What does Dry Clean - Any Solvent (A) mean?

Detailed explanation

The dry clean symbol (an empty circle) means the garment must be cleaned by a professional dry cleaner using a chemical solvent rather than water. Dry cleaning uses non-aqueous solvents (such as perchloroethylene or hydrocarbon solvents) to dissolve and remove oils, soiling, and stains without the moisture that would cause damage. The empty circle — without a letter inside — indicates that any standard commercial solvent is safe, so the item can be taken to any conventional cleaner. Additional bars below or gentleness indicators require specific process instructions (shown by the variant symbols).

How to follow the Dry Clean - Any Solvent (A) symbol:

1. 1

   Take to any dry cleaner

2. 2

   Any commercial dry cleaning solvent is safe

3. 3

   Standard dry cleaning process

4. 4

   Point out any stains to the cleaner

When does this symbol appear on care labels?

• For all tailored wool, cashmere, and silk garments where structure and drape must be preserved
• For suits, blazers, and formalwear requiring professional pressing as well as cleaning
• For garments with complex construction: glued, fused, or structured internal elements
• For items with embellishments or special finishes that cannot be submerged in water
• When a set stain requires solvent-based treatment that home methods cannot provide

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming "dry clean" means "washable with extra care" — dry cleaning and water-based cleaning are fundamentally different processes
• Dry cleaning too frequently — excessive solvent exposure and heat pressing accelerates fabric wear
• Not pointing out stains to the cleaner — untreated stains may set permanently during the cleaning process

Common Materials