Almost every dry cleaner calls itself “green” now. The word that actually matters is perc — and whether your cleaner still uses it.
What perc is
Perchloroethylene, shortened to perc, was the dry cleaning industry’s workhorse solvent for most of the last century. It cleans well. It is also a harsh chemical solvent that regulators have tightened rules on for years because of its health and environmental effects, and it can leave a faint chemical smell in finished garments.
What no-perc cleaning means at WaterStone
WaterStone cleans with a no-perc, green process. In plain terms: your clothes are cleaned without perchloroethylene, using modern alternative solvents and wet-cleaning methods chosen for the fabric in front of us. The result is a clean with no harsh chemical odor, which is one reason customers with sensitive skin, and customers bringing baby items, bedding, and everyday garments, prefer it.
Gentler solvent, same professional judgment
Green cleaning is not a single machine setting. Silk, wool, beaded formal wear, structured suits, and everyday cotton all behave differently, and the method has to match the garment: solvent choice, moisture, cycle gentleness, and finishing. A cleaner who switched solvents but kept a one-setting-fits-all habit has only done half the job.
What it means for specific garments
- Suits and wool: Less harsh solvent exposure helps wool keep its hand and shape.
- Formal and embellished pieces: Gentler cycles are kinder to sequins, beading, and glued trims — always inspected first.
- Comforters and bedding: You sleep against these for eight hours a night; they should come back smelling like nothing at all.
- Shirts and everyday wear: Professional laundering plus a clean finish, without the chemical smell in the closet.
Ask your cleaner one question
If you ever switch cleaners, ask directly: “Do you clean in perc?” A straight answer tells you a lot. At WaterStone, the answer is no.
Try it the easy way
WaterStone offers free pickup and delivery twice a week across the Tulsa metro — Owasso, Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Jenks, and Bixby, and anywhere else in the metro you need us. Sign up at https://waterstonecleaners.smrtapp.com/custx/ or call 918-272-2424.