WHAT IS DRY CLEANING?

In spite of its name, drycleaning is not completely dry. The clothes get just as wet as a load of wash. The word Dry cleaning came about because the solvents used were not water based, hence the name dryclean. The chemical perc (perchlorethylene) is actually an organic solvent used to maintain and clean clothes in the drycleaning process.

Today 90% of all drycleaners use perc. It is completely non-flammable and non-combustible, of relatively low toxity, and can be efficiently used and recycled.

The drycleaning process begins with pretreatment of stains using special cleaning agents. The pretreatment helps loosen any soil that may be on the fabric so that the perc can be more effective.

During the dryclean process, the clothes are put into a steel basin that is perforated, just like your home washer, which allows the solvent in and then it forces the solvent out in a centrifugal effect, so that the solvent and the dirt it catches can be removed. The perc is then funneled through a filter so that it may be reused. Thus creating low costs for both the drycleaner and the customer!

Drycleaning is important for delicate fabrics that may not do well in washing. Some fabrics do not react well to both soap and water. Reading the care labels is vital in keeping your clothes like new.


Among the advantages of drycleaning is its ability to dissolve greases and soils in a way water cannot. The dryclean process helps your garments stay in a "like new" condition using precautions to prevent loss of color, shrinkage and fabric distortion.