How Dry Cleaning has Evolved Since 1855

Laundry services in NYC are modeled after the dry cleaning stores first created in 1855. Since then, the industry of dry cleaning has changed drastically to accommodate modern safety needs. The evolution of dry cleaning has been slow and has affected many factors around the world. 

 

What Happened in 1855?

As most inventions were and still are, dry cleaning was also invented by accident. In 1855, Jean Baptiste Jolly noticed that a dirty table cloth became cleaner when a maid accidentally dropped turpentine on it. He started experimenting with spirits of turpentine and kerosene and found that they cleaned the stains completely. He opened the first dry cleaning store in Paris.

The Transition to Modern Laundry Services in NYC

Dry cleaning solvents were made of kerosene, benzene, petrol, turpentine, and gasoline. These solvents were effective at removing stains, but they were very dangerous. The dry cleaning stores soon became a huge fire hazard and were banned from the residential and business sectors. Many stores had to open a front store in residential areas and then transport the clothing to ‘factories’ outside the city.

Since this increased the costs for the dry cleaners and posed safety issues for workers, safer alternatives were created by the dry cleaning stores. After World War II, a chlorine-based dry cleaning solvent was invented called perchloroethylene (Perc). It was safer, cheaper, and faster to use perc. Dry cleaning stores could open in residential areas which cut down transport costs, used smaller equipment, and gave quick service. The industry began to change when this dry cleaning solvent was invented. On average, a 55-gallon PCE could clean 500 pounds of clothing and stores consumed 50-100 gallons of PCE per month. 90% of all stores in the US were using PCE by 1962.

Innovations in washing machines also led to more efficient cleaning. In 1975, a new machine came forth that could clean 8000 pounds of clothing with 55-gallons. Dry cleaning stores like Whirlpool Corporation also started redesigning the business to accommodate easier laundry options. They opened the world’s first coin-operated dry cleaning machine, which is still widely used in many dry cleaning stores in the world.

Modern Laundry Services in NYC

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to find reports of the dire effects of PCE on the environment. When released into the environment, it could harm the plants and animals. The chemicals also seeped into the groundwater, which could lead to adverse effects on the general public health. Workers who worked with PCE also faced health risks like Parkinson’s disease since PCE could potentially affect the nervous system of the body. It was also listed as a carcinogenic and was found to be an air pollutant.

Such adverse effects of PCE led to laundry services in NYC opting for organic dry cleaning solvents. NY Organic Dry Cleaners were one of the first pioneers who designed natural mixtures to clean clothes and remove stains.