Book review

A guide to modern drycleaning

1 November 2010



The Drycleaning Technology Centre’s latest publication sets out the what, why and how of modern drycleaning


The Drycleaner’s Handbook, published by the Drycleaning Technology Centre, sets out the technical knowledge required to operate a modern drycleaning business successfully and safely.

It is intended to provide a comprehensive guide for shop floor operators rather than for the unit manager and is therefore pitched at the skill level of The Guild intermediate and NVQ Level Two.

Many of the tasks carried out in drycleaning shops will be specific to the particular business and based on the methods required by the management.

However, there are many principles that are common to all drycleaning units.

As the authors explain in the preface, the book does not aim to be an all-encompassing training guide – for example, it will not turn the operator into an instant expert in stain removal – but it does set out to explain clearly what can go wrong,why it has gone wrong and how the operator can prevent it from happening in future.

The chapters give detailed step-by-step instructions on how cleaning should be carried out, the use of equipment, safety precautions and recommendations for maintaining the equipment.

At the end of each of the six main chapters, there is a list of questions that allows readers to test themselves on how much of the information they have absorbed. Answers to these are given at the end of the book

The handbook contains colour illustrations, which highlight key points in the text, and gives a full glossary of terms.

The handbook is broken down into six main chapters:

Health and safety in drycleaning

This includes advice on the control of substances hazardous to health and a guide to drycleaning solvents, chemicals, detergents and stain removal reagents.

There is also clear advice on maintaining a safe working environment that highlights fire risks and explains how to avoid electrical and scalding hazards. The chapter advises on safer manual handling, accident accident prevention and reporting, hygiene at work and security.

Classifying items and making up loads

This chapter examines checking and handling items before cleaning and effective methods of dealing with trimmings and accessories.

It also deals with classification and care labels, garment construction, foreign bodies and lost property and garment marking and identification. The chapter also discusses the potential risks of handling foul or infected items.

Stain removal

Topics covered include stain classification and treatments for soiling.

The authors examine the main stain removal reagents and explain why pH measurement is important to the drycleaner.

The chapter covers fibre and stain identification, types of stain and underlines the importance of testing fabrics and reagents before treating a stain.

It also looks at the use of steam, water and compressed air in stain removal, precautions for sensitive fabrics and sets out post treatment to remove stubborn stains.

Machine drycleaning

The chapter describes the drycleaning process, explains how the machine works and the principles underlying solvent purification.

The importance of operator machine maintenance and solvent safety are explained and the chapter also covers loading and operating the machine, essential checks and trouble shooting.

Finishing

Topics covered include safe start-up, general principles for pressing and the use of equipment including free-steam presses, professional ironing tables, open steam-air and enclosed steam-air formers/rotary cabinet formers and hot-head presses.

Solvent emissions

The authors introduce the requirements of Solvent Emissions Directive. The chapter covers maintenance, start-up and shut-down routines, removing water from the water separator, emptying the solvent purification still, re-coating a powder filter, changing a cartridge filter or carbon sack, cleaning, the primary water separators and checking detergent dosing.




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