What Is GreenEarth® Dry Cleaning? (And Why It Matters)

Most people never think about what their clothes are actually cleaned in at the dry cleaner. You drop off a suit, you pick up a suit, and the part in between is a mystery. But the cleaning solvent a dry cleaner uses affects how your clothes look and feel, how they smell when you pick them up, and what ends up in the air, water and soil around the shop.

GreenEarth® is one of the best-known alternatives to the traditional dry cleaning solvent. It’s also the method used at The Elementals Laundry in Acworth, the dry cleaner behind Rire&Co. This guide explains what GreenEarth is, how it works, how it compares with every other major method, what regulators have and haven’t said about it, and the honest pros and cons, so you can make an informed choice about where your clothes go.

First, a quick refresher: dry cleaning isn’t dry

Dry cleaning gets its name because it doesn’t use water. Instead, clothes are cleaned in a liquid solvent inside a specialized machine. That matters because water is what causes many delicate fabrics to shrink, lose their shape, pucker at the seams or bleed dye. Wool, silk, structured jackets, rayon and many embellished pieces do better in a non-water solvent. If you want to see the whole process, from tagging to pressing, read from drop-off to the Rack.

The big question is which solvent. For decades, the answer at most cleaners was the same one.

The traditional solvent: perc

Perchloroethylene, usually called perc (and also known as PCE or tetrachloroethylene), has been the most common dry cleaning solvent in the world since the 1950s. It cleans aggressively, dries quickly and isn’t flammable, which is why it became the industry standard.

It also comes with serious concerns. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates perc as a hazardous air pollutant and classifies it as likely to be carcinogenic to humans. In December 2022, the EPA determined that perc presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health under most of the ways it’s used.

In December 2024, the EPA finalized a rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act that prohibits using perc in newly acquired dry cleaning machines after six months and phases out perc in dry cleaning entirely over 10 years, with older machine types phased out sooner. In July 2025, the EPA opened a public comment period as the first step in reconsidering that rule, so details and dates may still change. You can follow the latest on the EPA’s perc risk management page.

Whatever the final timeline, the direction is clear: the dry cleaning industry is moving away from perc, and many cleaners already have.

So what is GreenEarth?

GreenEarth Cleaning is a dry cleaning process that uses liquid silicone as the solvent instead of perc. The silicone is a compound called decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, usually shortened to D5. GreenEarth began marketing D5 as a dry cleaning solvent in the late 1990s, and it is now licensed to dry cleaners around the world, which operate it in their own machines under the GreenEarth name.

If D5 sounds unfamiliar, you’ve probably encountered its chemical relatives without knowing it. Silicones of this family have been widely used in personal care products such as deodorants, lotions and hair care, which is part of why GreenEarth describes its solvent as gentle on skin.

How GreenEarth cleaning works

From the customer’s side, nothing changes. You still drop off your clothes, point out stains and pick up pressed garments. Behind the counter, the steps look familiar too:

1. Inspection and tagging. Each garment is checked for stains, damage and loose trims, and pockets are emptied.
2. Pretreating stains. Spots are treated before the main clean, matched to the stain type.
3. Cleaning in silicone. Garments tumble gently in the liquid silicone, which lifts away oils and soil.
4. Solvent recovery. The solvent is filtered, recovered and reused inside the machine.
5. Drying and finishing. Garments are dried and then pressed or steamed.

The key difference is in how the silicone behaves. GreenEarth describes D5 as chemically inert, meaning it doesn’t react with fabrics or dyes. Rather than breaking down soil chemically, it works more like a gentle rinse that carries dirt and oils away. That’s why it’s often described as being especially kind to delicate fabrics, beading and colors.

What you’ll notice as a customer

• No chemical smell. GreenEarth’s solvent is odorless, so clothes come back smelling like nothing at all, not like a dry cleaner.
• Softer feel. Many people notice fabrics feel softer, since the gentler process doesn’t strip natural oils from fibers like wool as aggressively.
• Colors that stay brighter. Because the solvent doesn’t react with dyes, colors are less likely to fade or bleed over repeated cleanings.
• Gentler on trims. Beads, sequins and many buttons and embellishments handle the process well.

The environmental angle

This is where GreenEarth gets its name, and it’s worth looking at carefully, including the debate.

What GreenEarth says

• Its solvent is non-VOC, meaning it isn’t classed as a smog-forming volatile organic compound.
• If released into the environment, D5 degrades into silica (essentially sand), water and carbon dioxide. GreenEarth’s materials describe this happening through hydrolysis and biodegradation over roughly 8 to 10 days.
• It contains no chlorine and is not a hazardous air pollutant like perc.

What regulators have said

• Canada: In 2011, an independent Board of Review appointed by Canada’s environment minister examined D5 in depth and concluded that it “does not pose a danger to the environment.”
• European Union: The EU has taken a more cautious view. It identified D5 as a substance of very high concern because of its persistence in the environment and restricted it in wash-off cosmetics from 2020. In 2024 it adopted broader restrictions on D4, D5 and D6 under its REACH chemicals law that begin applying from June 2026 across a range of uses, and dry cleaning is among the uses the restriction addresses.
• United States: D5 is not regulated as a hazardous air pollutant the way perc is, and it isn’t subject to the EPA’s perc phase-out.

