London’s Eco Dry Cleaning Specialists

Liquid CO₂ and biodegradable wet cleaning since 2013. No perchloroethylene at any stage.

BLANC is an eco-friendly dry cleaning service in London that has never used perchloroethylene. Since 2013, every garment has been cleaned using one of two non-toxic methods: liquid CO₂ cleaning or advanced wet cleaning with biodegradable detergents. The choice between them is made garment by garment, based on the fabric, the construction, and the condition of the piece. Four studios across London and complimentary collection and delivery.

Conventional dry cleaning is neither dry nor clean

The term ‘dry cleaning’ is misleading. Garments are immersed in a liquid solvent — most commonly perchloroethylene, a petroleum-based chemical classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 2A probable human carcinogen. PERC is effective at dissolving grease and oil. It is also effective at stripping natural oils from wool fibres, dulling the colour of silk, weakening thread structure at stress points, and leaving a chemical residue that sits against the skin between wears.

A wool suit cleaned with PERC every fortnight will lose noticeable softness within a year. The lapels flatten. The drape stiffens. The colour fades. The garment is not ageing from use. It is ageing from the cleaning method. The client replaces the suit and attributes the decline to normal wear. It is not normal wear. It is chemical damage from a process the industry has relied on for decades because it is cheap and fast, not because it is good for fabric.

What BLANC uses instead

BLANC replaced perchloroethylene from day one — not as a recent marketing pivot, but as a founding decision in 2013. Two methods are used, and the selection is made per garment, not per load.

Liquid CO₂ cleaning

Carbon dioxide in liquid form acts as a solvent at low temperatures and low pressure. It dissolves grease, oil, and particulate matter without the chemical aggression of PERC. It leaves no residue on the garment. It does not strip natural fibre oils, does not dull colour, and does not weaken thread structure. After the cycle, the CO₂ reverts to gas and is recaptured for reuse — nothing is released into the environment. Liquid CO₂ is particularly effective for structured garments, delicate fabrics, and pieces with embellishment that cannot tolerate water or agitation.

Advanced wet cleaning with biodegradable detergents

Wet cleaning uses water and biodegradable, pH-neutral detergents in machines with precisely controlled temperature, agitation, and spin. The variables are calibrated to the specific fabric — silk at one setting, wool at another, cotton at another. This is not domestic washing. The machines are commercial, the detergents are formulated for professional use, and the operator selects the cycle based on the individual garment. Wet cleaning is the primary method for most everyday garments and produces a cleaner result than solvent-based methods on the fabrics it suits.

Every garment is assessed before a method is selected

A silk evening dress, a wool suit, a cotton shirt, and a cashmere jumper do not respond to the same temperature, the same agitation, or the same detergent concentration. A cleaner that runs one cycle for all of them is fast. It is also destructive to at least three of the four.

At the BLANC Atelier, every garment is individually inspected before cleaning begins. The fibre content, the construction, the dye, any embellishment, and every visible and suspected stain are assessed. The cleaning method, the temperature, the agitation level, and the detergent are then selected for that specific piece. This is what individual assessment means in practice — not a label on a marketing page, but a decision made by a trained specialist for every garment that enters the facility.

The full range of what BLANC handles

• Suits and tailored garments. Wool, linen, cotton, and blended suiting cleaned without PERC and hand-finished on shaped forms that preserve the structure the tailor built.
• Shirts and everyday laundry. Business shirts and general laundry cleaned, pressed, and finished to a consistent standard. Collar and cuff attention that a high-street laundry does not provide.
• Silk, cashmere, and delicate fabrics. Cleaned with methods calibrated to protein and natural fibres — the pH, the temperature, and the agitation all set to protect the fibre rather than process it efficiently.
• Designer and occasion wear. Embellished, structured, and high-value pieces assessed individually. Beadwork, lace, and hand-applied detail treated by hand, not by machine.
• Wedding dresses. Cleaned and preserved for long-term storage using acid-free materials. A full bridal care service from cleaning through preservation boxing.
• Leather, suede, and accessories. Specialist leather cleaning, reconditioning, colour restoration, and repair for handbags, shoes, jackets, and accessories.
• Household textiles. Curtains, upholstery, bedding, and household items cleaned using the same non-toxic methods applied to garments.

Machine pressing flattens a garment. Hand finishing shapes it.

After cleaning, every garment at BLANC is finished by hand. A machine press applies uniform pressure across the whole garment — the same force on a lapel as on a flat panel. A specialist works section by section: shaping the shoulder, settling the collar, pressing around buttons and embellishment without crushing them. The difference is visible the moment the garment goes back on the hanger. Hand finishing is not an optional extra. It is part of the standard process for every piece.

A dedicated cleaning facility, not a machine behind the counter

Most dry cleaners clean on the premises — a machine in the back of the shop running the same solvent cycle for everything. BLANC separates the drop-off from the cleaning. Studios in Chelsea, Marylebone, South Kensington, and Notting Hill receive garments. The Atelier at 16 Gorst Road, NW10 6LE, cleans them. The Atelier is a dedicated facility with the controlled environment, the specialist equipment, and the space to treat each piece individually. The separation is not a logistical choice. It is the reason the range of treatment — from a cotton shirt to a beaded evening gown — is handled to the same standard under the same roof.

The garment you clean correctly is the garment you do not buy again

A quality two-piece suit costs between £500 and £2,000. Cleaned conventionally with PERC every fortnight, it loses its structure and colour within 18 to 24 months. Cleaned with non-toxic methods, the same suit retains its drape, colour, and hand feel for three to five years of equivalent wear. The annual cost of eco-friendly dry cleaning is a fraction of the cost of premature replacement. This is not a lifestyle choice. It is a financial decision.

Four studios and complimentary collection across London

Walk in to any BLANC studio or schedule a collection from your London address. Collection and delivery are complimentary across central and west London.

• Chelsea. 85 Lower Sloane Street, SW3. In-store tailor available Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm.
• Marylebone. 79 George Street, W1U 8AQ.
• South Kensington. 28 Bute Street, SW7 3EX.
• Notting Hill. 77 Lonsdale Road, W11 2DF.

All studios are open Monday to Friday 10am to 7pm and Saturday 10am to 6pm, closed Sunday. Schedule a collection at blancliving.co or call 020 8004 2630.