Dry cleaning

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/dry-cleaning

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary function?To clean textiles using organic solvents instead of water
2. What is the dominant historical solvent?Perchloroethylene (perc)
3. What is dry cleaning and how does it clean clothes without water?Dry cleaning uses special liquids that are not water. These liquids dissolve oily stains because they are like dissolves like. The machine gently mixes the clothes in the liquid so the stains come out.
4. Why do some clothes need dry cleaning instead of washing with water?Some fabrics like silk, wool, and rayon can shrink or lose color when washed with water. Water can make these fibers swell or fade. Dry cleaning uses a gentle solvent that keeps the fabric shape and color.

Hydrophobic: Tending to repel or fail to mix with water; characteristic of oils and greases.
Regenerated Cellulose: A type of fiber, like rayon, made from natural cellulose but chemically processed.
Distillation: A process used to separate components of a liquid mixture by selective boiling and condensation.