In recent years, customers have continued to increase their requirements for garment quality and eco-friendly care. Traditional dry cleaning machines are undergoing new technical upgrades. They are converting from high-pollution characteristics into eco-friendly, safe, and smart trends. At the same time, the care demands of high-end fabrics are rising. Smart laundry equipment has become a critical choice for laundry shops to improve their services. This article will introduce three dry cleaning machines and discuss the future trends of the laundry industry.
Three Dry Cleaning Machine Types
- Perchloroethylene (PERC) dry cleaning machine
PERC machines are among the most mature dry cleaning machines. They have the longest history of commercial application. They are produced by almost all laundry equipment manufacturers. This type of machine uses PERC as its primary solvent. It has strong cleaning performance and is non-flammable. This dry cleaning machine has high operational stability.
However, its major drawbacks are visible. PERC has carcinogenic risks. It may severely damage soil and air quality. At present, it has been restricted in many regions, such as parts of the United States and Taiwan, China. Environmental regulations have also become increasingly strict. This traditional machine has gradually been phased out in the laundry industry. It has poor adaptability, which is compatible with only a single solvent. So it cannot meet diverse laundry care requirements.
- Open-type hydrocarbon dry cleaning machine
Around 2000, China introduced open-type hydrocarbon dry cleaning machines from Japan. This machine mainly uses hydrocarbon solvent. Compared with PERC, it is gentler on fabrics. It features separate washing, extraction, and drying processes. During the drying process, solvent vapors are directly discharged. It has no recovery system. So it easily causes environmental pollution problems.
This type of machine has low manufacturing barriers and costs. In the early years, it was favored by small laundry shops. But it fails to meet the environmental standards. In China, it has already been included in the phase-out list. At present, it has gradually withdrawn from both domestic and international markets. At the same time, hydrocarbon solvents provide low cleaning performance. Therefore, this machine easily develops unpleasant odors, which requires high maintenance costs. It also cannot meet the requirements of high-end laundry care applications.
- Fully enclosed multi-solvent dry cleaning machine
This machine opens a new era of eco-friendly dry cleaning. It integrates washing, extraction, and drying processes. Solvent vapors produced by drying can be converted into liquids through a condensation system without direct emissions.
Unlike traditional machines, it has excellent solvent compatibility. Various eco-friendly solvents can be used except for PERC. In the laundry industry, the mainstream solvents include ExxonMobil hydrocarbon solvents (flash point ≥60°C), DF2000/D60 hydrocarbon solvents, Yezhan, and SENSENE modified alcohol solvents. Low-cost solvents with low flash points have safety risks. It is not recommended for laundry shops. Among them, the modified alcohol solvent has a high cleaning performance without unpleasant odors. It is suitable for a wide range of fabrics. It has become a mainstream choice in the industry.
Diverse Garment Care Upgrades
Currently, dry cleaning machines are undergoing upgrades. At the same time, the advanced wet cleaning requirements of fabrics (high-end cotton, linen, silk, and wool) continue to increase. Professional smart commercial washers have become key machines for laundry shops to improve service quality and efficiency.
Kingstar SHS-2025P wet cleaning machine is designed for commercial laundry care applications. It is equipped with a self-developed smart washing system. It meets the requirements of various premium fabrics. It also overcomes the limitations of traditional laundry equipment.
This machine has outstanding advantages and garment care capability. The advanced program control system supports more than 70 customized wash cycles. Parameters, such as main wash speed, high-extraction speed, water level, wash time, and temperature, can be adjusted. Programs can also be transferred and reused across machines. The ultra-low-speed rotation design (a minimum speed of 15 RPM) protects delicate, premium fabrics like mulberry silk, wool, and cashmere. The overall gentle washing minimizes fabric damage. This machine is equipped with a 12.1-inch HD touchscreen, which is user-friendly. It supports automatic chemical dosing. One-touch operation starts the whole washing process. This reduces operator workload as well as improves laundry care efficiency.
In terms of manufacturing processes and materials, the Kingstar wet cleaning machine adheres to high-end commercial standards. 304 stainless steel is used for inner drum, outer tub, and all water-contact components to prevent rust-related issues. Water quality and laundry safety can also be guaranteed for a long time. The loading opening interface uses a rolled-edge finishing process with a precise gap within 4-6 mm. This is better than similar products from Europe and the United States. The convex glass door effectively prevents garment zippers and buttons from getting stuck. This comprehensively protects garment integrity. Kingstar wet cleaning machine is suitable for various professional laundry shops and other high-frequency commercial laundry sites worldwide.
Conclusion
In a word, the laundry care industry is moving toward such a development trend: phase out high-pollution equipment, promote eco-friendly solutions, and upgrade toward smart systems. PERC machines cause serious pollution, while open-type hydrocarbon machines fail to meet environmental standards. They are all at the edge of phasing out. Fully enclosed multi-solvent dry cleaning machines with eco-friendly modified alcohol solvents have become a key direction in the dry cleaning industry.
At the same time, advanced smart wet cleaning machines have become essential equipment for modern laundry shops. They have many advantages, including garment protection, high efficiency, smart operation, durability, and stability. Therefore, laundries can improve their service quality and expand laundry categories.
Q&A
Q1: What dry cleaning machines are the first to be phased out in laundry shops?
A1: The open-type hydrocarbon dry cleaning machine should be phased out first. It has no recovery system. Solvent vapors are directly discharged. It does not meet the environmental standards at home and abroad. This machine has been included in the phase-out list. At the same time, it has low cleaning performance and easily develops odors. It fails to meet high-end laundry requirements.
Q2: Why can low-cost solvents with low flash points not be used for multi-solvent dry cleaning machines?
A2: The compliant solvent of a fully enclosed multi-solvent dry cleaning machine should have a flash point of at least 60℃. Solvents with low flash points are flammable and explosive. During operations, the equipment has fire and explosion risks. This seriously threatens operational safety.
Q3: Why are Kingstar wet cleaning machines suitable for high-end delicate fabrics?
A3: The machine has customized smart washing systems. It provides ultra-gentle rotation speed (15 RPM). It also supports multi-dimensional parameter adjustment. It is suitable for delicate fabrics (silk and cashmere). 304 stainless steel and an anti-jamming design ensure laundry safety and garment integrity.
