cleaned using the dry cleaning process and other professional-quality methods.

Dry cleaning uses solvents rather than water, and this alone will keep fibers from losing shape, distorting, shrinking, loosening, and swelling; it is, therefore, the most optimal way to ensure the longevity and cleanliness of your winter wardrobe’s heavy fabrics. 

For a convenient, efficient route to the cleanest possible clothes, don’t hesitate to contact Burke Cleaners or visit one of our 24/7 express locations today!

Top 9 Dry Cleaning Myths Debunked

There are a lot of opinions about dry cleaning we’ve heard over the years - some good, others bad - and we figured it’s finally time to clear the air of the biggest misconceptions. While some dry cleaning myths may have been true a generation or two ago, and perhaps once upon a time, I believed them too, much has changed over the years. 

Let’s get back up to date with what is correct and what is simply a myth. Here are our top 9 debunked dry cleaning myths! 

1. Dry Cleaning is ‘Dry’

Even though the name is ‘dry’ cleaning, clothes are not actually dry while being cleaned! The real reason it’s called dry cleaning is because instead of water, a chemical solvent with lower viscosity (thickness) than water is utilized during the process. This solvent is incredibly effective at removing grease stains while still being gentle to the underlying fibers of clothing. 

2. Dry Cleaning Wears Out Clothes

Some people think dry cleaning is harsh and wears out clothing over time. The truth is actually the opposite. Dry cleaning will preserve clothes longer than a regular washing machine can, once again, due to the solvent having a lower viscosity than water. The cleaning solvent passes through clothing fibers more seamlessly (pun intended) and delicately than when washing clothes with water and detergent. Wool and silk, for example, tend to swell when in contact with water and shrink again when they dry, causing stress on the fibers. 

3. Dry Cleaning is Expensive 

Just because a business takes care of dry cleaning rather than being done at home doesn’t mean it’s more expensive. When considering the long-term preservation of clothes through dry cleaning, clothes need to be replaced less. They will offset the slightly higher cost of dry cleaning compared to the local grocery store’s detergent. Some individuals dry clean all of their clothes while others may just dry clean the nicest clothes they want to preserve; dry cleaning is, fortunately, able to adapt to any budget and whatever you may need it for.

4. It’s Okay to Store Clothes in Plastic Covers

Plastic bags are used after dry cleaning to protect clothes and ensure they get home without any blemishes. They should not, unfortunately, be used to store clothes for long periods. Otherwise, the plastic bag could trap humidity and allow stains to oxidize, making them harder to clean in the future. 

We recommend removing your clothes from the plastic bags as soon as you’re home, allowing them to breathe. 

5. Carbonated Water Works As Well As Dry Cleaning

Contrary to popular folklore that carbonated water or club soda can remove stains as well as dry cleaning, the reality is very much the opposite. Carbonated water can remove stains but tends to cause more damage than good. 

Instead, it’s recommended that you dab the stain with a white napkin and bring it to a dry cleaner immediately. Inform the dry cleaner of the stain and what caused it to have the best chance for your clothing to return to normal. 

6. ‘Dry-Clean-Only’ Clothes are the Only Clothes That Should be Taken to the Cleaners

Certain clothes (you probably have a few) contain special tags that inform the owner that they need to be dry cleaned only and should not be cleaned in a regular washing machine. For some reason, many people have taken this to mean that those specially tagged clothes are the only clothes that can be dry cleaned or the only ones that should be brought to a cleaner! The opposite is true. Most clothes can be dry cleaned, and all can be taken to a cleaner. 

7. Dry Cleaning Prices Depend on the Garment’s Gender

A common misconception is that cleaners charge based on whether a garment is for a man or a woman. Most dry cleaners will base their prices on whether the clothes fit on the pressing machine or need to be hand-finished instead. Other variables will also affect the price, including irregular sizes or cuts, special fabric, ruffles, pleats, and buttons. 

8. Dry Cleaning Leaves an Odor

A dry cleaning job well done should never result in clothes that smell like solvents or chemicals. If this has happened to you, it’s because the dry cleaning solvent was not wholly removed, and it’s probably time to find a new cleaner. 

Similarly, a lingering musty smell or a foul odor might mean a cleaner is not using a clean solvent. Sweat, oils, and dirt in the fibers of your clothes are only redeposited rather than cleaned off. A good cleaner will use fresh cleaner and allow enough time for the solvent to be removed; the result should be a thorough, high-quality clean. 

9. Dry Cleaning Uses Harmful Products 

At first, you might think that water-based washing is more eco-friendly than dry cleaning, but the real consideration is whether the solvents used in dry cleaning are cleaner than the detergent used in water-based washing. Dry cleaning solvents are usually non-toxic and are often considered a greener alternative to detergent fluids; furthermore, dry cleaning is completed without water and thus has a lower footprint on vital resources. 

