deep fresh – the innovative Fred Butler cleaning process

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a colourless, odourless and non-flammable gas composed of carbon and oxygen. A natural component of air, carbon dioxide is produced by burning fuels such as coal or oil which contain carbon. 

Carbon dioxide has a variety of uses in everyday life. Many beverages contain carbon dioxide or "carbonic acid", which is frequently added to lemonades and mineral waters. Dry ice is produced by combining CO₂ and air under cold conditions. Most fire extinguishers and systems operate with CO₂ because of its ability to displace oxygen.

CO₂ as cleaning agent

Liquefied CO₂ is a highly effective cleaning agent. The crystal-clear liquid has been used by the US aerospace industry for decades for cleaning highly sensitive instruments. The cleaning principle was first tested on textiles in the USA in the mid-1990s.

The Linde Group joined forces with Swedish company Electrolux to design special cleaning machines for a process that offered outstanding protection for colours and fibres. Fred Butler has advanced this process to the stage of industrial market-readiness for textile cleaning companies.

Fred Butler's environmentally friendly cleaning processes

Carbon dioxide produced by industrial manufacturing processes is collected, cleaned and processed at special plants. Tankers transport the gas to Fred Butler's central cleaning plants, where it is stored in huge tanks. The gas is pressurized at 50 bar to liquefy it for the actual cleaning process.



The cleaning machines are filled with around 15 kg of textiles. The air in the machine is extracted and the washing drum is filled with around 120 kg of liquid CO₂ under a pressure of approximately 50 bar from the machine's internal storage tank. This liquid CO₂ penetrates deep into the fibres and completely dissolves grease, oils and other dirt particles in the material.

The textiles maintain an almost floating state during the cleaning process because of their suspension in liquid CO₂ under high pressure in the washing drum. The drum rotates very slowly and the whole process is significantly shorter than conventional cleaning processes, reducing mechanical stress on the materials cleaned and increasing their lifespan by up to 40 per cent, as the EU-Life Report established. The innovative CO₂ deep cleaning process is also suitable as a gentle cleaning method for more challenging materials such as leather, down and furs.

After the initial immersion in the slowly rotating drum, the CO₂ is drained off together with the cleaning booster and the dirt. Computer and sensor-controlled cleaning programs minimize the amount of cleaning agents required and help to save water. 

The particles of dirt are distilled out of the CO₂ and discarded, leaving pure CO₂ for the next wash. 98 per cent of the CO₂ is recovered and stored in the internal tank of the machine for further use. It can be used between 50 and 100 times.

As soon as the clothing is removed from the machine, it is cool, hygienically clean and dry. Depending on the type of textile and area of use, a washing cycle at 30°, 60° or 95°may be added to the CO₂ cleaning process. Only biodegradable washing agents are used in this, ensuring that the entire cleaning process complies with all ecological and environmental requirements.

Facts in brief

• Carbon dioxide gas is prepared in special plants.
• Tankers take the gas to Fred Butler's central cleaning plants.
• The cleaning machine is filled with liquid CO₂ and biodegradable washing agents.
• The liquid CO₂ dissolves grease, oil and other dirt particles from the textiles.
• After cleaning the CO₂ is distilled to remove the particles of dirt.
• The CO₂ is liquefied again in readiness for the next cleaning process.
• Around 98 of the CO₂ is recovered and stored. It can be used a further 90 to 100 times.
• Depending on the type of textile and area of use, a washing cycle using biodegradable washing agents (30°, 60° or 95°) may be added to the CO₂ cleaning process.