laundry

Tried this over on the subservient list, but got no response. Any help here?

I'm a clueless bachelor. On a few TV shows, Seinfeld FEX, they drop off a 
mesh laundry bag at the laundry/dry cleaner. What exactly is going on? Is 
it just dry clean clothes, regular wash clothes or a mix? If one type, do 
they stay in the bag when they are washed and dried?

I'm asking because a relative will be in a nursing home soon. They were 
there for six weeks two years ago and said some laundry garments were mixed 
up. I though of the mesh bag and wondered if this would be a solution. On 
the net I see another product called a laundry belt

I can see the value of living in a big city and just letting a shop clean 
my clothes. You save time, probably get better results, and it would save 
energy. Downside would be having enough clothes to have xx% of your laundry 
being cleaned, cost and privacy.

Kevin T. - VRWLC
Domestic idiot