Glossary of Terms F to J

Fifth Generation Machine – A non-vented, closed loop process drycleaning machine (dry-to-dry) with both carbon adsorption and refrigerated condensers utilized to reduce residual solvent in the machine cylinder at the end of the dry cycle to concentrations below a certain level (generally 300 to 100 ppm). Fifth generation machines have inductive fans and lockout devices that do not allow the machine door to be opened until solvent vapor levels have been reduced to low levels.

Filter Cake - See Muck.

Filter Muck - See Muck.

Filter Powder - See Diatomaceous Earth.

Filter Soap - An early drycleaning detergent composed of petroleum sulfonates and other sulfanates. These soaps are soluble in drycleaning solvent and can therefore pass through filters, hence the name filter soaps.

Finishing - Pressing of garments to remove wrinkles and restore each garment to its original size, shape and appearance. Pressing equipment is heated with superheated steam.

First Generation Drycleaning Machine - See Transfer Machine.

140° Flash Solvent - A petroleum distillate drycleaning solvent with a higher flash point (flash point of 140° F) than common petroleum solvents; thus reducing its fire hazard. The distillation range for this solvent is 350 - 410°F. Also known as 140° F Solvent.

Flat Screen Filter – A type of solvent filter constructed of woven Monel metal wire. Flat screen filters were used in powder filtration systems and succeeded bag filters. Flexible Tube Filters - See Regenerative Filters. Form Finisher - See Suzie. Fourth Generation Drycleaning Machine – A non-vented, closed loop process machine (dry-to-dry) with an additional internal vapor recovery device. The control technologies used in these machines are refrigerated condensers and carbon adsorbers.

Freon 113 – See Valclene.

Fresh Care - A home drycleaning product manufactured by Clorox.

Fugitive Vapors - Vapors that escape from process equipment (such as a drycleaning machine).

Full-size Carbon Unit - A carbon unit that is used to adsorb solvent from a drycleaning machine when the vapors are recirculating or venting from the drum during the drying cycle (normally used on first and second generation equipment).

Gasoline - Gasoline (reportedly white gasoline) was the predominant drycleaning solvent in the United States in the early twentieth century, particularly from 1910 – 1920.

General Exhaust Ventilation System - A mechanical exhaust ventilation system consisting of fresh air makeup inlets and one or more exhaust fans in a drycleaning facility that primarily exhausts a drycleaning workroom; also used with a room enclosure.

GEN-X - A drycleaning solvent marketed by Caled Industries. It is a blend of petroleum hydrocarbons (hydrotreated heavy naphtha) and aliphatic propylene glycol ether.

Graying - Discoloration of garments caused by soil particles flocculating or being adsorbed back onto the garment surface. The chief cause of graying is dirty solvent.

GreenEarth - GreenEarth is a silicone-based drycleaning solvent (chemical name is decamethylcyclopentasiloxane) developed by General Electric and offered as an alternative to chlorinated and petroleum-based drycleaning solvent. It has a flash point of 170 ° F and a specific gravity of 0.95.

Green-JetTM Dry-Wet Cleaning Machine - Green Jet is a cleaning machine manufactured by Aero-Tech USA that cleans and dries garments. The first step in the cleaning process is the reduction of humidity in the drum of the machine. Non-soluble soil is then removed from garments by rotating the drum and pulsing air through jets. The soil is collected in a lint chamber. A water-based cleaning solution known as DWX-44 and described as a surfactant blend (detergent), is injected through the air jet nozzles to re-hydrate the fabric. Soluble soil is adsorbed by felt pads attached to the cylinder of the machine. The last step in the process is drying and a cool-down cycle.

Grid-Head Press - A type of steam press that has a perforated head, porous to steam and air. The grid-head press is used on woolen and woolen-type garments.

Halogenated-hydrocarbon Detector – A portable device capable of detecting vapor concentrations of perchloroethylene and indicating an increasing concentration by emitting an audible signal or visual indicator that varies as the concentration changes.

Heating Coil - A device used to heat the air stream circulated from the drycleaning machine drum after perchloroethylene has been condensed from the air stream and before the stream reenters the drycleaning machine drum.

Hot-Head Press - A type of steam press with a smooth, non-porous stainless steel head. The head is heated by steam to surface temperatures as high as 300° F. The hot-head press is used to finish silks and silk-like fabrics.

Hot Machine - A tumbler (dryer) that utilizes heated air.

Hot Plate Evaporator - A device that utilizes a heating coil to vaporize (or boil-off) wastewater at a drycleaning facility; primarily separator water and vacuum press water.

Hydroclene® Drycleaning Fluid - A high-flash (flashpoint 145° F.) petroleum drycleaning solvent manufactured by Shell Chemical Company. Hydroclene Drycleaning Fluid is marketed by Caled Industries.

Hydrogen Peroxide - A common oxidizing bleach used in pre-cleaning and spotting operations. Normally a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution is used. Hydrogen peroxide is used to remove organic stains.

ImpressTM - A propylene glycol ether based drycleaning solvent first marketed in 2004 by Lyondell Chemical Company.

Inductive Fan - A fan in a drycleaning machine that draws air into the machine when the machine door is opened. This reduces exposure to the drycleaning workers to emissions of solvent vapors.

Industrial Cleaners - Those drycleaners engaged in supplying laundered or drycleaned work uniforms, wiping towels, dust control items etc. to industrial and commercial users.

Injection System - A drycleaning solvent/detergent system in which solvent is added to the wheel saturating the garments and then detergent is injected into the flow line or into the drum by a pump or dump method. Cationic detergents are used in injection systems.

Insoluble Soil - The most commonly found materials in fabrics and the bulk of the soils removed in the drycleaning process. Examples include earth, concrete dust, sand, carbon, ashes, lint, hair and cosmetics, etc. These soils will not dissolve either in drycleaning solvent or water. Insoluble soils are removed in the drycleaning machine by lubrication and emulsification.