| Characteristics |
Perc |
Petroleum |
Water |
CO2
Microemulsion |
| Cleaning ability |
Medium |
Worst |
Limited |
Best
Demonstrates high
performance with tannin, water-soluble, and oily stains in lab
tests. |
| Safe for all garments |
Medium |
Medium |
Worst |
Best |
| Agitation |
Rotating basket |
Rotating basket |
Rotating basket |
Rotating basket design, similar to
traditional method, lifts clothes out of liquid and drops then through a
liquid interface to provide mechanical action necessary for effective
cleaning without undue stress on garments. |
| Cycle time |
50 min |
60+ min |
Variable (long drying times) |
<40 min
Shorter cycle
time increases the effective capacity of the
machine. |
| Capacity |
30-50 lb |
30-60 lb |
Variable |
50 lb
Capacity meets industry standard and will scale. |
| Machine cost |
$60-85K |
$70-90K |
$5-30K |
$125K
Quality design and
construction of pressurized equipment carries greater up-front costs but
lower operating costs (see below). |
| Operating costs |
Medium |
Highest |
Medium |
Lowest
With operating cost savings of $0.25/lb of clothes cleaned,
the equipment can pay for itself in as little as 3 years. |
| Environmental Restrictions |
Worst |
Medium |
Medium |
Best
Not regulated;
recyclable. |
| Worker Health/Safety |
Worst |
Moderate |
Best |
Best |
| Site Restrictions |
EPA Listed Many landlords refuse to grant
leases to perc operators. |
Moderate Many fire departments restrict
petroleum locations. |
Better |
Best |
