The Dry Cleaning Process from Start to Finish

Dry cleaning is a process that's been around for over 200 years, with the first dry cleaner opening shop in Paris in 1825. The basic steps of dry cleaning are surprisingly simple.

The process starts with a pre-treatment step, where any stains or spots are identified and treated before the garment is cleaned. This can include using specialized cleaning solutions to remove tough stains.

The garment is then placed in a machine that uses a solvent, typically perchloroethylene (perc) or hydrocarbon, to clean the fabric. The solvent is pumped through the garment, loosening and removing dirt and stains.

The solvent is then removed from the garment, either by evaporation or through a machine that uses heat and air circulation to speed up the process.

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The dry cleaning process involves several steps to ensure your clothes are cleaned and returned to you in great condition.

First, your clothes are tagged with an identification number to prevent them from getting mixed up with others. This is typically done with a paper tag or an iron-on strip with a barcode.

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The cleaner then inspects your clothes for any missing buttons, tears, or other issues that could affect the cleaning process. They also check for items left in pockets, such as coins or keys.

Your clothes are then pre-treated for any stains, which makes it easier for the cleaner to remove them during the dry cleaning process.

Here are the main steps in the dry cleaning process:

Your clothes go through a series of steps to get cleaned, and it's fascinating to see how it all works.

The first step is tagging and inspection, where your clothes are identified with a tag or label to prevent mix-ups with other people's clothes. This is done to ensure your clothes are returned to you.

During the inspection, cleaners check for missing buttons, tears, and other issues that might affect the cleaning process. They also note any problems they find, so you're not blamed for them later.

Next, pre-treatment is done to remove stains and make them easier to clean. This involves applying a chemical solvent, vacuum, or heat to the stains.

After pre-treatment, your clothes are put through the dry cleaning process. This involves loading them into a machine that uses a solvent to clean them. The solvent is then drained, filtered, and recycled, and the clothes are rinsed in a fresh solvent solution to remove any remaining soil.

Here are the 5 steps in a concise list:

The finishing step includes pressing, folding, packaging, and other touches to get your clothes looking their best. This is the final step before your clothes are returned to you.

Dry cleaning is a great option for delicate garments that can't handle water or heat from a traditional dryer. For example, silk and wool fibers don't react well to water, making dry cleaning a better choice.

Silk and wool are just two examples of fibers that benefit from dry cleaning. This process is also good for garments that are made from these fibers.

The dry cleaning process may seem mysterious, but it's actually pretty straightforward once you understand the steps.

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Dry cleaning solvents have a long and complex history. The first dry cleaning solvent was ammonia, used by the Romans to clean woolen togas.

Perchloroethylene (PCE) is the main solvent in dry cleaning and has been in use since the 1930s. It is a highly effective cleaning solvent, nonflammable, and recyclable. PCE is also thermally stable and has a pleasant smell.

However, PCE has been linked to cancer and is classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Despite this, the exposure to PCE in a typical dry cleaner is considered far below the levels required to cause any risk.

The dry cleaning industry has been slow to adopt safer solvents. In the 1990s, the United States Environmental Protection Agency began regulating dry cleaning chemicals and encouraging commercial cleaners to use safer solvents. However, many dry cleaners still use PCE due to its effectiveness and the cost of replacing it.

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Some alternative solvents to PCE are being developed, but they may require major changes to equipment, procedures, and operator training. These alternatives include hydrocarbons, such as Exxon-Mobil's DF-2000, and glycol ethers, which are considered comparable to high flash hydrocarbons in fire hazard.

Here are some of the most commonly used dry cleaning solvents:

It's worth noting that some of these alternative solvents have their own set of drawbacks and concerns, such as being more expensive or having environmental impacts.

Commercial dry cleaning is a more cost-efficient method than having large machines at every drop-off location.

Soiled garments from different customers are cleaned together, but each item is tagged with an identification number to ensure it's returned to the right person.

Inspecting clothes for items left in pockets, rips, tears, and missing buttons is a crucial step in the commercial dry-cleaning process.

Clothes are inspected for stains and treated before the solvent-cleaning process to make removal easier and more complete.

Soiled clothes are loaded into a large drum machine and cleaned with a water-free chemical solvent.

The solvent is then drained, filtered, and recycled, and the clothes are "rinsed" in a fresh solvent solution to flush away remaining soil.

Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the commercial dry-cleaning process:

Keep in mind that dry cleaning can't always remove all stains, so it's essential to act quickly to remove any remaining stains.

