While being environmentally neutral, liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) has excellent cleaning properties. It dissolves dirt, fats and oils on all materials currently dry-cleaned. Thanks to its low surface tension and viscosity it easily penetrates garment fibers. In all other respects, it works like any traditional dry-cleaning solvent.
Better yet, CO2 is easy to handle. It is non-toxic (unless inhaled in large concentrations), non-flammable and odorless. It produces no hazardous waste or emissions that require special disposal.
CO2 comes from natural sources and is also a by-product of existing industrial processes, for example from fermentation in distilleries. The CO2 cleaning technology only "borrows" existing CO2 on its way to the atmosphere.
Spin-off from aerospace technology
Some years ago, the American aerospace industry developed a supercritical fluid technology to clean high-tech metals and composite materials. This method was then adapted to become the DryWash® technology, offering an amazing ability to clean fabrics.
Safe to handle
CO2 does not show the toxic or flammable properties associated with traditional dry-cleaning solvents.
Risks connected with CO2 vary with the different states of the compound. Gaseous CO2 may cause suffocation when found in large concentrations in closed areas. Solid or liquid CO2, or cold CO2 gas, may cause frost burns if unprotected skin is exposed to the CO2 or the cooled equipment.
The equipment used in the CO2 cleaning process is designed to handle and abolish any such danger. It works as a closed system where the used liquid CO2 is filtered, distilled and recycled. Sensors linked to alarms monitor the site and warn the user in the unlikely event any leakage should occur.
Dry-cleaning for tomorrow
The CO2 cleaning process offers a more sophisticated way to dry-clean than any existing technology. It will change the world of dry-cleaning.