Why Perchloroethylene (PERC) is Ruining Your Clothes & Your Health

For over seven decades, traditional dry cleaning has relied on a synthetic petroleum-derived solvent called Perchloroethylene (commonly abbreviated as PERC). While PERC is an effective grease dissolver, modern textile science has exposed its heavy costs on both fabric longevity and personal wellness.

1. What Happens When Clothes Are Washed in PERC?

PERC strips away the natural lanolin oils present in wool, cashmere, and raw silk. This causes fibers to turn dry, brittle, and prone to pilling and thinning after just a few commercial cycles.

Additionally, traditional dry cleaners frequently recycle PERC across dozens of wash cycles. Over time, microscopic grease particles and dyes from other customers' clothing redeposit onto lighter garments, causing white shirts to take on a dull, grayish cast.

2. The Toxic Chemical Scent

If your freshly dry-cleaned suit or blazer has a pungent, chemical smell, it means solvent vapors are actively off-gassing from the fabric into your home closet.

The US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and European health authorities classify PERC as a probable human carcinogen and a major neurological irritant for sensitive individuals and children.

3. The Lushdry Alternative: Eco-Wet Cleaning & Liquid Silicone

Lushdry operates on 100% PERC-free technology. We utilize computer-regulated wet cleaning systems using purified soft water and biodegradable conditioning proteins, alongside pharmaceutical-grade liquid silicone (liquefied sand).

The result? Garments emerge completely odorless, hypoallergenic, with deeper colors and silky softness that lasts for years.