About Solvair

History and Availability

Solvair was developed by R.R Street & Co. Inc. (Street’s). Founded in 1876, Street’s has a long history of innovative technology development. Street’s is well known for designing, developing, and marketing reliable, high quality cleaning processes for the professional cleaning industry. Street’s is the leader in the manufacture and marketing of drycleaning process additives, stain removal agents and filtration products in North America.

The system was in research and development for eight years and a Solvair prototype machine has been cleaning all types of garments for the past two years. Over the past year, a beta model of the system has been processing retail cleaning. Appointments can be made to see this beta machine in operation.

It’s Not a Replacement Solvent; It’s A New and Better Approach To Cleaning

The Solvair process technology uses an environmentally friendly proprietary cleaning fluid to clean items in the wheel. The Solvair cleaning fluid combines purpose designed additives with an effective and environmentally friendly solvent for exceptional cleaning results. The Solvair fluid is a very low-volatility liquid with a broader range of soil removal capabilities than conventional solvents, even perchloroethylene. Further, the fluid is used in equipment that has been designed to optimize the process conditions that contribute to top cleaning performance.

A Unique, Gentle Drying Technology That Uses No Heat
The full prowess of the Solvair cleaning technology is revealed in the drying phase of the process. Drying is performed without heat. Until now, cleaning liquids, whether water or solvents have been dried from clothing by evaporation with heated air. In the Solvair Cleaning process, garments are dried with a succession of cool rinses in pressurized liquid carbon dioxide(CO2) to remove the Solvair fluid. At the end of this liquid CO2 rinsing process, the pressure in the wheel is reduced until the CO2 converts from a liquid back to gas, thereby completely drying the items in wheel. The end result is a drying process that is faster, more even and efficient than drying with heat. Without the heat and lengthy tumbling of conventional drying, stains do not set and garments better retain their original qualities through successive wearing and cleaning cycles.

ABOUT SOLVAIR