A Brief History

Dry cleaning dates back to ancient times, probably beginning with the advent of textile clothing itself.  The ruins of pompeii gives a record of a highly developed trade of "fullers" who were professional clothes cleaners.  Lye and ammonia were used in early laundering, and a type of clay known as "fuller's earth" was used to absorb soils and grease from clothing too delicate for laundering. 

There are many stories about the origin of dry cleaning, all centering on a surprise discovery when a petroleum-type fluid was accidentally spilled on a greasy fabric.  It quickly evaporated and the stains were miraculously removed.  The firm of Jolly-Belin, opening in Paris in the 1840s, is credited as the first dry cleaning firm.