Most London dry cleaners still use perchloroethylene — a solvent the EPA classifies as a probable carcinogen — on your silk, your cashmere, and your most delicate pieces. At BLANC, we have never used it. From day one, we chose a different way.

Liquid CO₂ cleaning is one of the most advanced garment care processes available today. It is entirely non-toxic, non-flammable, and leaves no chemical residue on your clothing. The CO₂ we use is recaptured as a by-product of existing manufacturing processes — no new CO₂ is produced, and after each cleaning cycle it is pumped back into storage and reused. Nothing is wasted. Nothing harmful touches your wardrobe.

It is also, quite simply, better for your clothes. Studies show that garments cleaned with liquid CO₂ last between 20 and 40 percent longer than those treated with traditional solvents. Colours stay brighter. Fibres maintain their shape. Fabrics come back feeling exactly as they should.

Every garment that arrives at BLANC is individually inspected and hand spot-cleaned before any cleaning process begins — including liquid CO₂. The process we use is only as good as the care that precedes it.

How Liquid CO₂ Cleaning Works

The process begins when your garment is placed in a specialist sealed chamber. Air is removed completely. Gaseous CO₂ is then injected to pressurise the chamber — a step that protects the fabric from thermal shock. Liquid CO₂ is then pumped in at high pressure, where it becomes a powerful, gentle solvent. Your garment rotates through a cleaning cycle at room temperature, typically lasting between five and fifteen minutes. The liquid CO₂ dissolves dirt, oils, and fats from the fabric without agitating or stressing the fibres.

At the end of the cycle, the liquid CO₂ is pumped back into a storage tank for reuse. What makes this process exceptional for delicate garments is what it does not do — it does not heat the fabric, it does not shrink natural fibres, it does not strip colour, and it leaves no chemical smell or residue. Your garment comes back clean, fresh, and entirely unchanged in feel and structure.

Why Liquid CO₂ Cleaning Matters for Luxury Garments

Cashmere, silk, lace, chiffon, beaded couture, structured tailoring — these are fabrics that traditional solvents damage over time. PERC weakens natural fibres with every clean. It strips colour gradually. It leaves residue that sits against your skin. For garments that cost hundreds or thousands of pounds, this matters enormously.

Liquid CO₂ has none of these problems. It is mild enough for the most delicate fabrics on earth, yet effective enough to remove the oils, stains and residues that build up in a worn garment. It is why we chose it — and why the garments we care for come back in better condition than those treated anywhere else.

This is especially important for wedding dress cleaning, where the fabric may be irreplaceable, and for leather and specialist care, where harsh solvents cause permanent damage to the material.

Liquid CO₂ Cleaning vs Traditional PERC — A Direct Comparison

PERC (Perchloroethylene) — The Industry Standard We Rejected

Perchloroethylene is classified as a probable carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency. It is regulated as a hazardous substance under UK law. When it is used on your garments, trace residues remain in the fabric — and those residues sit against your skin every time you wear the item. Over time, PERC weakens natural fibres, strips colour, and degrades the structure of luxury fabrics. It generates hazardous waste that requires specialist disposal. Approximately 90% of traditional dry cleaners in London still use it.

Liquid CO₂ — The BLANC Alternative

Liquid CO₂ is entirely non-toxic and non-flammable. It is recognised by environmental regulators as safe for workers, clients, and the environment. It generates no hazardous waste. It leaves no chemical residue on your garments. The CO₂ itself is recaptured from existing industrial processes — we do not create new CO₂ — and after each cleaning cycle it is pumped back into storage and reused. Your garments come back odour-free, colour-bright, and structurally unchanged.

Part of a Three-Process Approach

Liquid CO₂ cleaning is one of three non-toxic processes we use at BLANC, depending on the garment and what it needs.

Liquid CO₂ Cleaning

Best for luxury and delicate fabrics — silk, cashmere, lace, couture pieces, vintage garments, beaded and embellished items. Cleans at room temperature without agitation or heat. No residue. Colour-safe.

Wet Cleaning

Recognised by the EPA as one of the safest professional garment cleaning methods available. Used for garments that respond well to water-based cleaning — wools, cottons, linens, and structured pieces. Our luxury dry cleaning service uses wet cleaning as a primary method where appropriate.

Ozone Disinfection

Eliminates bacteria, odour, and biological contamination without chemicals or water. Used for garments where odour removal is the primary requirement, or as a finishing step after cleaning. Particularly effective for vintage and heirloom pieces where water or solvent exposure carries risk.

