Definition

Noun: 1. A commercial service for cleaning clothes and fabrics using chemical solvents instead of water: This refers to the business, process, or establishment itself. 2. Clothes or fabrics cleaned by this process: This refers to the items that have been cleaned.

Usage

The term is used as a non-count (mass) noun when referring to the service or process. It can be used as a count noun when referring to the cleaned items (e.g., "I picked up my dry cleanings").

Examples

• Referring to the service/process:
  • This delicate suit requires dry cleaning.
  • I'm taking the curtains to the dry cleaning. (referring to the establishment)
  • The label says "dry clean only." (verb form used as instruction)
• Referring to the cleaned items:
  • Please pick up the dry cleaning on your way home.
  • My dry cleaning is ready.

Advanced Usage

• "Dry-clean" (verb): The act of cleaning with chemical solvents.
  • You should dry-clean that wool coat.
• "Dry-cleanable" (adjective): Describing an item suitable for this process.
  • Is this jacket dry-cleanable?

Variants and Related Words

• Dry-cleaner (noun): A person who owns or works in a dry-cleaning business, or the establishment itself.
  • The dry-cleaner removed the stain perfectly.
• Dry-cleaned (adjective): Describing items that have undergone the process.
  • He wore a freshly dry-cleaned shirt.

Synonyms

• Professional cleaning (general)
• Solvent cleaning (technical)

Notes

The core concept is the use of non-aqueous solvents (like perchloroethylene) to clean materials that would be damaged by water and traditional washing. It is the standard care method for many delicate, structured, or non-washable fabrics.

Noun

1. the act of cleaning (fabrics) with a solvent other than water