In the 1850s, French dye-works owner Jean Baptiste Jolly noticed something odd: after his maid spilled kerosene on a dirty tablecloth, it came out cleaner—not stained. He realized that certain solvents could remove grease and dirt without water, and the idea for dry cleaning was born.

Jolly opened the first dry cleaning shop in Paris in 1855. Though early solvents like kerosene were flammable, safer ones followed—making dry cleaning ideal for delicate fabrics like silk and wool. Today, the process is safer, greener, and still a fashion lifesaver.