Is dry cleaning solution safe for clothes your family wears?

What's actually in it

Traditional dry cleaning uses perchloroethylene (PERC), a synthetic solvent classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen and linked to Parkinson's disease, liver damage, and kidney damage. After dry cleaning, garments retain residual PERC in the fabric that off-gasses into your home when hung in your closet and is absorbed through skin contact when worn.

The stronger the smell after dry cleaning, the more residual PERC remains. Children who wear dry-cleaned dress clothes or whose bedrooms are near closets with many dry-cleaned garments face higher exposure.

What the research says

Studies on PERC exposure from dry-cleaned clothing found measurable PERC concentrations in homes with recently dry-cleaned garments and in the breath of people who wore them. A 2026 environmental health review identified residential PERC exposure from dry cleaning as a preventable cancer risk, particularly for children who sleep in the same room as dry-cleaned clothes.

Allow all dry-cleaned clothing to air outside or in a well-ventilated space for at least 24 hours before hanging in your closet. Remove the plastic bag immediately. Look for "wet cleaning" or "CO2 cleaning" dry cleaners in your area as safer alternatives for clothes that need professional cleaning.