What is Dry Cleaning Fluid?

When you bring your clothes to a dry cleaner they don’t use standard washing detergent and water to launder your clothing. Instead, they use a special solvent referred to as dry cleaning fluid that is added to your clothing in a dry cleaning machine. Depending on the type of dirt or stains on your clothing, a specialized detergent is sometimes added to the solvent to remove stains. 

Composition

Most dry cleaning fluid consists of the chemical tetrachloroethylene, which a colorless liquid with a sweet odor. This solvent is a chlorocarbon that is produced as a byproduct of a chemical reaction involving hydrocarbons and high temperatures.

Use

During the dry-cleaning process, the dry-cleaning machine is filled to about one-third with the solvent. A normal wash cycle lasts between eight to 15 minutes and during that time the dry cleaning fluid temperature must remain at 86 degrees Fahrenheit, or it could damage the clothing. At the end of the cycle the clothing is rinsed with dry cleaning fluid which is then completely extracted by a process involving extremely fast agitation before it is dried. Dry cleaning fluid breaks down dirt that produces stains and is usually only effective on oil-based stains. Thus, clothing with water-based stains must be cleaned using different solvents, often by hand.

Dangers

Dry cleaning fluid is considered an extremely hazardous substance. It’s been deemed carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and it is also a depressant that acts on the central nervous system if it is inhaled or comes in contact with the skin. Additionally, if it touches your skin, it can cause severe irritation, because it breaks down fats and other organic materials. It is also extremely harmful to the environment and must be discarded as a hazardous waste following protocols set by the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that it doesn’t cause contamination.