Every garment that comes to BLANC is individually assessed before we decide which process is most appropriate. We do not put every piece through the same machine. We look at the fabric, the construction, the staining, and the label — and we choose the right approach. That is the BLANC standard.

What We Clean With Liquid CO₂

Luxury and Designer Garments

Silk, cashmere, lace, chiffon, structured tailoring, couture pieces and any garment where fabric integrity is critical. The same care we give to a Chanel jacket as to a cashmere coat — individually inspected, individually treated. Visit our designer garment care page for more.

Delicate and Embellished Items

Beaded gowns, embroidered pieces, vintage clothing and anything where standard cleaning would pose a risk. Liquid CO₂ cleans without agitation — meaning every bead, every stitch, every embellishment remains exactly as it was.

Wedding Dresses and Bridal Wear

A wedding dress is often the most valuable garment a person will ever own. Liquid CO₂ is the safest method available for cleaning silk, duchess satin, Chantilly lace, and structured couture. Learn more about our wedding dress cleaning service at the Chelsea Studio.

Everyday Wardrobe Pieces

Suits, jackets, formal wear and everyday pieces that benefit from a process that preserves colour and shape over repeated cleaning cycles. Garments cleaned with liquid CO₂ last significantly longer than those treated with traditional solvents — a meaningful difference for a wardrobe built on quality.

Our Equipment and Woolmark Accreditation

Liquid CO₂ cleaning machines are considerably more expensive than traditional dry cleaning equipment. Most London cleaners do not invest in them. We did — because we believe the garments our clients bring us deserve the best possible care, and because we are not willing to use a process we would not trust on our own clothing.

We are proud to hold Woolmark accreditation — the only garment care service in London with this certification — recognising our commitment to caring for wool and other natural fibres to the highest international standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is liquid CO₂ dry cleaning?

Liquid CO₂ cleaning uses pressurised carbon dioxide as a solvent to clean garments inside a sealed chamber. It is entirely non-toxic, non-flammable, and leaves no chemical residue on clothing. The CO₂ is recaptured and reused after each cycle — nothing is wasted and nothing harmful remains in your garments.

Is liquid CO₂ cleaning better than traditional dry cleaning?

Yes. Traditional dry cleaning uses PERC — perchloroethylene — which the EPA classifies as a probable carcinogen and which leaves residue in fabric. Liquid CO₂ is entirely non-toxic, does not damage fibres, and studies show garments last 20 to 40 percent longer when cleaned with CO₂ rather than solvents.

Is liquid CO₂ cleaning safe for delicate fabrics like silk and cashmere?

Yes — it is one of the safest cleaning methods available for delicate fabrics. It operates at room temperature without agitation or heat, which means no shrinkage, no colour loss, and no structural damage. It is suitable for silk, cashmere, lace, chiffon, beaded pieces, vintage garments, and couture.

Is liquid CO₂ cleaning environmentally friendly?

Yes. The CO₂ we use is recaptured from existing industrial processes — no new CO₂ is produced for garment cleaning. It generates no hazardous waste, no toxic by-products, and uses significantly less energy than traditional solvent-based cleaning. It is one of the most environmentally responsible cleaning processes available.

Does BLANC use PERC?

No. BLANC has never used perchloroethylene or any traditional dry cleaning solvent. We use liquid CO₂, wet cleaning, and ozone disinfection — three entirely non-toxic processes selected individually for each garment based on its fabric, construction, and condition.

Where can I get liquid CO₂ dry cleaning in London?

Liquid CO₂ cleaning is available at all four BLANC London locations — Chelsea, Marylebone, Notting Hill, and South Kensington — and through our home collection and delivery service available across London.

Book Liquid CO₂ Cleaning at BLANC

Every garment we receive — whether dropped in at one of our four London stores or collected from your home — is individually inspected, hand spot-cleaned where needed, and processed using the method most appropriate for that specific piece. Liquid CO₂ cleaning is available across all BLANC locations.

📍 Chelsea — 85 Lower Sloane Street, SW1W 8DA

📍 Marylebone — 79 George Street, W1U 8AQ

📍 Notting Hill — 77 Lonsdale Road, W11 2DF

📍 South Kensington — 28 Bute Street, SW7 3EX

Home collection and delivery available across London. Book via the BLANC app or call 020 8004 2630