Below, we have gathered common questions regarding CO2 cleaning.
What is DryWash®?
DryWash® is a registered trademark for a technology using liquid CO2 for dry-cleaning, developed by the American company Raytheon. DryWash® is being brought to the market by Global Technologies, California (www.globaltechno.com).
What is Washpoint ?
Washpoint is the new trade name for a fluid used in the process. Besides CO2 it consists of newly developed cleaning boosters to enhance the cleaning performance and equipment to handle the CO2 and additives .
Which materials can be cleaned with the CO2 process?
CO2 cleans wool, silk, leather, suede, furs - virtually anything. Generally, if you can clean a garment in perchloroethylene (perc) or hydrocarbon/petroleum, you can clean it in liquid CO2.
Is wrinkling a problem with CO2 cleaning?
No more than with traditional perc or petroleum processes. There is even less wrinkling than with a wet cleaning process.
Does the cleaning method cause shrinkage?
Any dimensional changes occurring are within recommended standards.
Does CO2 cleaning cause color bleeding?
Considerably less than traditional methods, since cleaning temperatures are lower and the solvent less aggressive.
Certain multi-colored acetates have shown color bleeding problems. Therefore, we do not recommend cleaning any multi-colored fabrics containing more than 45% acetate. This situation is expected to be resolved when improved fluids and detergents are developed.
Is it necessary to pre-spot stains?
A number of pre-spotters have been developed for the CO2 process, though in practice it has been found that pre-spotting is not necessary.
Due to the low operating temperature, stains are not set into the material. Stains that do not come out during the cleaning process can usually be removed with traditional post-spotting methods or with a steam gun.
Can leathers and furs be cleaned with CO2?
Yes. CO2 cleans all fabrics that are currently dry-cleaned, including wool, leather, suede, fur, silk and other delicate materials. Both leathers and furs have been cleaned up to 30 times with the liquid CO2 process, without any noticeable deterioration.
Does the CO2 process remove surface finishes
(i.e. water proofing agents)?
Like perc or petroleum, CO2 removes not only the soluble dirt but also those finishes that can be dissolved in the solvent. Such finishes have to be reapplied in the same way as they are reapplied today.
Can I use standard detergents?
No, special detergents have been formulated for cleaning with liquid CO2.
How do the clothes smell after cleaning with CO2?
CO2 itself has no odor and cannot be detected on the clothing. By using cleaning additives the garments come out with a light fresh fragrance.
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