Is Eco-Friendly Dry Cleaning Better for Your Clothes?

The term “eco-friendly dry cleaning” gets used a lot, but it is not always clear what it actually means, or whether it makes a real difference to your clothes. The honest answer is that it depends on which eco-friendly method is being used. Some are genuinely better for both garments and the people wearing them. Others are incremental improvements at best.

Here is a clear-eyed look at how the options stack up.

What Traditional Dry Cleaning Uses

For most of the twentieth century, the dry cleaning industry ran on a single solvent: perchloroethylene, known as perc. It became the standard because it works. Perc is highly effective at dissolving oils and greases that water cannot touch, and it has been used on everything from everyday suits to delicate silk gowns.

The problems with perc are also well-documented. The EPA classifies it as a likely human carcinogen with long-term exposure, and it has been linked to groundwater contamination at sites where it was improperly handled or disposed of. On the garment side, perc can leave a faint chemical odor and residue, and repeated exposure to the solvent can, over time, degrade certain natural fibers and fade colors.

California has been phasing out perc use since 2007, with a full ban on new perc machines that has been tightening in stages. Several other states have introduced similar restrictions. For cleaners still using it, perc remains effective, though the trajectory of the industry is clearly away from it.

What Eco-Friendly Dry Cleaning Actually Means

“Eco-friendly dry cleaning” is a broad label that covers several distinct methods. They are not equivalent, and understanding the differences matters when you are trying to make an informed choice about where to take your clothes.

GreenEarth (Liquid Silicone)

GreenEarth uses a liquid silicone solvent derived from silica, essentially a form of liquefied sand. It is odorless, non-toxic, and not regulated by the EPA as a hazardous substance. When released into the environment, it breaks down into sand, water, and carbon dioxide.

For garments, the results are noticeably gentler. Silicone is a softer carrier than perc, which means it cleans without the harshness that can cause shrinkage, color loss, or fiber damage over time. It is especially well-suited to delicate fabrics like silk, cashmere, and fine wool, as well as garments with embellishments or structured construction that would be stressed by more aggressive solvents.

Fazio Cleaners has used GreenEarth solvent technology across all seven locations since 2000, well before eco-friendly cleaning became a mainstream expectation, as part of a broader environmental commitment that extends to packaging, energy use, and logistics.

Hydrocarbon Solvents

Hydrocarbon solvents are petroleum-based, which makes them less toxic than perc but not fully free of environmental concerns. They are widely used as a transitional option by cleaners moving away from perc, and they perform reasonably well on most garments. The main limitation is that they still carry some of the chemical residue and odor issues associated with solvent-based cleaning, just to a lesser degree.

Wet Cleaning

Wet cleaning uses water and specialized detergents in controlled conditions: a precise, computer-monitored process that produces genuinely clean results without any chemical solvents. The limitation is selectivity. Not all garments are candidates. Structured items, certain natural fibers, and garments prone to shrinkage or color bleeding may not be appropriate for wet cleaning.

CO2 Cleaning

Liquid carbon dioxide under pressure acts as a highly effective solvent that leaves no residue and has no environmental release concerns. It is arguably the cleanest option available. The practical limitation is cost: CO2 cleaning equipment is expensive to install and maintain, which is why it remains rare outside of specialized operations.

Is It Actually Better for Your Clothes?

In most cases, yes. Particularly when the alternative is perc.

GreenEarth silicone, specifically, is gentler on fabric structure than traditional solvents. It does not cause the incremental fiber degradation that repeated perc cleaning can produce over time. 

For garments you wear regularly and plan to keep for years, that difference adds up.

The benefit is most pronounced with delicate and high-value pieces. A silk blouse cleaned repeatedly with perc may hold its color and hand-feel for a while, but the long-term effect on the fiber is harsher than with a gentler solvent. A cashmere sweater cleaned with GreenEarth will retain its softness and structure better over many cleanings. A beaded evening gown or embroidered jacket benefits because the solvent is less likely to affect adhesives, dyes, or delicate construction details.

For specialty materials like leather and suede, solvent choice matters even more. The wrong cleaner can cause irreversible stiffening, discoloration, or surface damage. Leather and suede require specific care that accounts for the solvent being used, not just the cleaning technique.

This is also worth keeping in mind for anyone with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivities. Perc residue on clothing can cause irritation for some people. GreenEarth leaves no chemical residue and no odor, which makes a practical difference beyond the environmental argument.

How to Know If Your Dry Cleaner Is Actually Eco-Friendly

Not all green claims are equal. “We care about the environment” is very different from “we use GreenEarth solvent” or “we are perc-free.”

The most useful question to ask is simply: what solvent do you use? A cleaner committed to eco-friendly practices will be able to answer that specifically. If the response is vague, with no specific solvent named, that is worth following up on.

Look for named solvents or certifications. GreenEarth, in particular, has a certification program, and cleaners that have made the investment in the system will generally say so. Asking whether a location is perc-free is another direct and useful question.

It is also worth noting that eco-friendly cleaning is not just about the solvent. Packaging, energy use, water consumption, and whether the cleaner offers a pickup and delivery option that reduces individual car trips all factor into the full picture. A genuinely committed cleaner will have thought about more than one of these.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is eco-friendly dry cleaning as effective as traditional dry cleaning? Yes, for the vast majority of garments. GreenEarth and other modern alternatives clean as thoroughly as perc for typical soil and staining, including most common stains. For some heavily soiled items, a professional pre-treatment step may be required, though that is true of any cleaning method regardless of which solvent is used.

What chemicals does traditional dry cleaning use? The dominant chemical has historically been perchloroethylene (perc), a chlorinated solvent that is effective but classified by the EPA as a likely carcinogen with prolonged exposure. Some cleaners use hydrocarbon solvents as an intermediate alternative. Eco-friendly operations use silicone-based (GreenEarth), CO2, or water-based processes instead.

Is dry cleaning safe for sensitive skin? Eco-friendly dry cleaning using GreenEarth silicone is generally safe for sensitive skin. The solvent leaves no chemical residue on garments and produces no detectable odor. Traditional perc-based cleaning can leave trace residue that may cause irritation for people with sensitivities, so asking your cleaner what solvent they use is always a reasonable first step.

What is GreenEarth dry cleaning? GreenEarth is a cleaning system that uses liquid silicone as its solvent rather than petroleum-based or chlorinated chemicals. The silicone is derived from silica (sand), is non-toxic and odorless, and breaks down harmlessly in the environment. It is gentler on fabrics than traditional solvents and particularly well-suited to delicate materials like silk, cashmere, and embellished garments.

Does eco-friendly dry cleaning cost more? Not necessarily. At Fazio Cleaners, eco-friendly cleaning is standard practice across all locations, not a premium add-on. Pricing is based on the garment type and service, not the solvent used. Some specialty operations using CO2 technology do charge more due to equipment costs, but this varies by provider.

Eco-friendly dry cleaning is not a niche preference. It is a more considered approach to garment care that benefits the clothes, the people wearing them, and the environment. The key is knowing what you are actually getting, which starts with asking the right questions.

For anyone in the Los Angeles or Las Vegas area, Fazio Cleaners has been using GreenEarth silicone technology since 2000. With locations in Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks, and five other spots across California and Nevada, scheduling a complimentary pickup and delivery at faziocleaners.com is the easiest way to get started.