Burke Cleaners has taken environmental-friendliness to the next level. We received our Green Cleaner Certificate from the Green Cleaners Council not only for using a safer hydrocarbon solvent in our dry cleaning process but also for distributing reusable VIP bags to lessen the amount of plastic in our landfills, using poly when necessary that is degradable, recycling hangers, utilizing GPS technology to reduce mileage thus reducing emissions, and changing all of our stores to energy-efficient lighting.

The Bottom Line

Dry cleaning is among the most popular methods for cleaning clothes for a reason. For hundreds of years, dry cleaning has proved to be an effective and efficient way to clean clothes while incurring minimal wear on the clothes themselves. 

Our goal has been to help clear the air on all the most significant dry cleaning myths out there - if you want to ensure longevity for your clothes and the best clean possible, don’t hesitate to contact the expert team at Burke Cleaners today!

Dry Cleaning vs. Washing at Home: What's Best for Your Garments?

We all want the best for our clothes - they must have the best longevity, retain their color, and maintain their integrity. However, the best cleaning method is not always straightforward: some clothes have tags that relay the optimal cleaning conditions, while others have no tags. 

Fortunately, general guidelines help us determine the best outcome for our garments. Silk, leather, cotton - you name it, we’re here to help. Here’s our expert insight into which cleaning method is best. 

Dry Cleaning vs. Washing at Home - Why it Matters

There are, of course, many factors that go into deciding whether to dry clean or wash at home. As for yourself, you likely consider things such as budget, eco-friendliness, and quality of wash, wanting the best solution for cleaning your clothes to last longer and look fantastic. You can wash some clothes in various ways, while others require a specific washing method. 

It’s challenging to keep track of all of these variables. As a rule of thumb, you can wash most types of clothing with either dry cleaning or a home washing machine; however, let's examine the more specific fibers on a case-by-case basis. 

Clothing That Should Be Dry Cleaned

Certain clothing fibers must be dry cleaned, or else they’ll become weaker, lose shape, or become damaged and lose color. Usually, these clothes will have a tag that identifies them as requiring dry cleaning, but in general, the following types of clothing fabrics must be dry cleaned: 

Wool 

Unfortunately, wool does not work well with water, as it causes it to expand when wet and shrink again when drying - all of which forces the garment to lose shape. Dry cleaning helps overcome this risk and improves the longevity of your wool clothing. 

Silk

Silk fibers are strong and do not usually wholly absorb the colors used to dye them. For this reason, washing silk clothing at home is a bad idea because the water will cause distortions in the fabric, much like wool, and it will also lose its color over time. Dry cleaning silk guarantees that your garment will retain its initially intended vibrancy, keep its shape, and avoid potential damage. Make sure to utilize dry cleaning solvents that will not cause dyes to bleed or fade, as well as gentle solvents on delicate fabrics. 

Denim

Most people clean their denim at home with a standard washing machine and dryer. Even though it is very durable, denim gets significantly worn down over time from use in the dryer. High heat and quick drying cause jeans to lose their durability. You should clean them using cold water and air dry them instead, or even better, have them dry cleaned. 

Linen

Linen is a strong, fast-drying fabric made from flax, stronger and more absorbent than cotton. Washing linen at home can be slightly risky because, if done incorrectly, the linen garment can deteriorate in quality and lose its crispness. 

Hand washing linen in cold water and air drying is a better option, but dry cleaning is better still. 

Clothing That Should Not Be Dry Cleaned

Other fabric types should not be dry cleaned and will be better off being washed at home or through another method entirely. These include: 

Leather and Suede

Dry cleaning can strip these materials of their natural oils, leading to stiffness and cracking. Instead, Burke Cleaners offers specialized leather and suede cleaning services.

Decorated or Embellished Clothing

Dry cleaning may damage clothing with intricate beadwork, buttons, sequins, or glued-on decorations. The solvents used may dissolve adhesives or cause colors to bleed. Delicate or easily damaged buttons are usually better off being washed by hand. 

Special Trim, Rubber, or Latex

You must identify clothing items made with or containing trim with plastic, rubber, PVC, vinyl, and other synthetic materials, as dry cleaning solvents can degrade rubber and latex. Consult a cleaning specialist on a case-by-case basis to determine whether a garment is safe for dry cleaning. 

Rayon

You can sometimes dry-clean this clothing fabric. Rayon is a semi-synthetic material that can be distorted or shrink depending on the manufacturing process. Before dry cleaning, verify with the manufacturer whether it is safe. 

Washing at Home 

As previously stated, you can wash many clothes at home or have them dry-cleaned. A common misconception is that dry cleaning causes more wear on clothes due to the solvent it uses; however, the opposite is true. Dry cleaning solvent has a lower viscosity (thickness) compared to water. Therefore, it passes through fabric more easily and without as much disturbance as water causes. 

