dry-cleaning

The customer picks up his suit from the dry-cleaning.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Process of cleaning with chemicals: "dry-cleaning" refers to the process of cleaning clothes, fabrics, or textiles using chemical solvents (such as perchloroethylene) instead of water, typically to remove stains or clean delicate materials that cannot be washed with water.
   • Items sent for such cleaning: By extension, "dry-cleaning" can also mean the items (e.g., suits, dresses) that are taken to a dry-cleaning business for this service.

Usage Examples

• (The process of chemical cleaning for delicate fabric.)
• (The items that have been cleaned using this method.)

Advanced Usage

• "to send something for dry-cleaning": to arrange for an item to be cleaned by a professional dry-cleaning service.

  • He sent his silk shirt for dry-cleaning to avoid shrinkage. (He had the shirt professionally cleaned with solvents.)

• "dry-cleaning solvent": the chemical liquid used in the process.

  • The dry-cleaning solvent removed the oil stain effectively. (The chemical liquid cleaned the stain without damaging the fabric.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dry-clean (verb): to clean (something) using a chemical solvent.

  • Please dry-clean this jacket; it has a label that says "dry clean only". (Clean it using chemical methods instead of water.)

• Dry-cleaner (noun): a person or establishment that performs dry-cleaning.

  • I dropped my coat off at the dry-cleaner on Main Street. (The business that offers dry-cleaning services.)

Synonyms

• Chemical cleaning: cleaning using solvents rather than water.
• Solvent cleaning: a more technical term for the same process.

Related Idioms