wet-care, the substitute for dry cleaning with a special wash program, in a washing machine with precise injection of chemical detergents and fibre protecting silicons, which can include a reproofing cycle for water and fire proof materials.

wet-care wash program

BUT due to the reduction in the chemicals available to the dry cleaning and laundry industry (due to the International CFC reduction and control protocols, as a result of the damage to the Ozone Layer by flurocarbons in the past), there has been a rise in the need for a wet-care process and range of washing machines with accurate detergent pumps, which can deliver a range of up to six different products accurately.

The Wet-Care system was devised to give the same protection for the fabrics as would have been cleaned in a dry cleaning machine, which in water would normally be damaged beyond repair, but because of the fine control of the wash process and detergent and fibre coating/protecting chemicals with the temperature and mechancical action, throughout the whole program this damage is reduced to nil.

Can you imagine placing a fully lined, woolen, mens suite into your domestic washing machine at home or the one in the laundramat; and what it would look like after the final spin?

Well with the the wet-care washing process the linings and stitching are protected, and the suit will look like new after drying and pressing.

I know because I had one of my suits (100% wool with viscose lining and cotton pockets) washed this way by Atlantic Dry Cleaners in Southampton UK about 20 years ago when we sold the first machines in the UK, there had been others installed before these machines; but only on trial for free, ours was was the first to be ordered and sold, it was of course a Miele machine. Using the Kreusler chemical injection system of peristaltic pumps.

The only things you had to avoid was glued stiffennings around the colar area, which can occur in cheaper suites where a hessian inner linning to the collar will break down in the water. Otherwise this system is a very good answer to dry cleaning needs where it is impossible to run the machine, for example where gas heated tumble dryers are close by.

It was a marvellous process for wedding dresses, although most wedding dresses only get used once, they are normally washed and put away for posterity and sometimes used by daughters and grandaughters. With wedding dresses the items glued to the bodice or skirt such as jewels, beads and sequins are aproblem but if the are sewn onto the garment all should be OK.

Miele Professional UK

Re-proofing and the wet care fabric care system.

As was mentioned above as well as washing the clothes that could not normally be washed safely in a washing machine, the wet-care process also allows you to re-proof water proof/resistant garments such as sports ware and macintosh type clothing.

We are also able to protect flame retardent properties in the emergency service uniforms

Fire service and paramedic/emergency service uniforms

After the wash program and spin and rinse, the items are then ready for the tumble dryer; where if there was a re-proofing product brought into the final rinse as in a fabric conditioner in a normal wash program, the re-proofing is finalised in the tumble dryer, which cures the material at a controlled temperature.

This is one area where it is important if the machines are steam heated (which is frequently the case in these situations); then adequate steam has to be maintained to keep the temperature up without loss within the tumble dryer.

This means a large enough condensing boiler has to be installed on day one to cope with all the finishing machines, presses etc., Direct injection into the washing machines, all this without losing steam pressure, which could jeopardise the efficacy of the tumble dryer and the quality of the re-proofing of the finished article.

Programs have been designed specifically for such items as ski-ware,duvets, down filled quilted clothing with new programs becoming available all the time.

For that reason companies such as Miele fit all their machines with computer programmers, which can be upgraded for the foreseeable future, a "future Proof machine".

This brings the control of wash dry and re-proofing programs under the management control and this allows the simple controls to be used for a lower skill level for the operator if neccessary as these can be locked and made "idiot Proof".

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