In the long run, dry cleaning will maintain the longevity of your clothes, while washing clothes at home may cause them to have a shorter lifespan. Some individuals choose to dry clean all of their clothes, while others may choose to dry clean their nicest clothes only, but dry cleaning is undoubtedly one of the safest and most effective ways to wash almost all garments. 

Give Your Clothes the Best Clean Possible

Your best bet is always to check the care label on your clothing to determine the recommended cleaning method. If you need more clarification about whether a particular fabric should be dry cleaned, it's advisable to consult with a professional cleaner or contact the garment's manufacturer for guidance.
At Burke Cleaners, we have experience cleaning clothing of every type and guarantee to meet the highest professional standards in quality and service. If you or someone you know could use the help of an expert cleaning service, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today!

The Ultimate Guide to Dry Cleaning Symbols

We all want to preserve our clothes, maintaining their quality and durability and looking their best for as long as possible. Laundry labels (wash care labels) are a vital part of this. Unfortunately, laundry labels and their corresponding symbols are extensive, and they cover all types of cleaning, from washing, drying, ironing, dry cleaning, bleach methods, and professional instructions. It can be overwhelming, but the experts at Burke Cleaners are here to help! 

Read on for our deep dive into dry cleaning symbols and what they mean for your clothes.

Why You Should Know Dry Cleaning Symbols 

You may or may not know this, but clothes require great care when being cleaned if you want them to remain in good condition for many years. Fortunately, almost every piece of clothing comes with a tag that is simply the Rosetta Stone of laundry care. You’ve probably seen printed symbols on your clothing tags and have no idea what they mean; they are, in fact, precise directions on how to wash your clothes properly. 

If you don’t pay attention to these symbols, you’ll likely wash your clothes incorrectly, leading to all types of damage, such as color loss, shrinkage, thread tears, and more. Broadly speaking, triangle symbols refer to bleaching directions, circles to dry cleaning, and squares to non-machine drying. 

You can wash many clothing fibers using water, although some synthetic fibers (viscose, lyocell, modal, cupro, and others) react poorly and should thus be dry cleaned. Dry cleaning symbols typically guide professionals who provide dry cleaning services. Here's an explanation of the various symbols you may find on your garments and their meanings. 

Dry Cleaning Symbols

 

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Our first symbol is a standard circle, indicating that you should dry clean this piece of clothing and not use your normal washing machine. If the circle is alone without any variant, it’s safe to say that it can be dry cleaned without any of the particulars that follow below. 

Now that you know a circle indicates the necessity of dry cleaning, you can probably guess that a circle with a big ‘X’ across it means you should NOT dry clean this particular piece of clothing. Dry cleaning clothes that should not be dry cleaned can lead to the breakdown of the fibers, often because of the chemicals or solvents used in the cleaning process.

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A circle with the letter 'A' inside indicates that you may use any solvent during dry cleaning. Dry cleaning, you may be surprised to learn, still involves liquid. However, instead of using water like in normal washing machines, dry cleaning will include some form of a water-free liquid solvent. 

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A circle with the letter ‘P’ within its boundaries indicates that a piece of clothing should be dry cleaned using solvents but should not use tetrachlorethylene. Tetrachlorethylene is also named perchloroethylene (known in the industry as “perc”), which is the reason why it somewhat confusingly has the letter P. Tetrachlorethylene (used since the 1930s) is the most common solvent used in dry cleaning, but in some cases, it should not be used, which is why this symbol is important. 

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If there's a circle with an 'F' inside it on a garment, it means you must use a petroleum solvent for dry cleaning. Furthermore, an ‘F’ indicates that this article of clothing can not be machine dry cleaned as it is likely a fine or delicate fabric that will probably be damaged if done through standard dry cleaning methods. 

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The following four symbols are tricky because they’re similar yet mean entirely different things. A circle with a diagonal line to the lower left indicates a short cycle. A short cycle refers to clothing needing a shorter period soaked in a solvent. 

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A circle with a diagonal line to the top left indicates clothing optimally cleaned using less overall moisture than the standard dry cleaning process. 

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A circle with a diagonal line to the bottom right indicates clothing that should be dry cleaned using reduced heat during its cleaning cycles. Too much heat can damage certain fibers. 

A typical final step in the dry cleaning process is steam finishing. However, a circle with a diagonal line to the top right indicates no steam finishing is necessary.

Northern Colorado Cleaning Experts

We understand you want to look your best, which extends to your clothes' quality and durability. There’s much to know about cleaning clothes in optimal conditions - it takes experience, skill, and knowledge - which is no less accurate with dry cleaning. 
Keep peace of mind and know your clothes will be cleaned and cared for to the highest professional standards. Contact the experts at Burke Cleaners with any questions, or visit one of our six convenient locations across Northern Colorado today to get the help you need!