Technology in professional garment care has changed considerably. So has what the industry understands about the cleaning processes behind it.
At LABADA, we chose to move away from traditional solvent-based dry-cleaning systems and toward professional wet cleaning.
That does not mean putting delicate garments into an ordinary washing machine. Professional wet cleaning uses programmable commercial equipment to carefully control water, detergent, temperature, mechanical action and other variables according to the textile being processed.
The Equipment Behind Our Process
One of the machines supporting our professional wet-cleaning process is the Grandimpianti GWM/GWN Wavy professional washer.
Grandimpianti describes its patented DWS dynamic weighing system as a way to optimize energy, water and detergent use based on the actual amount of laundry loaded. The manufacturer states that this system can save up to 50% of resources and that the Wavy GWM/GWN range is designed for 96% recyclability.
For us, that fits a practical goal: use modern equipment that helps reduce unnecessary resource consumption while maintaining professional textile care.
Why Move Away From Solvent-Based Dry Cleaning?
Traditional professional dry cleaning historically relied heavily on perchloroethylene, commonly called PERC or PCE. The industry later adopted other alternatives, including hydrocarbon, siloxane and glycol-ether systems.
Those alternatives are not all the same and should not be treated as if they have identical health or environmental profiles. What they have in common is that they remain solvent-based cleaning systems.
LABADA chose a different direction: a water-based professional wet-cleaning process rather than simply replacing one dry-cleaning solvent with another.
PERC and Why the Industry Has Changed
In Canada, PERC is listed as a toxic substance under Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and its use in dry cleaning is subject to specific regulations intended to reduce releases to the environment.
This history is one reason the garment-care industry has continued to explore newer technologies and alternatives.
We do not suggest that any cleaning process has zero environmental impact. Water, energy and detergents still need to be used responsibly.
Our approach is simply to keep improving: use better process control, reduce unnecessary resource use, and reduce our reliance on traditional dry-cleaning solvents.
A More Modern Direction for Garment Care
Professional wet cleaning allows us to combine textile knowledge with programmable commercial equipment designed for controlled, repeatable cleaning.
For LABADA, this is not about claiming perfection. It is about choosing a process we believe is a more modern, resource-conscious and responsible direction for professional garment care.
Learn more about LABADA's professional wet-cleaning and garment-care services at labada.ca.
Sources
Grandimpianti GWM/GWN Wavy professional washing machines
Environment and Climate Change Canada: PERC regulations for dry cleaning