Is it safe to keep a dry cleaning bag on the couch overnight?

What to know

Do not leave fresh dry cleaning in its plastic bag on the couch overnight. The plastic traps odor, and the fabric may still carry perchloroethylene, also called PCE or perc.

Remove the bag when you get home. If the clothes smell like solvent, do not put them on a sofa, bed, crib, or closet. Hang them in a garage, laundry room, or covered outdoor area with airflow until the smell is gone.

For future cleaning, ask the cleaner what solvent they use. Wet cleaning is the better question to ask for first. If a garment can be washed safely, skip dry cleaning.

What the research says

EPA says perchloroethylene is widely used in dry cleaning and advises keeping exposure from newly dry-cleaned materials to a minimum. EPA also notes that people can breathe low levels of perchloroethylene in homes where dry-cleaned goods are stored.

EPA's perchloroethylene risk evaluation found unreasonable risks to consumers and bystanders from consumer uses of perchloroethylene, including short-term skin exposure to dry-cleaned items.

The simple rule: take off the bag, air out the clothes, and keep fresh dry cleaning away from soft surfaces.