Non-toxic garment care using biodegradable detergents and computer-controlled precision.
Wet cleaning is not machine washing. It is a professional cleaning method that uses water and biodegradable detergents in computer-controlled machines. Temperature, agitation, and moisture levels are regulated at a precision ordinary washing machines cannot reach. The method is gentler on natural fibres than solvent-based dry cleaning, kinder to the environment, and often more effective on water-soluble stains.
Wet cleaning is our primary method at BLANC for most garments. It is the reason we can clean silk, cashmere, wool, and linen repeatedly without the fibre damage that conventional dry cleaning causes over time.
What wet cleaning is
Wet cleaning uses water as the cleaning agent rather than chemical solvents. The difference from home washing is control. Professional wet cleaning machines regulate every variable: water temperature to within a single degree, drum agitation speed and duration calibrated to fabric weight, detergent dosage matched to fibre type, and drying conditions set to prevent shrinkage.
The detergents are biodegradable. The process produces no hazardous waste. Garments come back softer and fresher than solvent-cleaned equivalents, because no chemical residue remains in the fibre. Non-toxic garment cleaning at this level of precision is what distinguishes professional wet cleaning from any domestic alternative.
How wet cleaning works
The garment is inspected on arrival. The fabric is identified. Any staining is pre-treated by hand using agents chosen for the specific stain type. The machine programme is then selected to suit the fabric and construction. After cleaning, the garment is dried under controlled conditions and finished by hand.
The entire process is calibrated to the individual piece, not to the batch. A silk dress and a wool suit require different programmes, different temperatures, and different drying conditions. Both are cleaned to the same standard, but through different settings.
Wet cleaning vs dry cleaning
When dry cleaning is the right choice
Conventional dry cleaning uses perchloroethylene or hydrocarbon solvents. These dissolve oil-based stains effectively. They are the correct choice for certain garments where water contact must be avoided entirely, and for specific oil-based or grease-based marks that water and detergent cannot reach.
When wet cleaning is the better method
Wet cleaning excels in a different area. It handles water-soluble stains more effectively than solvents: perspiration, food, drink, body oils, and the everyday marks a wardrobe accumulates through wear. It is the preferred method for wool, silk, linen, cashmere, and rayon, because these natural fibres respond well to water-based cleaning and are gradually weakened by repeated solvent exposure. Wet cleaning leaves no chemical residue in the fibre, it preserves colour more reliably, and is gentler on the garment over its lifetime.
How we choose at BLANC
At BLANC, we choose the method that suits the garment. Wet cleaning is our default for most pieces. Solvent-based methods remain available where the fabric or the stain requires them. Honesty about when each method is appropriate is part of the service.
Which garments benefit most
Most benefitted garments are silk dresses, cashmere coats, knitwear, wool suits, linen shirts, fine cotton, rayon blouses and delicate evening wear. These are the fabrics where wet cleaning delicate fabrics produces the best results, because their protein or cellulose structure is preserved by water-based cleaning and degraded by repeated solvent exposure.
We also use wet cleaning for specialist work including wedding dress cleaning, where the combination of non-toxic detergents and low-temperature water is the safest approach for silk, lace, and beaded embellishment.
Wet cleaning at BLANC
Wet cleaning is not an add-on at BLANC. It is the foundation. We chose it because it produces a better clean, protects the garment, and leaves no chemical residue. We have used it as our primary method across our garment cleaning service since opening in 2013.
Every garment is inspected individually. Every piece is hand-finished. The detergents are biodegradable, the methods are eco-friendly, and the results speak for themselves. For clients searching for eco-conscious cleaning in London, wet cleaning is the method, and BLANC is where it is done properly.
Complimentary collection and delivery
Complimentary collection and delivery is included across central and west London. Schedule a pickup online in under a minute, choose a time that works for you, and we collect your garments, clean them, and return them to your door.
The service covers Marylebone, Chelsea, South Kensington, Notting Hill, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Belgravia, and the surrounding affluent neighbourhoods.
Book a wet cleaning collection.
Book online at blancliving.co, call 020 8004 2630, or visit Chelsea, Marylebone, South Kensington, or Notting Hill.
FAQs
What is wet cleaning?
Wet cleaning is a professional cleaning method that uses water and biodegradable detergents in computer-controlled machines. It is gentler on natural fibres than solvent-based dry cleaning and produces no chemical residue.
Is wet cleaning safe for delicate fabrics?
Yes. Wet cleaning is the preferred method for silk, cashmere, wool, linen, and rayon. Temperature, agitation, and moisture are all controlled to suit the specific fabric, which is what protects it.
How is wet cleaning different from dry cleaning?
Dry cleaning uses chemical solvents. Wet cleaning uses water and biodegradable detergents. Wet cleaning is gentler on natural fibres, more effective on water-soluble stains, and leaves no chemical residue. Solvent cleaning remains appropriate for certain oil-based stains and garments that cannot tolerate water.
Can you wet clean a suit or a silk dress?
Yes. Wool suits and silk dresses are among the garments that benefit most from wet cleaning. The process preserves fibre structure and colour better than repeated solvent cleaning.
Is wet cleaning more eco-friendly?
Yes. Wet cleaning uses biodegradable detergents that produces no hazardous waste, and does not rely on perchloroethylene or hydrocarbon solvents. It is the most environmentally responsible professional cleaning method available.
