In the professional field of the laundry industry, perchloroethylene (PERC) dry cleaning technology has served people for more than seventy years and remains the mainstream choice of global laundry shops, especially in Asian markets. Its profound grease and dirt removal, stability chemical property, and high-efficiency distillation recovery characteristics help solidify its irreplaceable cornerstone position in the industry.
However, with the tightening of environmental regulations, the growing health awareness of practitioners, and the rising consumer demand for green laundry and care services, the safe and compliant use of PERC and its future prospects have become a strategic issue that every operator must thoroughly consider. This article objectively analyzes the current situation of PERC dry cleaning, the core priorities of safe operation, and explore the technical paths for the sustainable development of the industry.
An Objective Review
- Merits
Its washing effects and efficiency are mature. Also, it has a good ability to dissolve common animal, vegetable oils, and cosmetic stains. Its non-flammable nature and high distillation recovery rate show a stable and reliable care effect when it is used for treating delicate clothes like wool, silk, and leather.
The advancement of modern fully enclosed dry cleaning machine technology has also greatly reduced solvent exposure levels in the workplace. With good devices and maintenance, and standard operations, its safety can be effectively guaranteed.
- Caveats
Its caveats are from its own chemical properties and long-term responsibilities. As a hazardous substance, PERC has potential risks to the nervous system. Strict precautions must be taken to prevent pollution of the water and soil environments. This means that opting to use PERC equates to assuming a series of ongoing and rigorous management obligations:
– Equipment airtightness
Any leakage in pipelines, door seals, distillation systems, or other components is unacceptable.
– Strict operating procedures
Every step, from loading clothes to disposing of waste residues, must be done according to regulations.
– High compliance costs
These include the treatment of exhaust gas and wastewater discharge, professional recycling of waste residues, regular environmental monitoring, and health surveillance of personnel.
Trends and Future
While adhering to the bottom line of safety, forward-looking operators have already started to plan for the future.
Technological development in the global laundry industry is evolving along two clear paths.
First: carry out more thorough eco-friendly upgrades to traditional dry cleaning solvents and equipment (e.g., the adoption of hydrocarbon solvents, silicone-based solvents, etc.);
Second: explore fundamental technological alternatives, among which the maturation and popularization of professional wet cleaning technology are opening up a brand-new blue ocean market.
Kingstar Professional Wet Cleaning Solution
Faced with increasingly complex fabrics (high-end blends, functional coatings, genuine leather panels, and delicate accessories) and growing demands for environmental protection and health, the Kingstar Wet Cleaning Machine SHS-2025P represents a safer, more flexible, and future-oriented laundry solution. It is not a simple replacement for traditional dry cleaning, but rather a powerful functional supplement and upgrade.
- Remove Chemical Risks
Wet cleaning uses water as the base medium and also uses specialized, biodegradable mild detergents. This completely removes the bad impact of VOCs on employee health and the environment. It also removes the great costs and compliance pressures associated with hazardous waste disposal. The working environment of laundries becomes fresher and safer.
- Great Cleaning Power
For water-soluble stains (sweat, blood, wine, sugar…), wet cleaning is better than dry cleaning, which relies on organic solvents. By precisely controlling humidity, water temperature, and mechanical actions, the Kingstar Wet Cleaning Machine SHS-2025P can safely handle most delicate fabrics which are traditionally determined as only for dry cleaning, such as wool, silk, and cashmere. It also better preserves the vibrant color of clothes.
- A Powerful Tool to Address Industry Pain Points
– Composite Fabrics
For today’s common mixed-material clothes with high dry-cleaning risks (solvent-sensitive PU leather and coatings…) and high water-washing risks (shrink-prone wool…), wet cleaning offers a more controllable and safer third option.
– Leather Care
Professional wet cleaning is a revolutionary technology for high-end leather clothing and accessory care. It cleans effectively and well retains the natural oils and suppleness of leather. It also avoids the leather degreasing and hardening caused by traditional PERC dry cleaning.
– Improving Image and Value
Offering a green wet cleaning option is an upgrade to a store’s professional image and brand value. It attracts more high-end customers who need health and environmental protection, and serves as a powerful differentiating selling point for marketing.
Conclusion
In the near future, PERC dry cleaning will still be used in some places. But rules for its safety and environmental protection will get stricter and stricter.
For laundry shop owners, here’s a simple plan: if you keep using PERC, you must spend money on the best equipment maintenance, staff training, and rule-following work to fully control its risks. Also, you should start learning about and checking out new technologies like Kingstar wet cleaning.
True professionalism and leadership aren’t about sticking to just one type of technology. Instead, they’re always about giving customers the safest and best laundry solutions. In these changing times, choosing to use safer and more eco-friendly technologies is a smart way for laundries to stay competitive in the long run and keep succeeding.