In fairness, some scientists argue that D5 is more persistent and bioaccumulative in certain environments than GreenEarth’s marketing suggests. The honest summary: GreenEarth is widely regarded as a far safer choice than perc for workers, customers and neighbors, but like every industrial chemical, it continues to be studied. No dry cleaning method has zero environmental footprint, and the most sustainable approach of all is to clean clothes only when they need it, a theme we cover in keeping good clothes out of landfills.

Safety in the shop

D5 is classed as combustible, not highly flammable. GreenEarth lists its flash point at about 170°F (77.7°C), which is well above normal room temperature, and machines designed for it include safety controls. It’s not a hazardous air pollutant, which makes a real difference for the people who work in the shop all day and for neighboring businesses.

How GreenEarth compares with other methods

Perc

Strong cleaning power and fast cycles, but classified as a likely carcinogen and being phased out of dry cleaning in the U.S. It can also leave a recognizable chemical odor and can be harsh on some trims and dyes.

Hydrocarbon

Petroleum-based solvents, sold under several brand names. They’re gentler than perc and widely used as an alternative, but they are petroleum products, are classed as VOCs, and some cleaners and regulators have questioned whether they deserve an “eco” label. Note that a cleaner advertising “organic” cleaning is sometimes using hydrocarbon, since “organic” in chemistry simply means carbon-based.

Professional wet cleaning

Uses water with computer-controlled machines, special detergents and tension finishing equipment. It’s considered one of the most environmentally friendly options and works well for many garments, but it requires skill and isn’t ideal for every fabric or structured garment. A W in a circle on a care label means an item is suitable. See how to read care labels.

Liquid CO2

Uses pressurized carbon dioxide as the solvent. It’s very gentle and leaves no residue, but the machines are expensive, so few cleaners offer it.

GreenEarth (silicone)

Gentle on fabrics and colors, odorless, non-VOC and not a hazardous air pollutant. It may need slightly different stain treatment for some heavy, oily soils, but in the hands of an experienced cleaner, results are excellent.

The honest pros and cons

Pros: gentle on delicate fabrics, beading and colors; no chemical odor; softer-feeling clothes; non-VOC; not a hazardous air pollutant; safer for workers and neighbors than perc.

Cons: because it’s gentler, some heavy oily stains need more careful pretreatment; equipment and licensing cost cleaners more; and, as with most chemicals, scientists continue to study D5’s long-term behavior in the environment.

Why it matters for your clothes

A gentler solvent means your favorite pieces can be cleaned more times before showing wear. That’s especially important for the garments people bring to a dry cleaner in the first place: wool coats, silk blouses, tailored suits, wedding gowns and heirlooms. It’s also why every piece on the Rack at Rire&Co, cleaned at The Elementals Laundry, comes to you ready to wear without that “dry cleaner smell.”

For more on caring for delicate pieces, read how to care for silk and how often to dry clean a suit.

How to tell if your cleaner really uses GreenEarth

“Eco-friendly” and “green” aren’t regulated terms in dry cleaning, so it’s worth asking a few direct questions:

• “What solvent do you use?” A good cleaner will tell you plainly: perc, hydrocarbon, silicone (GreenEarth), wet cleaning or CO2.
• “Is everything cleaned on site in that solvent?” Some shops send garments to a central plant that may use a different process.
• “Are you a GreenEarth affiliate?” GreenEarth licenses its name to participating cleaners.
• Use your nose. A strong chemical smell on freshly cleaned clothes is a clue that the process isn’t silicone.

GreenEarth at The Elementals Laundry

The Elementals Laundry at 3330 Cobb Pkwy NW, Suite 344, in Acworth uses the GreenEarth® method for its dry cleaning: liquid silicone in place of harsh chemical solvents, with no lingering chemical odor. That same care goes into everyday suits and shirts, delicate silks, wedding gowns and heirlooms, and every unclaimed or consigned piece on the Rack. We’re open Monday to Friday 8 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM, and we offer pickup and delivery across Acworth, Kennesaw, Marietta, Woodstock, Cartersville and nearby areas.

Common questions

Is GreenEarth dry cleaning safe for sensitive skin? GreenEarth’s silicone is related to ingredients used in personal care products and leaves no chemical odor, which many people with sensitivities prefer. If you have a specific allergy or condition, talk to your doctor and mention it at the counter.

Does GreenEarth clean as well as perc? For most garments, yes. Because it’s gentler, heavy oily stains may need more targeted pretreatment, which is part of a skilled cleaner’s job.

Can anything be cleaned with GreenEarth? Most dry-clean-only items can. Some specialty items, like leather, suede and fur, need specialist care no matter the solvent.

Is it more expensive? Pricing depends on the cleaner. At The Elementals Laundry, prices are listed on the pricing page.

Will my clothes smell like anything? No. GreenEarth’s solvent is odorless.

Sources: U.S. EPA, Risk Management for Perchloroethylene; Government of Canada, Report of the Board of Review for Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5), 2011; Regulation (EU) 2024/1328 amending REACH Annex XVII entry 70; GreenEarth Cleaning product information. GreenEarth® is a registered trademark of its owner and is used here to describe the cleaning method.