Coffee on silk or grease on wool puts you in a bind. Water can shrink, fade, or distort those fabrics. That is why dry cleaning services use solvent, inspection, and controlled motion instead of a home wash cycle. Why Dry Cleaning Services Use Solvent Instead of Water Wool, silk, rayon, and some blends react to water. Fibers swell, dyes loosen, and shape changes as the garment dries. A solvent avoids that soak and swell cycle. How Stain Removal Works Step By Step Inspection a