iClean Dry Cleaners

SCHOOL SPECIAL!!

All school uniforms 25% OFF dry cleaning!
Offer ends 11th October 2025.

We know how expensive it is to raise kids, so this is our way of helping to ease the pressure.

https://www.icleandrycleaners.com.au/school-special

Why Wool Swells and Shrinks When Washed and Not in Dry Cleaning
Wool is made of protein, primarily keratin, which is a long-chain molecule composed of repeating amino acids. These amino acids have polar side groups, such as:

–COOH (carboxyl group)

–NH₂ (amino group)

–OH (hydroxyl group)

These polar groups can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.

Water (H₂O) is a polar solvent, meaning it has a slightly negative oxygen atom and slightly positive hydrogen atoms. These charges allow water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with the polar groups in wool. This interaction allows water to pe*****te the wool fiber, disrupting internal bonds and causing the wool to swell. Upon drying or agitation, the fibers can shrink and felt due to fiber movement and re-bonding.

On the other hand, the dry cleaning solvent perchloroethylene (Perc, C₂Cl₄) is a non-polar solvent, meaning its electrons are evenly distributed with no charge separation. As a result, it cannot form hydrogen bonds with wool and does not pe*****te the fiber. Perc remains mostly on the surface, allowing it to clean without causing swelling or shrinkage.