Dry
cleaning uses fluids to remove soil and stains from fabric.
In fact, the term "dry cleaning" is misleading.
It is called dry cleaning because the fluid contains little
or no water and does not penetrate the fibers as water does.
Among
the advantages of dry cleaning is its ability to dissolve
greases and oils in a way that water cannot. Dry cleaning
helps to return garments to a "like-new" condition
using precautions to prevent shrinkage, loss of color, and
fabric distortion.
The
cleaning process begins with the pretreatment of spots and
stains using special cleaning agents. The garments are then
loaded into a machine resembling an oversized front-loading
home washer. Throughout the cleaning process the fluid is
filtered or distilled to ensure its clarity.
Today,
the solvent used by almost 90% of all dry cleaners is perchloroethylene,
commonly known as "perc." It is completely non-flammable
and non-combustable, of relatively low toxicity, and can
be efficiently reused and recycled.