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The UK's Leading Wet Cleaning, Laundry, Finishing & Dry Cleaning Equipment Supplier

The UK's Leading Wet Cleaning, Laundry, Finishing & Dry Cleaning Equipment Supplier

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Solvents & processes to ensure optimal cleaning quality

With an array of different solvents and processes to choose from, this decision can seem confusing to any business owner with no industry knowledge. Renzacci UK will give you all the information you need using plain English and without the jargon.

Below we have set out the basic information with all the pros and cons of each method, but our sales team will be happy to explain in further detail and answer any questions you may have.

 

Dry Cleaning

If you opt for a traditional solvent-based dry cleaning process, the main solvents used in this area are explained below.

Perchloroethylene

Otherwise known in the industry as 'Perc', this is the most commonly-used solvent in the UK today. Over 95% of independent dry cleaners use this solvent. However, it’s important to note that Perc is under increased pressure with many European countries to phase it out for greener alternatives.

Pros Cons
Faster Cleaning Process More statutory controls required to use and operate
Ideal for heavily soiled fabrics and work-wear processing Staff health and safety procedures required
Excellent for every day general drycleaning Annual license fee of approx. £130-£150 to use this solvent
Less machine space required Annual statutory machine service required
Saves on spotting procedures Additional costs of specialised waste disposal 
Lower start-up machine costs Perc machines cannot be converted to use other solvents
Cheaper solvent compared to alternatives to purchase   

 

Hydrocarbon

Hydrocarbon is a solvent with excellent cleaning ability, but you should expect a 25% longer processing time as additional spotting is required.

Pros Cons
Gentle cleaning action Machines larger and more expensive to purchase and run
Machine is compatible with other alternative solvents like K4  Staff health and safety procedures required
  Additional costs of specialised waste disposal
  Annual statutory machine service required
  Additional costs of specialised waste disposal 
   Annual license fee 
  More complicated machines to use 
  Longer cycle times compared to Perc
  Higher energy usage

K4

K4 is more environmentally-sound than both Perc and Hydrocarbon, but is still classified as a volatile organic compound and hazardous. It boasts a good cleaning ability which is more effective than Hydrocarbon, but not quite as effective as Perc. Stain removal and any additional detergents used with K4 have to come from the recommended range from Kreussler to ensure compatibility. If you are considering this option, we normally recommend that customers invest in our multi-solvent machine – that way you have the option of switching between different solvents if needed, rather than having to buy a new machine.

Pros Cons
Better cleaning power than Hydrocarbon Less cleaning power than either 'Perc'
  Machines more expensive to purchase
  The solvent is more expensive than 'Perc' or 'Hydrocarbon'
  Annual license fee of £130-£150 per year
  Staff health and safety procedures required
  Must use additional detergents and spotting liquids from same range to ensure compatibility
  Annual statutory machine service required
  Additional costs of specialised waste disposal
  High energy consumption
  More complicated machines to use

 

Wet Cleaning

What does it mean?  Wet Cleaning has been around since the 90s, but it is not to be confused with laundry cleaning as there are some inherent differences. Our Wet Cleaning systems use water and specially-formulated detergents to clean traditional ‘dry clean only’ fabrics. So it does the same as Perc, Hydrocarbon and K4, but does not use solvents, only water and soaps.

Pros Cons
Environmentally sound as the system does not use solvents, only detergents that can be discharged through the normal drainage Not 100% of all dryclean only items can be processed
No waste collection requirements therefore no on-costs  
No statutory controls to run the system  
No licence required  
Pleasant working environment for workers  
Natural finish to fabrics  
Wet cleaning machines can be used for standard laundry services including duvet and services washes   
No annual statutory machine service required, although an annual service is recommended the time the service takes is much shorter. Therefore the cost is significantly reduced  
Additional business opportunities/revenue streams, as items like leathers, suede, wedding dresses, trainers and Ugg boots can be processed successfully  
Energy efficient on both water and electricity  

 

Laundry

Laundry fabrics are fabrics that are not ‘dry clean only’ items, but still need to be cleaned. The difference between laundry and Wet Cleaning is mainly around the detergents that are used and the garments cleaned. Many dry cleaners offer a laundry service to their clients, with shirts and flat work (table clothes and sheeting) generating a significant revenue stream.

Pros Cons
Environmentally sound as the system does not use solvents, only detergents that can be discharged through the normal drainage Dryclean only items cannot be processed using laundry equipment, unless using a Wet Cleaning system that can process both
No waste collection requirements therefore no on-costs  
No statutory controls to run the system  
No licence required  
No annual statutory machine service required although an annual service is recommended  
Additional business opportunities/revenue streams for business to business ventures  

 

Pixie Green undergo complete refurbishment

Pixie Green Dry Cleaning & Laundrette were keen to completely revamp their business and deliver a range of high quality services, including dry cleaning, Wet Cleaning, ironing, alterations and more, using only the best quality equipment.

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