What is the main difference between a laundry and a dry cleaner?

The fundamental difference is the solvent. A laundry uses water and detergents to clean. A dry cleaner uses chemical solvents (dry cleaning) for garments that deform or get damaged by water, such as suits or delicate silks.

Can I wash a suit in a self-service laundromat?

No. Suits usually have interlinings and internal structures that deform with water and the mechanical action of the drum. They must strictly go to a dry cleaner for chemical cleaning.

Which is cheaper: dry cleaning or self-service laundry?

Self-service laundry is considerably cheaper. By charging per load (volume) rather than per item, the cost per kilo of clothes is much lower than that of a dry cleaner or full-service laundry.

How long does it take to wash a duvet in self-service?

In a self-service laundromat like LaColada, washing and drying a large duvet takes less than 1 hour (approx. 30 min wash + 20 min dry), compared to the 2-3 day wait at a dry cleaner.

Laundry vs. Dry Cleaning vs. Laundromat: Where Should I Take My Clothes?

Visual comparison between dry cleaning machines and self-service washing machines

You are standing in front of the shop. You have a bag with a Nordic duvet, a suit jacket, and a week's worth of dirty laundry. You look at the sign: Laundry? Dry Cleaning? Self-Service? We often use these terms as synonyms, but I assure you that confusing them is the fastest way to shrink a wool sweater to doll size or warp that expensive blazer.

As a technician who has spent over a decade repairing these machines and managing the service here in Ponferrada, I see this confusion daily. People walk into the self-service area wanting to "dry clean" a pair of trousers, or customers take cotton sheets to the dry cleaner, paying an unnecessary premium.

Let's settle this once and for all. Here are the real differences between laundry, dry cleaning, and self-service laundromats, and how to decide where to go in less than 30 seconds.

The Quick Summary (If You're in a Rush)

If you don't want to read the entire technical explanation, follow this golden rule:

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Self-Service Laundromat (Us): Use for daily clothes, duvets, blankets, towels, and washable curtains.
Advantage: Speed (1 hour), low price, and high capacity.
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Dry Cleaner: Mandatory for suits, silk, virgin wool, party dresses, or items with the "Dry Clean Only" label (circle).
Advantage: Does not deform structured garments and removes complex stains.
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Full-Service Laundry (Drop-off): The same as self-service, but they do it for you.
Advantage: Convenience (you get it back folded), although it is slower and more expensive.

1. Dry Cleaning: It's Not Washing, It's Restoring

The dry cleaner is the hospital for delicate clothes. The major technical difference is that they do not use water as the main solvent. Hence the term "Dry Cleaning."

Why? Because certain natural fibers (wool, silk) swell when wet and shrink when dry. Furthermore, structured garments like suit jackets have interlinings glued inside that, with water and centrifugal force, would detach, creating bubbles and irreparable deformities.

The Process: They use chemical solvents (historically perchloroethylene, though now milder hydrocarbons are often used) that dissolve grease and dirt without affecting the fiber's shape.
The Finish: 50% of the price at a dry cleaner goes into ironing and manual stain removal (spotting). They return the garment with perfect drape and shape.
When to go: Suits, wool coats, ceremonial dresses, ties.

2. Self-Service Laundromat: Industrial Power in Your Hands

This is where we come in. A self-service laundromat is, technically, an industrial laundry facility made available to the general public.

Unlike dry cleaning, here we do use water, soaps, and softeners. The chemical process is similar to your home machine, but on steroids.

Why is it different from washing at home?

Machinery: Our washing machines are not domestic. They have huge drums that allow clothes to "fall" and be cleaned by real mechanical action, not by being stuffed together.
Products: At LaColada Ponferrada, for example, detergents and active oxygen are injected automatically. They are more concentrated industrial formulas than what you find in the supermarket.
Capacity and Speed: You can wash 16 kg of clothes (3 home loads) and dry them in less than an hour total.

It is the winning option for duvets, blankets, sofa covers, and the weekly battle laundry. It is the most economical option because you pay for the use of the machine, not per item.

Is it your first time?

Check out our guide on how a self-service laundromat works step by step to lose the fear of industrial machines.

3. Traditional Laundry (Full-Service / Drop-off)

This sits somewhere in the middle. They use the same water process as self-service (sometimes even the same machines), but with assisted service. You drop off the bag, they weigh it, wash it, dry it, and return it folded.

It is ideal for restaurant linens, work uniforms, or if you simply don't have time to be present. The trade-off is that the price goes up due to labor, and turnaround times are usually 24 to 48 hours.

Different types of textiles require different washing processes

Comparison Table: What Should I Choose?

Variable	Self-Service	Dry Cleaner
Cleaning Agent	Water + Detergent + Active Oxygen	Chemical Solvents (Dry)
Type of Clothes	Cotton, synthetics, bedding, duvets	Wool, silk, suits, party dresses
Total Time	~1 Hour (Wash+Dry)	2 to 4 days
Cost	$ (Very economical / per load)	$$$ (High / per item)
Shrinkage Risk	Low (if correct temp chosen)	Minimal (ideal for delicates)

Frequently Asked Questions I Get at the Shop

Can I wash my suit at LaColada?

Absolutely not. Even if you see internet tutorials, the risk of deforming the shoulder pads and wrinkling the interlining is 90%. A suit always goes to the dry cleaner.

What about a feather duvet?

Yes! In fact, self-service is better than a dry cleaner for this. Feathers need a lot of space to move and dry properly so they don't clump. Our large dryers are perfect for "fluffing" the down. just ensure you use medium/low heat.

What happens with tough stains?

In self-service, the wash is standard. If you have a mechanic's grease stain or dried wine, I recommend pre-treating it yourself before coming in, or, if the garment is very valuable, going to a dry cleaner for manual technical stain removal.

Conclusion: Every Garment Has Its Place

There is no system better than another; they are complementary services. My professional advice after years of seeing thousands of garments pass through my machines is simple:

For 90% of your laundry (work clothes, gym gear, kids' clothes, sheets, towels, and those giant duvets that don't fit at home), the self-service laundromat is the smart choice: fast, cheap, and with industrial hygiene results.

For that special 10% (your wedding suit, the nice wool coat, the silk blouse), don't risk it—pay a good dry cleaner.

Do You Have Piled Up Laundry or Duvets?

At LaColada Ponferrada (C/ San Valerio 19), we have machines ready to leave your laundry perfect in less than 1 hour. Detergent and softener included, open 365 days a year from 8:00 to 22:00. Bring your big items and save time!

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