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Dry cleaning can have a significant impact on the environment, but there are steps being taken to reduce its effects. Perc, a hazardous air pollutant, was once widely used in dry cleaning, but its use is being phased out.

Perc dry-cleaning facilities are strictly regulated, and most dry cleaners are moving away from perc and using less-toxic alternatives. This is due to perc's status as a known carcinogen toxic to humans and the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented a rule to prohibit the use of perc in dry cleaning by 2034, with a 10-year phase-out plan. This means that new dry-cleaning machines acquired after December 2024 cannot use perc, and its use will be phased out in third and fourth-generation machines by 2027 and 2034, respectively.

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Here are the key timelines for the phase-out of perc in dry cleaning:

CO2 is an alternative solvent that's been gaining attention for its environmental benefits. It's almost entirely nontoxic, but can be an asphyxiant risk in high concentrations.

The CO2 dry cleaning process involves charging a sealed chamber with clothes, using gaseous carbon dioxide from a storage vessel to approximately 200 to 300 psi of pressure. This step is initiated to avoid thermal shock to the cleaning chamber.

The process then involves pumping liquid carbon dioxide into the chamber from a separate storage vessel, increasing the pressure to approximately 900 to 1,500 psi. This is done using a hydraulic or electrically driven pump, which preferably has dual pistons.

A sub-cooler reduces the temperature of the carbon dioxide by 2 to 3 °C below the boiling point, to prevent cavitation and premature degradation of the pump.

Carbon dioxide is a mild solvent, which lowers its ability to aggressively attack stains. This is a drawback of the CO2 cleaning method.

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Research has focused on additives to compensate for the poor solubility and conductivity of supercritical carbon dioxide. For example, 2-propanol has shown increased cleaning effects for liquid carbon dioxide, as it increases the ability of the solvent to dissolve polar compounds.

Machinery for use of CO2 is expensive, up to $90,000 more than a PCE machine, making it difficult for small businesses to afford.

Dry cleaning facilities have a significant impact on air quality, and it's essential to understand the regulations surrounding this industry. Most dry cleaners are moving away from perchloroethylene (PCE), a hazardous air pollutant and known carcinogen.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented strict regulations to reduce PCE emissions and protect worker health and the environment. In 2006, the perc NESHAP was amended to further reduce PCE emissions.

Dry cleaners using petroleum-based solvents may or may not be subject to New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) JJJ, which applies to facilities operating a transfer machine with a dryer capacity of 84 pounds or greater. Closed-loop systems and those using non-petroleum solvents are exempt from this regulation.

To comply with regulations, perc dry cleaners must file an initial notification for the perc NESHAP and use modern dry-to-dry machines equipped with a refrigerated condenser or equivalent control device. They must also inspect the system weekly for PCE leaks and maintain records of PCE purchases and monthly running totals.

Here's a breakdown of the key timelines for the phase-out of PCE in dry cleaning:

Most state SBEAPs have developed compliance-assistance calendars to help perc dry cleaners maintain these strict recordkeeping requirements. Contact your state SBEAP for a state-specific compliance calendar.

Dry cleaning has a rich history that spans centuries. Thomas Jennings, a black freedman and tailor in New York City, was granted a patent for a process called dry scouring in 1821.

This early method involved removing dirt and grease from clothing while maintaining its original shape. Unfortunately, the details of his method were lost due to a fire in 1836.

In 1855, Jean Baptiste Jolly, a French dye-works owner, discovered the benefits of using kerosene to clean clothes after his maid accidentally spilled it on a tablecloth. He began offering this new service, which he called "dry cleaning."

The dry-cleaning industry as we know it today is relatively new, developing over the past 75 years in the United States.

The demand for environmentally safe products has increased in recent years as a result of government regulations and greater consumer awareness of environmental issues.

Many dry cleaners are now looking for alternative solvents to replace perc, which has led to the development of new solvents like silicone and corn-based chemicals, as well as hydrocarbon-based solvents.

The EPA and organizations like the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at the University of Massachusetts Lowell are encouraging dry cleaners to switch to professional wet cleaning, which uses water and biodegradable detergents in computer-controlled machines.

Some dry cleaners who've made the switch to wet cleaning have reported savings in energy costs and water use, according to the Toxics Use Reduction Institute.

King County in Washington state has offered grants to dry cleaners to help cover the estimated $40,000 to $60,000 cost of switching to wet cleaning, making it more accessible to those who want to make the change.

Advances in wet cleaning systems have made it possible to handle most fabrics, making it a viable alternative to conventional dry cleaning.

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