Dry cleaning

Dry cleaning is any cleaning process for clothing and textiles using a chemical solvent other than water. It is used to clean fabrics
that degrade in water, and delicate fabrics that cannot withstand the rough and tumble of a washing machine and clothes dryer. It can
eliminate labor-intensive hand washing.

Unlike what its name implies, dry cleaning is not a 'dry' process. Clothes are soaked in a solvent other than water
. Tetrachloroethylene
(perchloroethylene), which the industry calls "perc," is the most widely used solvent. Alternative solvents are trichloroethane and
petroleum spirits.[1]

Contents
History
Shift to tetrachloroethylene
Infrastructure
Mechanism
Process
Solvent processing
Symbols
Solvents used
Perchloroethylene
Hydrocarbons
Trichloroethane
Supercritical CO2
Other solvents: niche, emerging, etc.
See also
References
External links

History
Modern dry cleaning's use of non-water-based solvents to remove soil and stains from clothes was reported as early as 1855. The
potential for petroleum-based solvents was recognized by French dye-works operator Jean Baptiste Jolly, who offered a new service
that became known as nettoyage à sec—i.e., dry cleaning.[2][3] Flammability concerns led William Joseph Stoddard, a dry cleaner
from Atlanta, to develop Stoddard solvent (white spirit) as a slightly lessflammable alternative to gasoline-based solvents. The use of
highly flammable petroleum solvents caused many fires and explosions, resulting in government regulation of dry cleaners. After
World War I, dry cleaners began using chlorinated solvents. These solvents were much less flammable than petroleum solvents and
had improved cleaning power.

On March 3, 1821, Thomas L. Jennings became the first African-American to be granted a United States patent. The patent was for
[4]
his invention of a cleaning process called "dry scouring", which was the precursor to dry cleaning.

Shift to tetrachloroethylene
By the mid-1930s, the dry cleaning industry had adopted tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), or PCE for short, as the solvent. It
has excellent cleaning power and is nonflammable and compatible with most garments. Because it is stable, tetrachloroethylene is
readily recycled.[1]

Infrastructure
Traditionally, the cleaning process was carried out at centralized factories. Small, local cleaners' shops received garments from
customers, sent them to the factory, and then had them returned to the shop for collection by the customer. This cycle minimized the
risk of fire or dangerous fumes created by the cleaning process. At this time, dry cleaning was carried out in two different machines
—one for the cleaning process, and the second to remove the solvent from the garments.

Machines of this era were described as vented; their drying exhausts were expelled to the atmosphere, the same as many modern
tumble-dryer exhausts. This not only contributed to environmental contamination but also much potentially reusable PCE was lost to
the atmosphere. Much stricter controls on solvent emissions have ensured that all dry cleaning machines in the Western world are
now fully enclosed, and no solvent fumes are vented to the atmosphere. In enclosed machines, solvent recovered during the drying
process is returned condensed and distilled, so it can be reused to clean further loads or safely disposed of. The majority of modern
enclosed machines also incorporate a computer-controlled drying sensor, which automatically senses when all detectable traces of
PCE have been removed. This system ensures that only small amounts of PCE fumes are released at the end of the cycle.

Mechanism
In terms of mechanism, dry cleaning selectively solubilizes stains on the article. The
solvents are non-polar and tend to selectively extract compounds that cause stains.
These stains would otherwise only dissolve in aqueous detergents mixtures at high
temperatures, potentially damaging delicate fabrics.

Structure of cellulose, the main
constituent of cotton. The many OH
groups bind water, leading to
swelling of the fabric and leading to
wrinkling, which is minimized when
these materials are treated with
tetrachloroethylene and other dry
cleaning solvents.
Non-polar solvents are also good for some fabrics, especially natural fabrics, as the
solvent does not interact with any polar groups within the fabric. Water binds to
these polar groups which results in the swelling and stretching of proteins within
fibers during laundry. Also, the binding of water molecules interferes with weak
attractions within the fiber, resulting in the loss of the fiber's original shape. After
the laundry cycle, water molecules will dry off. However, the original shape of the
fibers has already been distorted and this commonly results in shrinkage. Non-polar
solvents prevent this interaction, protecting more delicate fabrics.

The usage of an effective solvent coupled with mechanical friction from tumbling
effectively removes stains.

Process
A dry-cleaning machine is similar to a combination of a domestic washing machine and clothes dryer. Garments are placed in the
washing or extraction chamber (referred to as the 'basket' or 'drum'), which constitutes the core of the machine. The washing chamber
contains a horizontal, perforated drum that rotates within an outer shell. The shell holds the solvent while the rotating drum holds the
garment load. The basket capacity is between about 10 and 40 kg (22 to 88 lb).

