Why Do Dry-Cleaned Clothes Smell of Chemicals?
You pay to have a suit, a silk saree or a blazer cleaned, and it comes back smelling like a chemical store. That smell is not "clean". Here is what it is, how to get rid of it, and when it means the job was not finished.
Why do my dry-cleaned clothes smell of chemicals?
Dry cleaning washes clothes in a solvent instead of water, commonly perchloroethylene (perc) or a hydrocarbon solvent. If a garment is not dried and aired thoroughly, some solvent stays in it and you smell it. Take it out of the plastic cover, hang it in moving air outdoors or at an open window for several hours, and if a strong smell is still there the next day, take it back to the cleaner.
In this guide6 sections
Dry cleaning is not dry. Your clothes are washed in a liquid; it just is not water. Most of the time that liquid is fully dried out before you collect them. When it is not, you can smell it the moment you open the cover.
What is dry cleaning, actually?
Washing in a solvent that dissolves grease and oil without swelling fibres the way water does.
That is why wool suits, silk sarees and structured blazers go to a dry cleaner: water can shrink, crease or distort them. The most widely used solvent has long been perchloroethylene, also called perc or tetrachloroethylene; many cleaners also use hydrocarbon solvents. Perc evaporates readily and has a sharp, ether-like smell. The machine is supposed to recover the solvent and dry the clothes before they come out.
Why do some dry-cleaned clothes smell so strongly?
Because solvent was left in them: a short drying cycle, an overloaded machine or equipment that needs servicing.
New York City's health department, which monitors dry cleaners closely, notes that dry-cleaned clothes can release small amounts of perc at home and that high levels can mean the cleaning equipment is not working properly. Thick, padded and lined garments, such as blazers, coats and heavy sarees, hold more. A faint smell for an hour is common. A strong smell that fills a room is a cleaning problem, not a feature.
How do you air out dry-cleaned clothes?
Plastic off, outside or by an open window, for a few hours before they go in your cupboard.
- Plastic offThe cover traps solvent against the fabric.
- Hang outsideBalcony in shade, or an open window with a fan.
- WaitA few hours; overnight for a lined coat.
- Check the liningStill strong after a day? Take it back.
- Remove the plastic cover as soon as you get home. It traps the smell against the fabric.
- Hang the garment on a balcony in shade, or by an open window with a fan.
- Leave it for several hours, or overnight for a coat or blazer.
- Smell the lining and armpits; that is where solvent lingers longest.
- Only then put it in the wardrobe, in a cotton cover if you want one.
How long does dry-cleaning smell take to go?
A few hours for a shirt or saree; up to a day for a lined coat. If a strong chemical smell is still there after a day of airing, take it back and ask the cleaner to dry it again. Do not wear a garment that still smells strongly of solvent, and do not hang it in a bedroom or a child's room.
Does dry cleaning remove sweat smell?
Not always. Solvent is very good at oils and grease. Sweat salts are water-based, so cleaners treat underarm marks separately. If a blazer comes back clean-looking but still smells at the armpits when you warm up, ask the cleaner to pre-treat that area next time. Our guide on keeping a blazer fresh between cleanings covers what to do in between.
How do you keep dry-clean-only clothes fresh between cleanings?
Air, rotate, and protect them with a washable layer underneath.
- Air the garment inside out after each wear before it goes back in the cupboard.
- Rotate two jackets or suits so each rests a day.
- Wear a cotton vest and a washable shirt underneath to catch sweat.
- Do not spray anything on a dry-clean-only garment. Treat the washable shirt underneath instead with a clothing deodorant for the washable shirt underneath, which is made for fabric that can take it.
Solvent smell is fixed by airing, or by the cleaner drying the garment properly. A fabric spray is not a fix for it and should never be used on dry-clean-only clothes. If you feel dizzy or get a headache from a garment's smell, air it outdoors and take it back.
Sources
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Perchloroethylene (PERC) and dry cleaners. NYC Health. nyc.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the dry cleaning smell harmful?
A faint smell that airs out quickly is common. A strong, lasting chemical smell means solvent was left in the garment; air it outdoors and return it to the cleaner.
Should I keep the plastic cover on?
No. Remove it when you get home. It traps solvent and moisture against the fabric.
Why does my blazer still smell of sweat after dry cleaning?
Solvents are best at oils; water-based sweat marks need separate treatment. Ask the cleaner to pre-treat the underarms.
Can I spray a dry-clean-only suit?
No. Air it instead, and treat the washable shirt you wear under it.
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