Wet Cleaners - New Process from Europe

[John in Covina]

Wet Cleaners in California are dedicated to new processes that are challenging Dry Cleaning. They reportedly do a better job with an environmentally friendly product.

Nancy’s Cleaners
1730 Alpine Blvd
#104
Alpine, CA

Anawood Cleaners / All Natural
1223 South Euclid Street
Anaheim, CA

Knott’s Cleaners
6971 Lincoln Avenue
#D
Buena Park, CA

Julie’s Cleaners
12904 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA

Sunnyfresh Cleaners
8849 Villa La Jolla Drive
#305
La Jolla, CA

New Image Cleaners
682 South Cloverdale Avenue
Los Angeles, CA

One Day Cleaners
26012 Margarite Parkway
#1
Mission Viejo, CA

Del Mar natural Cleaners
701 Washington Blvd
Marina Del Rey, CA

Colony Cleaners
3872 Cross Creek Road
Malibu, Ca

Four Seasons Cleaners
2666 Hammer Avenue
Norco, CA

Ontario Cleaners
2598 South Archibald Avenue
#G
Ontario, CA

Hilltop Cleaners
945 N. Michillinda Avenue
Pasadena, CA

Del Rey Cleaners
310 Culver Blvd.
Playa Del Rey, CA

OK Cleaners
2625 North Garey Avenue
Pomona, CA

Bob’s Cleaners
777 23rd Street
Richmond, CA

Hesperian Cleaners
15848 Hespirian Blvd.
San Lorenzo, CA

Cleaners Emporium II
1212 South Bristol Avenue
#8
Santa Ana, CA

Re-Stor Cleaners
8846 Foot Hill Blvd.
Sunland, CA

Plaza Cleaners
1730 East Avenue de Los Arboles
#F
Thousand Oaks, CA

Blue Sky Cleaners
32920 Alvarado Niles Road
#200
Union City, CA

Airport Natural Cleaners
16500 Sherman Way
Van Nuys, CA

 

[YETI]

Is the process safe for vintage fabrics?

 

[Matt Deckard]

John... let's go!

 

[John in Covina]

Is the process safe for vintage fabrics?

****************
The best answer is probably Yes & NO. It uses water with some type of special detergents or soaps. The machine action is bascally the same so vintage fabrics that have deteriorated will probably shatter the same as they would in the dry cleaning process. If the fabrics are in good condition and are water hardy then they will probably survive just fine.

We have to remember too that prior to dry cleaning (using solvents) all cleaning was wet cleaning short of just brushing the clothes off.

Go here for some more info:
http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/ppc/projects.htm

or check out Huell Houser Productions, the search engine will take you to their Wet Cleaners episode.


The advantage is that where dry cleaning only removed grease and oils plus some of the dirt, wet washing will take out those, and the dirt and anything like soda etc that dry cleaning did not do well on. When you spilled any type of food on a suit you were supposed to tell the dry cleaner where that spill was so they could spot treat it so not to set and burn any carbs or sugars during the pressing.

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

Interesting. An alternative to dry cleaning chemicals would be great, if it works. I wonder how well wool reacts to the process?

 

[Creeping Past]

Thanks, John.

No Google hits for similar operations in the London area, except for carpet cleaning, that is.

I'd use a laundry service that offered wet cleaning, so long as I could be sure they weren't just shoving it in a machine and spinning my woollens at 60 degrees celsius at several thousand rpm! I hate the dry cleaning smell.

 

[John in Covina]

California's Green #115 - WET CLEANERS

From the Huell Howser Productions Website (You can get just about every episode of the various programs Huell has done for PBS on DVD from him.) Go to: www.calgold.com

California's Green - Episode #115 - WET CLEANERS
We all know what dry cleaning is, but have you heard of wet cleaning? If you haven’t, you will begin to hear the term more and more as California embraces the process that is the answer to the hazardous chemicals used in dry cleaning.

To help jump-start professional wet cleaning in the Los Angeles region, the South Coast Air Quality Management District funded The Garment Care Project of the Pollution Prevention Education & Research Center (PPERC) at Occidental College. This project provided wet clean equipment and technical training grants to 22 cleaners interested in switching from dry cleaning to professional wet cleaning.

So to learn more about it, Huell is joined by PPERC’s director and the proud owner of Nature’s Best Cleaners and follows the steps involved in this non-toxic, energy efficient and, of course, environmentally friendly process.