During the wash cycle, the chamber is filled approximately one-third full of solvent and begins to rotate, agitating the clothing. The
solvent temperature is maintained at 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), as a higher temperature may damage it. During the
wash cycle, the solvent in the chamber (commonly known as the 'cage' or 'tackle box') is passed through a filtration chamber and then
fed back into the 'cage'. This is known as the cycle and is continued for the wash duration. The solvent is then removed and sent to a
distillation unit consisting of a boiler and condenser. The condensed solvent is fed into a separator
unit where any remaining water is separated from the solvent and then fed into the 'clean solvent'
tank. The ideal flow rate is roughly 8 liters of solvent per kilogram of garments per minute,
depending on the size of the machine.

Garments are also checked for foreign objects. Items such as plastic pens that may dissolve in the
solvent bath, damaging the textiles. Some textile dyes are "loose" and will shed dye during solvent
immersion. Fragile items, such as feather bedspreads or tasseled rugs or hangings, may be enclosed
in a loose mesh bag. The density of perchloroethylene is around 1.7 g/cm3 at room temperature A modern dry cleaning
(70% heavier than water), and the sheer weight of absorbed solvent may cause the textile to fail machine with
under normal force during the extraction cycle unless the mesh bag provides mechanical support. touchscreen and SPS
control, manufacturer
Not all stains can be removed by dry cleaning. Some need to be treated with spotting solvents — EazyClean, type
sometimes by steam jet or by soaking in special stain-remover liquids — before garments are EC124, photo taken
prior to installation
washed or dry cleaned. Also, garments stored in soiled condition for a long time are difficult to
bring back to their original color and texture.

A typical wash cycle lasts for 8–15 minutes depending on the type of garments and degree of
soiling. During the first three minutes, solvent-soluble soils dissolve into the perchloroethylene and
loose, insoluble soil comes off. It takes 10–12 minutes after the loose soil has come off to remove
the ground-in insoluble soil from garments. Machines using hydrocarbon solvents require a wash
cycle of at least 25 minutes because of the much slower rate of solvation of solvent-soluble soils. A
dry cleaning surfactant "soap" may also be added.

At the end of the wash cycle, the machine starts a rinse cycle where the garment load is rinsed with
freshly distilled solvent dispensed from the solvent tank. This pure solvent rinse prevents
discoloration caused by soil particles being absorbed back onto the garment surface from the 'dirty'
Series 3 Dry cleaning
working solvent. machine with PLC
control, manufacturer,
After the rinse cycle, the machine begins the extraction process, which recovers the solvent for
BÖWE Textile cleaning
reuse. Modern machines recover approximately 99.99% of the solvent employed. The extraction Germany
cycle begins by draining the solvent from the washing chamber and accelerating the basket to 350–
450 rpm, causing much of the solvent to spin free of the fabric. Until this time, the cleaning is done
in normal temperature, as the solvent is never heated in dry cleaning process. When no more solvent can be spun out, the machine
starts the drying cycle.

During the drying cycle, the garments are tumbled in a stream of warm air (60–63 °C/140–145 °F) that circulates through the basket,
evaporating traces of solvent left after the spin cycle. The air temperature is controlled to prevent heat damage to the garments. The
exhausted warm air from the machine then passes through a chiller unit where solvent vapors are condensed and returned to the
distilled solvent tank. Modern dry cleaning machines use a closed-loop system in which the chilled air is reheated and recirculated.
This results in high solvent recovery rates and reduced air pollution. In the early days of dry cleaning, large amounts of
perchlorethylene were vented to the atmosphere because it was regarded as cheap and believed to be harmless.

After the drying cycle is complete, a deodorizing (aeration) cycle cools the garments and removes further traces of solvent, by
circulating cool outside air over the garments and then through a vapor recovery filter made from activated carbon and polymer
resins. After the aeration cycle, the garments are clean and ready for pressing and finishing.

Solvent processing
Working solvent from the washing chamber passes through several filtration steps before it is returned to the washing chamber. The
first step is a button trap, which prevents small objects such as lint, fasteners, buttons, and coins from entering the solvent pump.
Over time, a thin layer of filter cake (called "muck") accumulates on the lint filter.
The muck is removed regularly (commonly once per day) and then processed to
recover solvent trapped in the muck. Many machines use "spin disk filters", which
remove the muck from the filter by centrifugal force while it is back washed with
solvent.

After the lint filter, the solvent passes through an absorptive cartridge filter. This
filter, which contains activated clays and charcoal, removes fine insoluble soil and
non-volatile residues, along with dyes from the solvent. Finally, the solvent passes Many dry cleaners place cleaned
through a polishing filter, which removes any soil not previously removed. The clothes inside thin clear plastic
clean solvent is then returned to the working solvent tank. Cooked powder residue is garment bags
the name for the waste material generated by cooking down or distilling muck. It
will contain solvent, powdered filter
material (diatomite), carbon, non-volatile
residues, lint, dyes, grease, soils, and
water. The waste sludge or solid residue
from the still contains solvent, water,
soils, carbon, and other non-volatile
residues. Used filters are another form of
waste as is waste water.

