Editor’s Note: This article updates EcoStreet’s original 2013 coverage, “What Are Dry Cleaners Doing to Our Environment?” While the original piece correctly identified the health and environmental hazards of traditional dry cleaning chemicals, the regulatory and technological landscape has advanced significantly since its publication.
Dry cleaning is the process of cleaning garments and textiles using chemical solvents instead of water. Historically, the overwhelming solvent of choice across the industry has been perchloroethylene (commonly known as perc or PCE).
Dry cleaning offers an effective, low-labor method for cleaning delicate fabrics like silk, wool, and structured suits that might shrink or degrade in standard washing machines. However, the environmental and health costs associated with traditional dry cleaning remain a major issue—though global regulations are actively shifting the industry away from its most hazardous practices.
The Waste and Health Hazards of Traditional Dry Cleaning
A traditional dry cleaning facility generates several hazardous waste streams, including spent solvents, contaminated soils, sludge, grease, and saturated filter media. When managed improperly, these chemical by-products pose severe risks to human health and local ecosystems.
- Cancer Classification: The U.S. EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reclassified perc from a “likely” carcinogen to a known human carcinogen (Group 1), linking occupational and ambient exposure to cancers such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer.
- Occupational Risks: Workers exposed to persistent solvent fumes face heightened risks of neurological impairment, liver dysfunction, kidney disease, and reproductive harm as outlined by OSHA Safety Guidelines.
- Residual Exposure on Clothing: Research confirms that perc residues remain in garment fibers after cleaning and off-gas into homes, leading to passive chemical exposure through everyday skin contact and inhalation.
How Regulations Have Shifted
When EcoStreet originally asked “Why is perc still being used in dry cleaning franchises?”, regulations were weak and compliance tracking was voluntary in many regions. Since then, legislative bodies have enacted strict bans and phase-outs:
- California’s Total Ban: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) fully phased out and banned the use of perchloroethylene across all dry cleaning operations statewide.
- US EPA Federal Regulations: Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the U.S. EPA established nationwide phase-out rules targeting the complete elimination of perc in commercial and residential dry cleaning setups.
- EU & UK Strict Directives: In Europe and the UK, stringent volatile organic compound (VOC) limits under EU REACH Regulations have forced high-street cleaners to replace legacy perc machinery.
Modern, Sustainable Alternatives to Perc
Driven by tighter regulations and consumer demand, the professional textile care industry has pivoted toward safer, cleaner technologies:
- Professional Wet Cleaning: The gold standard of eco-friendly garment care. It uses computer-controlled washers, specialised biodegradable detergents, and tailored drying cycles. It handles “dry-clean only” items like silk and wool without hazardous chemicals or water damage.
- Liquid Silicone (GreenEarth): Utilises liquid silicone (D5) through platforms like GreenEarth Cleaning. It is an odourless, non-toxic solvent derived from sand that breaks down harmlessly into silica, water, and carbon dioxide.
- Liquid Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Cleaning: Captures industrial CO2 by-products and pressurises them into a liquid cleaning agent. It is non-flammable, non-toxic, and recycles CO2 in a closed-loop system.
Key Differences: 2013 vs. Today
| Issue | 2013 Article Overview | Current Reality |
| Perc Regulation | Lightly regulated; widely used everywhere | Banned in states like California; phased out under US EPA and EU directives |
| Carcinogen Status | Labeled as a “likely” carcinogen | Formally reclassified as a known human carcinogen |
| Alternative Care | Experimental / niche market solutions | Wet cleaning & liquid silicone are mainstream industry standards |
| Garment Off-Gassing | Early evidence of chemical residue on clothes | Broadly documented hazard driving consumer preference for organic cleaning |