For more information and locations of wet cleaners:
Pollution Prevention Education & Research Center (PPERC)
Occidental College
1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, CA 90041
323-259-1420
www.uepi.oxy.edu/pperc


Nature’s Best Cleaners
8782 19th Street
Alta Loma, CA 91701
909-989-4777

South Coast Air Quality Management District
21865 Copley Drive
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
800-CUT-SMOG (288-7664)
www.aqmd.gov

 

[John in Covina]

Thanks, John. No Google hits for similar operations in the London area, except for carpet cleaning, that is. I'd use a laundry service that offered wet cleaning, so long as I could be sure they weren't just shoving it in a machine and spinning my woollens at 60 degrees celsius at several thousand rpm! I hate the dry cleaning smell.

*************
If I rememebr correctly the wet cleaning process and the equipment is from Germany, maybe there is a "German" cleaners there.

 

[Tomasso]

If I remember correctly the wet cleaning process and the equipment is from Germany.

I've used Greener Cleaner intermittently over the years and recall the owner telling me that they had switched from Electrolux to Miehle at some point.

 

[John in Covina]

The process

Green Cleaner's site lists this:

OUR PROCESS

The Greener Cleaner’s advanced wet cleaning technology professionally cleans “dry clean only” clothes without hazardous dry cleaning chemicals. Our process is gentler on your clothes, your health and the environment. Your clothes come back impeccably pressed, cleaner and softer than dry cleaning with no chemical smell! Whites stay really white and all colors look brighter.

We clean all garments and all fabrics; leathers, rugs and comforters; and provide expert alterations & repairs. Your special occasions can be exquisitely preserved with the finest wedding gown and formal cleaning available.

 

[cookie]

Green Cleaner's site lists this:

OUR PROCESS

The Greener Cleaner’s advanced wet cleaning technology professionally cleans “dry clean only” clothes without hazardous dry cleaning chemicals. Our process is gentler on your clothes, your health and the environment. Your clothes come back impeccably pressed, cleaner and softer than dry cleaning with no chemical smell! Whites stay really white and all colors look brighter.

We clean all garments and all fabrics; leathers, rugs and comforters; and provide expert alterations & repairs. Your special occasions can be exquisitely preserved with the finest wedding gown and formal cleaning available.

John are you saying they can clean a wool suit without shrinkage???

 

[Matt Deckard]

According to Huell Hauser they can

 

[Feraud]

Someone needs to have a wool suit wet cleaned and report the results.

 

[Tomasso]

Someone needs to have a wool suit wet cleaned and report the results.

I've had wool, linen and cotton cleaned at Greener Cleaner, which I assume is the same process, without any deleterious effects. While I did note that the process was not as effective at removing certain stains on cotton and linen compared to conventional dry cleaners, it did excel at removing odors.

 

[KittyT]

I assume this is not an option for fabrics that tend to shrink in water, such as vintage rayons/acetates?

 

[John in Covina]

John are you saying they can clean a wool suit without shrinkage???

**********
From what I understand about wool is Shrinkage is related more to the temperature of the water and the temp when drying more than simply getting wet. You can wash a wool sweater in Woolite and if you follow their directions it won't shrink. However toss a fine wool ski sweater in the washer using hot water and then toss it into the dryer on Hot and you'll get a sweater sized for a Barbie doll. The heat is what does it mostly.

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

Originally posted by John in Covina:
From what I understand about wool is Shrinkage is related more to the temperature of the water and the temp when drying more than simply getting wet. You can wash a wool sweater in Woolite and if you follow their directions it won't shrink. However toss a fine wool ski sweater in the washer using hot water and then toss it into the dryer on Hot and you'll get a sweater sized for a Barbie doll. The heat is what does it mostly.

I often hear Woolite recommended, but I don't use it and I've heard that it can be harmful. I use baby shampoo, and a little white vinegar before the final rinse.

It's not only heat that shrinks wool, but agitation and quick temperature changes. The agitation, especially, "felts" the wool. When I've washed wool fabric, it usually ends up with a slightly fuzzy look - which is why I'm not washing the gabardine I just bought. Were I to put it in hot water and swish it around a lot repeatedly, I would probably end up with nice felted yardage.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Have to post some before and after pics of a soiled suit

 

[Jerekson]

Time to plan a heist. Er...time to experiment.

 

[John in Covina]

Went to Pomona's OK Cleaners for a Wet Clean trial.

Hi All!

Putting Huell Howser to the test!

Yesterday I grabbed my Double Breasted Peak Lapel suit - the Green one for those that have seen it. It's wool and Made in Canada. I call it my Green Hornet suit. It wasn't dirty in a filthy sort of way, but since it was last dry cleaned I have worn it a number of times during the summer and have soaked it thru with sweat so I felt it was time to take it for a cleaning.

The guy behind the counter wasn't super articulate in English but was able to indicate that they do use the wet cleaning process. I also dropped off 3 dress shirts for laundering. They'll be ready Friday in the afternoon. I'll pick them up when I get a chance Friday or Saturday and give a review sometime later.