Dry cleaning

Dry cleaning is any cleaning process for clothing and textiles using a solvent other than water. Clothes are instead soaked in a water-free liquid solvent. Tetrachloroethylene, known in the industry as "perc", is the most commonly used solvent, although alternative solvents such as 1-bromopropane, hydrocarbons, and supercritical CO2 are also used.

Most natural fibers can be washed in water but some synthetics react poorly with water and should be dry cleaned if possible.