What Is PERC and Why Should You Avoid It?

March 23, 2026
By CircadianSEO

PERC (perchloroethylene) is a chemical solvent used in traditional dry cleaning. It cleans clothes effectively, but it comes with serious health and environmental risks. The EPA has linked PERC exposure to neurological damage, liver problems, kidney dysfunction, and an increased risk of certain cancers. In December 2024, the EPA finalized a rule to ban PERC in dry cleaning over a 10-year phaseout period, with complete prohibition by December 2034.

Key Takeaways

PERC (tetrachloroethylene) is a colorless chemical solvent that has been the dry cleaning industry standard for decades
The EPA classifies PERC as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans” and found it poses unreasonable risk to workers, consumers, and the environment
Short-term exposure at high levels causes dizziness, headaches, and central nervous system effects; long-term exposure is linked to liver damage, kidney dysfunction, and certain cancers
California banned PERC in dry cleaning by 2023; the federal EPA phaseout will eliminate PERC nationwide by December 2034
Safer alternatives include wet cleaning and liquid CO2 dry cleaning, both of which deliver equal or better results without toxic chemicals

What Exactly Is PERC?

PERC is short for perchloroethylene, also called tetrachloroethylene or PCE. It’s a colorless liquid with a mildly sweet, ether-like odor. If you’ve ever picked up dry cleaned clothes and noticed that distinct “dry cleaner smell,” you were likely smelling residual PERC evaporating from the fabric.

The chemical works well for cleaning because it dissolves oils, greases, and waxes without damaging most fabrics. That made it popular with dry cleaners starting in the 1930s and 1940s, when the industry moved away from flammable petroleum solvents that had caused deadly fires.

By the 1980s, roughly 85% of dry cleaners in the United States used PERC as their primary solvent. But as research accumulated over the following decades, regulators started paying closer attention to what this chemical was doing to workers, customers, and the communities around dry cleaning facilities.

How Does PERC Affect Your Health?

The health risks from PERC depend on how much exposure you get and for how long. The EPA’s 2020 risk evaluation found that PERC poses “unreasonable risk” to workers, consumers, and even people who simply spend time near dry cleaning facilities.

Short-Term Exposure Effects

Studies on volunteers found that inhaling PERC at elevated concentrations for eight hours or less caused:

Dizziness and lightheadedness
Headaches
Sleepiness and fatigue
Poor balance and coordination
Irritation of eyes, nose, and throat

These effects typically fade after exposure stops. But here’s the concern: dry cleaning workers and people living in buildings with dry cleaners may experience this level of exposure repeatedly over years.

Long-Term Exposure Risks

Research on dry cleaning workers with 7 to 20 years of occupational exposure showed more serious effects:

Reduced scores on neurological and cognitive tests
Color vision deficits
Elevated markers of liver and kidney damage
Reduced red blood cell counts
Increased rates of bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma

The EPA has classified PERC as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans.” The International Agency for Research on Cancer lists it as a Group 2A carcinogen, meaning it’s probably carcinogenic based on available evidence.

Effects on Customers

You might think only workers face serious risks. But the EPA’s evaluation also found that consumers face unreasonable risk from skin contact with clothing cleaned in PERC. The chemical doesn’t fully evaporate from fabrics immediately after cleaning. When you wear freshly dry cleaned clothes, trace amounts of PERC can absorb through your skin and enter your bloodstream.

Environmental Contamination from PERC

PERC doesn’t just affect people. It persists in the environment and spreads through air, soil, and groundwater. According to the San Francisco Environment Department, more than 75% of dry cleaning sites in the United States are contaminated with hazardous substances.

Here’s how that contamination happens. Older dry cleaning machines leak. Spills occur during loading and unloading. Waste disposal isn’t always handled properly. Over decades, small releases add up. PERC seeps into the ground beneath facilities and can migrate into drinking water aquifers.

The chemical has a half-life of about 96 days in the environment. That means even after a dry cleaner stops using PERC, contamination can persist for years. This has caused serious problems at former dry cleaning sites across the country, with cleanup costs running into millions of dollars.

PERC is also toxic to aquatic organisms. The EPA’s risk evaluation specifically noted environmental risks to fish and other aquatic life when PERC enters waterways.

The Regulatory Response: EPA’s PERC Ban

In December 2024, the EPA finalized a rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that will eliminate PERC from dry cleaning over the next decade. The rule took effect on January 17, 2025.