To enhance cleaning power, small

amounts of detergent (0.5–1.5%) are
added to the working solvent and are
essential to its functionality. These A Firbimatic Saver Series. This machine uses activated clay filtration
detergents emulsify hydrophobic soils and instead of distillation. It uses much less energy than conventional methods.
keep soil from redepositing on garments.
Depending on the machine's design, either
an anionic or a cationic detergent is used.

Symbols
The international GINETEX laundry symbol for dry cleaning is a circle. It may have the letter P inside it to indicate
perchloroethylene solvent, or the letter F to indicate a flammable solvent (Feuergefährliches Schwerbenzin). A bar underneath the
circle indicates that only mild cleaning processes is recommended. A crossed-out empty circle indicates that dry cleaning is not
permitted.[5]
 Professional cleaning Dry clean, hydrocarbon Gentle cleaning with Very gentle cleaning with
symbol solvent only (HCS) hydrocarbon solvents hydrocarbon solvents

Dryclean, Gentle cleaning with Very gentle cleaning with Do not dry clean
tetrachloroethylene PCE PCE
(PCE) only

Solvents used

Tetrachloroethylene is the
main solvent used in dry
cleaning.
tetrachloroethylene "is moderate to low" and "Reports of human injury are uncommon despite its wide usage in dry cleaning and
degreasing".[6]
Perchloroethylene
Perchloroethylene (PCE, or tetrachloroethylene) has been in use since the 1930s. PCE is the
most common solvent, the "standard" for cleaning performance. It is a most effective cleaning
solvent. It is thermally stable, recyclable, and low toxicity. It can, however, cause color
bleeding/loss, especially at higher temperatures. In some cases it may damage special trims,
buttons, and beads on some garments. Better for oil-based stains (which account for about 10%
of stains) than more common water-soluble stains (coffee, wine, blood, etc.). The toxicity of

The U.S. state of California classified perchloroethylene a toxic chemical in 1991, and its use will become illegal in that state in
2023.[7]

Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons are represented by products such as Exxon-Mobil's DF-2000 or Chevron Phillips' EcoSolv, and Pure Dry. These
petroleum-based solvents are less aggressive but also less effective than PCE. Although combustible, risk of fire or explosion can be
minimized when used properly. Hydrocarbons are however pollutants. Hydrocarbons retain about 10-12% of the market.

Trichloroethane
Trichloroethane is more aggressive than PCE but is used in about 10-15% of the market. TCE is classified as carcinogenic to humans
by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.[8]
Supercritical CO2
Supercritical CO2 represents an alternative to PCE, however it is inferior in removing some
forms of grime.[9] Additive surfactants improve the efficacy of CO2.[10] Carbon dioxide is
almost entirely nontoxic. The greenhouse gas potential is also lower than that of many organic
solvents.

Consumer Reports rated supercritical CO2 superior to conventional methods, but the
Drycleaning and Laundry Institute commented on its "fairly low cleaning ability" in a 2007
report.[11] Supercritical CO2 is, overall, a mild solvent which lowers its ability to aggressively
A modern dry cleaning
attack stains.
machine for use with various
solvents
One deficiency with supercritical CO2 is that the conductivity of this solvent is poor. As
mentioned in the Mechanisms section, dry cleaning utilizes both chemical and mechanical
properties to effectively remove stains. Friction occurs when the solvent interacts with the surface of the fabric and this dislocates
some dirt. At the same time, the friction also builds up an electrical charge. Fabrics are very poor conductors and so usually, this
build-up is discharged through the solvent. This discharge does not occur in liquid carbon dioxide and the build-up of an electrical
charge on the surface of the fabric attracts the dirt back on to the surface, which results in a poor efficiency in the washing process
overall. To compensate for the poor solubility and conductivity of supercritical carbon dioxide, research has focused on additives. For
increased solubility, 2-propanol has shown increased cleaning effects for liquid carbon dioxide as it increases the ability of the
solvent to dissolve polar compounds.[12]

Machinery for use of supercritical CO2 is expensive — up to $90,000 more than a PCE machine, making affordability difficult for
small businesses. Some cleaners with these machines keep traditional machines on-site for the heavier soiled textiles, but others find
plant enzymes to be equally effective and more environmentally sustainable.

Other solvents: niche, emerging, etc.

