Myths vs. Reality: 5 Things Dry Cleaners Get Wrong About Modern Wet CleaningMyths vs. Reality: 5 Things Dry Cleaners Get Wrong About Modern Wet Cleaning

When you've been doing something the same way for decades, it's hard to imagine there might be a better approach.

That's where we are with wet cleaning. Despite being a proven, safer, and more cost-effective alternative, many dry cleaners, facility managers, and laundry owners still hesitate. Usually, it's because they're operating on outdated assumptions about what water-based cleaning can actually do.

As the UK's leading distributor of advanced wet cleaning systems, we hear the same objections repeatedly. So let's address the five biggest myths head-on and show you what modern wet cleaning actually delivers.

Myth 1: Wet Cleaning Will Cause Garment Shrinkage and Damage

This is the big one. The fear that keeps people locked into solvent-based systems. If you've spent years being told that water destroys delicate fibres, the idea of washing a cashmere jumper or silk blouse sounds reckless.

Here's what's actually happening. Shrinkage doesn't come from water itself - it comes from uncontrolled agitation and excessive heat. Think about what happens when you accidentally put a wool sweater through a domestic machine on the wrong setting. That's not the water's fault; it's the aggressive tumbling and high temperature.

Modern professional wet cleaning systems like the Electrolux Lagoon® Advanced Care work completely differently. These machines feature highly calibrated drums that control mechanical action with surgical precision. Cycles are custom-designed for specific delicate fibres - wool, silk, rayon - with exactly the right amount of gentle movement. The computer-controlled dryers use humidity sensors and carefully regulated temperatures to prevent the kind of structural damage that leads to shrinkage. Plus, specialised biodegradable detergents actually lubricate the fibres during washing, providing an extra layer of protection.

The result? Modern wet cleaning safely processes 99.9% of items previously labelled 'Dry Clean Only.' And here's the thing customers notice immediately: garments often come out softer and with brighter colours than they ever did with chemical cleaning.

Myth 2: Wet Cleaning Cannot Effectively Remove Oil and Grease Stains

Dry cleaners have been taught that only powerful solvents like PERC and hydrocarbon can break down oil and grease. Water, the thinking goes, only works on water-soluble stains.

But modern wet cleaning isn't just throwing garments in water and hoping for the best. It's a complete, multi-stage system designed for comprehensive stain removal.

Advanced professional-grade detergents are specifically formulated to emulsify oils and suspend grease so they rinse away cleanly. And here's something interesting: the vast majority of stains - sweat, food, drinks, mud - are actually water-soluble. Wet cleaning handles these effortlessly, while chemical cleaning often struggles with them and requires additional costly and skilled spotting work.

For those challenging petroleum-based stains, wet cleaning uses specific, non-toxic spotting agents applied before washing. This combination of targeted pretreatment and effective water-based washing actually delivers better overall results than solvent-based systems.

You're using nature's best solvent - water - for most of the work, and safe detergents for everything else. The level of clean you achieve simply can't be matched by solvents.

Myth 3: Wet Cleaning Is Just Like Using a Home Washing Machine

This one frustrates us because it completely misunderstands what professional wet cleaning equipment actually is. These aren't glorified domestic machines. The engineering is on a completely different level.

Professional wet cleaning systems are entirely programmable. Technicians can set and store specific programmes that control four critical variables - water volume, detergent dosing (accurate to the millilitre), temperature, and mechanical action - for hundreds of different fabric types. This is industrial-grade precision equipment.

But here's the crucial part that often gets overlooked: the finishing. A commercial wet cleaning system includes professional tensioning finishing equipment (like those from Pony) that restores the garment's original shape, press, and structure immediately after washing. This is what allows garments to maintain that professional, crisp appearance. A domestic machine can't do this. Ever.

Commercial wet cleaning units are also built for high throughput and rapid turnaround. They're designed for the volume and efficiency demands of hotels, hospitals, and busy commercial operations. There's simply no comparison to home laundry equipment.

Myth 4: Switching Requires a Massive, Complicated Investment and Training Overhaul

We understand why facility managers worry about this. Transitioning away from decades of solvent-based operations sounds daunting and expensive.

But here's what actually happens. Wet cleaning requires standard plumbing and ventilation. That's it. You eliminate the need for expensive specialist venting, spill containment systems, and chemical storage rooms that are legally required for PERC or other solvents. Your facility setup costs often drop significantly.

Staff training becomes simpler too. Instead of handling hazardous chemicals and maintaining complex regulatory logs - like tracking compliance with the 20g/kg emissions limit imposed by the Solvent Emissions Directive 6(46)/11 - your team focuses purely on fabric care. It's a shift from managing chemical hazards to mastering garment care.

At Wavepoint, we provide comprehensive support from day one: installation, staff training, and ongoing service. We've done this more times than anyone else in the UK, so we know how to make the transition seamless. You're not figuring this out alone.

Myth 5: Chemical Cleaning is More Cost-Effective for Commercial Volume

There's a persistent belief that chemical recycling makes PERC and other solvents economical to run, while water and utilities make wet cleaning expensive.

This completely ignores the massive hidden costs of solvent-based operations. Let's look at the actual numbers:

When you remove the non-negotiable costs of permits, chemical sourcing, and hazardous waste disposal, wet cleaning provides a clear financial advantage. It's not even close.

Time to Rethink What You Know

The future of garment care isn't just safer and more sustainable - it's more profitable. But you won't get there if outdated myths are driving your equipment decisions.

If you're ready to see what modern wet cleaning can actually do for your business, let's talk. Contact Wavepoint for a consultation on the Electrolux Lagoon® system and see the real numbers for yourself.

Call us at 020 8579 2661 or email mail@wavepointgroup.co.uk