You may have seen research in the news warning that a common dry cleaning chemical—tetrachloroethylene (PCE)—is tied to a spike in liver disease. Oceanside Cleaners wants to be quick to assure customers that we do not use PCE and have not used it for more than two decades.
In fact, Oceanside uses ultra-safe cleaning solutions. Mark Harris, Oceanside co-owner says, “Oceanside Cleaners has been a Green Council-certified cleaner since 2001. We use organic, earth-friendly solvents, which clean just as effectively as traditional solvents like PCE—without polluting the environment or exposing customers or employees to harsh, toxic chemicals.”
Research by the Keck Medical School at the University of Southern California found that PCE is associated with three times greater odds of liver fibrosis that can progress to liver cancer, liver failure or death.
Even perhaps more startling, the research found that 7% of U.S. adults have detectable levels of PCE. The research established the link between exposure to PCE and wearing clothes that were dry cleaned or working as an employee in a dry cleaners.
“While the EPA released guidance in January of 2025 for dry cleaners to avoid PCE, we’ve long since replaced PCE with environmentally and human-safe dry cleaning solutions,” Harris says. “I encourage customers to ask us any questions about PCE or our policy of not using it.”