For decades, efforts have been made to replace PCE. These alternatives have not proven economical thus far:

Stoddard solvent – flammable and explosive, 100 °F/38 °Cflash point

CFC-113 (Freon-113), a CFC.
[13]
Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane("liquid silicone"), called D5 for short. It was popularized by GreenEarth Cleaning.
It is more expensive than PCE. It degrades within days in the environment.
Dibutoxymethane (SolvonK4) is a bipolar solvent that removes water-based stains and oil-based stains. [14]

Brominated solvents (n-propyl bromide, Fabrisolv, DrySolv) are solvents with a higher KB-values than PCE. This
allows faster cleaning, but can damage some synthetic beads and sequins if not used correctly . Healthwise, there
are reported risks associated with nPB such as numbness of nerves. [15] The exposure to the solvents in a typical dry

cleaner is considered far below the levels required to cause any risk.[16] Environmentally, it is approved by the U.S.
EPA. It is among the more expensive solvents, but it is faster cleaning, lower temperatures, and quick dry times.

See also
Fabric restoration
List of laundry topics
Wet cleaning

References
1. David C. Tirsell "Dry Cleaning" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2000.
doi:10.1002/ 14356007.a09_049(https://doi.org/10.1002%2F+14356007.a09_049)
2. "How Dry Cleaning Works" (http://science.howstuffworks.com/dry-cleaning1.htm). Science.howstuffworks.com.
Retrieved 2006-03-30.
 3. "How To Start a Laundry / Dry Cleaning Business in Nigeria" (http://jalingo.co/business/laundry-dry-cleaning-busines
s). Jalingo.co. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
4. "U.S. Congress Resolution H. Res. 514 Honoring Thomas Jennings of Nework Y City as the first African-American to
be granted a patent by the United States"(http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hres514ih/html/BILLS-113hres51
4ih.htm). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
5. "Professional textile care symbols"(http://www.sartex.ch/en/textilkennzeichnung/pflegekennzeichnung/pflegesymbol
e/textilpflege/). GINETEX - Swiss Association for T
extile Labelling. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
6. E.-L. Dreher; T. R. Torkelson; K. K. Beutel (2011). "Chlorethanes and Chloroethylenes".Ullmann's Encyclopedia of
Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.o06_o01(https://doi.org/10.1002%2F14356007.
o06_o01).
7. "California bans dry cleaning chemical"(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16816627). msnbc.com. 2007-01-25.
8. EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for TCE [1] (http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/B8D0E4D8489AD
991852579190058D6C3)September 2011. Accessed 2011-09-28.
9. "Dry-cleaning with CO2 wins award [Science] Resource"(https://web.archive.org/web/20120312013535/http://resour
ce.wur.nl/en/wetenschap/detail/dry-cleaning_with_co2_wins_award/). Resource.wur.nl. 2010-10-12. Archived from
the original (http://resource.wur.nl/en/wetenschap/detail/dry-cleaning_with_co2_wins_award/)on 2012-03-12.
Retrieved 2013-03-14.
10. "How can we use carbon dioxide as a solvent?"(https://www.academia.edu/1074194/How_can_we_use_carbon_dio
xide_as_a_solvent). Contemporary topics in school science. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
11. Drycleaning and Laundry Institute. "The DLI White Paper: Key Information on Industry Solvents."
The Western
Cleaner & Launderer, August 2007.
12. [2] (https://worldwide.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=) , Townsend, Carl W.; Sidney C. Chao & Edna M.
Purer, "Liquid carbon dioxide cleaning systememploying a static dissipating fluid"
13. Tarantola, Andrew. "There's a Better Way to Dry Clean Your Clothes" (https://gizmodo.com/theres-a-better-way-to-dr
y-clean-your-clothes-1634895806). Gizmodo. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
14. Ceballos, Diana M.; Whittaker, Stephen G.; Lee, Eun Gyung; Roberts, Jennifer; Streicher
, Robert; Nourian, Fariba;
Gong, Wei; Broadwater, Kendra (2016). "Occupational exposures to new dry cleaning solvents: High-flashpoint
hydrocarbons and butylal".Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene . 13: 759–769.
doi:10.1080/15459624.2016.1177648(https://doi.org/10.1080%2F15459624.2016.1177648) .
15. "HAZARD EVALUATION 1-Bromopropane"(http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/hesis/Documents/bpropane.pdf)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20131106024756/http://www
.cdph.ca.gov/programs/hesis/Documents/bpropa
ne.pdf) 2013-11-06 at the Wayback Machine. July 2003. Accessed 2014-Jan-22
16. Azimi Pirsaraei, S. R.; Khavanin, A; Asilian, H; Soleimanian, A (2009). "Occupational exposure to perchloroethylene
in dry-cleaning shops in Tehran, Iran". Industrial health. 47 (2): 155–9. PMID 19367044 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.go
v/pubmed/19367044).

External links
Hazard Summary provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
.
NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Drycleaning
Why choose the best Dry Cleaning Service?

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