Key Phaseout Dates

Timeline	Requirement
June 2025	Use of PERC prohibited in newly acquired dry cleaning machines
December 2027	PERC prohibited in third-generation (older) dry cleaning machines
December 2034	Complete prohibition on PERC in all dry cleaning and spot cleaning, including fourth and fifth-generation machines

California actually moved faster than the federal government. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) initiated a phaseout in 2007 and completed the ban on PERC dry cleaning machines by January 2023. Minnesota became the first state to ban PERC outright in 2021.

The EPA rule doesn’t just affect dry cleaning. It bans PERC in all consumer products within three years and prohibits most commercial and industrial uses. For dry cleaning specifically, the longer timeline acknowledges that many operators are small businesses that need time to transition.

How to Tell If Your Dry Cleaner Uses PERC

Most customers don’t think to ask what chemicals their dry cleaner uses. But given the health implications, it’s worth knowing. Here are some signs that a cleaner may still use PERC:

Ask directly. A reputable cleaner should be transparent about their cleaning methods. If they dodge the question or don’t know the answer, that’s a red flag.

Notice the smell. Clothes cleaned with PERC often have a distinctive sweet, chemical odor. Eco-friendly dry cleaning methods like wet cleaning leave clothes smelling fresh with no chemical residue.

Check for warning signs. Older facilities with visible tanks, hoses, or strong chemical odors in the waiting area may still be using traditional PERC processes.

Look for certifications. Cleaners who have invested in modern, non-toxic processes often display certifications or marketing around their eco-friendly methods. They’re usually proud to tell you about it.

Safer Alternatives to PERC

The good news is that effective, non-toxic alternatives exist. Two methods stand out for their safety and cleaning quality.

Liquid CO2 Cleaning

Liquid carbon dioxide cleaning uses pressurized CO2 as a solvent. No new CO2 is generated in the process; cleaners use CO2 that’s already a byproduct of other industrial processes. The CO2 is recycled and reused.

This method is non-toxic and effective, though the equipment costs are significantly higher than wet cleaning systems. That’s limited adoption, but some cleaners have made the investment.

Professional Wet Cleaning

Wet cleaning uses water combined with specialized biodegradable detergents and computer-controlled machines. The equipment precisely adjusts water temperature, mechanical action, and drying conditions for each fabric type.

The EPA has called wet cleaning “an example of an environmentally-preferable technology that can effectively clean garments.” Studies comparing wet cleaning to PERC dry cleaning found no major differences in cleaning quality. Virtually all garments that can be dry cleaned can be wet cleaned, including wool, silk, and other delicate fabrics.

Benefits of wet cleaning include:

No toxic chemicals, no health risks
Clothes come back odor-free, without chemical residue
Gentler on fabrics, which can extend garment life
Better at removing water-soluble stains that PERC cannot treat
No environmental contamination or hazardous waste

What About “Green” Alternatives That Aren’t Actually Green?

Not every alternative marketed as eco-friendly is actually safe. Some cleaners have switched from PERC to other solvents that still have concerns.

Hydrocarbon solvents (marketed under various brand names) are volatile organic compounds that contribute to smog formation and may contain benzene, a known carcinogen. They’re less toxic than PERC but still regulated as air pollutants.

GreenEarth (D5 silicone) is often promoted as environmentally friendly. However, the silicone compound used (decamethylcyclopentasiloxane) is a suspected carcinogen and reproductive toxicant according to some researchers.

If you’re looking for truly non-toxic cleaning, ask specifically about wet cleaning or liquid CO2. These are the only methods with no significant health or environmental concerns.

Why This Matters for Your Wardrobe

Beyond health and environmental considerations, the cleaning method affects your clothes themselves.

PERC is effective at removing grease and oil, but it can cause colors to fade over time. It may leave clothes with a lingering chemical odor that takes days to air out. And for delicate fabrics, the solvent can be harsh.

Professional wet cleaning often produces softer, fresher-smelling results. It preserves colors better and can be gentler on delicate construction like embroidery or beading. For designer garments and high-end fabrics, the difference matters even more because these pieces deserve methods that protect their value.

The Bottom Line

PERC did its job as a dry cleaning solvent for decades. But we now know too much about its risks to consider it acceptable. The chemical damages human health at both high and low exposure levels. It contaminates communities for years after spills. And safer alternatives that clean just as well have been available for over twenty years.

The EPA’s ban confirms what health researchers have said for a long time: PERC needs to go. If your current dry cleaner still uses it, you might want to ask about their transition plans or find one that has already made the switch to eco-friendly cleaning methods.

Your clothes will come back just as clean. And you won’t have to worry about what you’re breathing or absorbing through your skin.

Looking for PERC-free garment care in Boca Raton or Delray Beach? Presstine Dry Cleaners uses 100% eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning methods with no perchloroethylene. Learn more about our eco-friendly process or schedule a free pickup.