Quick answer
Dry cleaning done properly is safe for garments and for the people who wear them. The risk comes from poorly run plants and strong-smelling solvents. Choose a cleaner that uses a modern, non-toxic process such as Green Earth Cleaning, dries garments fully before packing and can tell you what it uses.
Key takeaways
- The traditional solvent, perchloroethylene or "perc", has a strong smell and is being phased out in several countries.
- A chemical smell on a returned garment is a sign it was not fully dried or aired.
- Green Earth Cleaning uses a silicone-based solvent that is non-toxic and odour-free.
- Ask your cleaner which solvent they use; a confident answer is a good sign.
What solvents do dry cleaners use?
The most common traditional solvent is perchloroethylene, usually called perc. It cleans well but has a distinctive smell and has been restricted or phased out in several countries because of health and environmental concerns. Hydrocarbon solvents are another option, and newer processes such as Green Earth Cleaning use a liquid silicone-based solvent.
Why do some garments come back smelling of chemicals?
A strong smell usually means the garment was not dried or aired long enough, or the solvent is old and poorly filtered. A correctly run cycle leaves garments with little or no smell. If a garment smells, hang it somewhere airy before wearing and tell the cleaner.
What is Green Earth Cleaning?
Green Earth Cleaning is a process built on a silicone-based solvent that is non-toxic and odour-free. It is gentle on dyes, beads, sequins and delicate weaves, which is why it suits wedding wear, silk and wool. It is the process we use at our plant in Sector 82, Mohali.
Is it safe for children and sensitive skin?
A garment that has been fully dried and aired should be fine for most people, including children. If someone in your household has very sensitive skin or allergies, choose an odour-free process, air new-returned garments for a few hours and wash baby clothes in the usual way rather than dry cleaning them.
What the phase-outs tell us
Perc has been restricted in several places, including parts of the United States and Europe, because of concerns about health and groundwater. That has pushed the industry towards alternatives, and many modern plants now run solvents such as hydrocarbons or silicone-based fluids. The takeaway for customers is simple: ask which solvent your cleaner uses, and prefer an odour-free process.
How a responsible plant protects customers and staff
Modern machines are closed systems. The solvent circulates inside the machine, is filtered and recovered, and garments are dried in the same enclosed cycle until little or no solvent remains. Good plants also ventilate the working area, maintain their equipment and keep chemicals properly stored. These are the things that make the difference between a plant that smells of solvent and one that does not.
How to air and handle freshly cleaned clothes
Remove the plastic cover when you get home and hang the garment in an airy room for a few hours before storing it. Plastic traps moisture and any trace of solvent, and it can yellow white garments over time. If a garment smells strongly, air it longer and let the cleaner know so they can rerun the drying cycle.
Dry cleaning and the environment
Dry cleaning uses very little water compared with washing, and a closed machine recovers and reuses most of its solvent. A non-toxic solvent such as the one in Green Earth Cleaning is also easier on the environment than a harsher one. Cleaning garments only when they need it, rather than after every wear, is the simplest way to reduce your own footprint and make clothes last longer.
Questions to ask your dry cleaner
- Which solvent do you use?
- Are stains inspected and treated by hand?
- Are garments dried and checked before packing?
- What is your liability if a garment is damaged?
Our answers are in the garment care and liability policy.
