Perchlorethylene, also known as perc or tetrachloroethylene, is a solvent regularly used in dry cleaning. This clear liquid is used to remove stains and dirt from all types of fabrics. It’s effective and inexpensive, which is why 95% of dry cleaners world wide use it every day. But, perchlorethylene is also a toxic chemical. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer lists perchlorethylene on their A2 category, meaning it’s ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’.

The alternative for most Dry Cleaners is liquid silicone. Liquid silicone is seen as the best alternative to perc, but some scientists have expressed concern that this chemical is being used before a complete analysis of its impact on humans can be completed. The Canadian and British governments have declared liquid silicone ‘not harmful’ to the environment – but, globally, no scientific consensus exists.

The European Chemical Agency has reported that silicone liquid is very bioaccumulative, which means it has difficulty breaking down and is likely to accumulate in our bodies. The EU’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) has called for further research.

Hamilton Cleaners uses neither liquid silicone or perchlorethylene or any other solvents – and there are many – that require you to be registered with our provincial government to dispose of them. Most dry cleaners are considered a “generator” – which can be defined as an operator of a processing facility that forwards material off site for subsequent waste management. But not us….