Does Dry Cleaning Remove All Germs? The Honest Answer Dry cleaning is designed to protect fabrics and remove stains not to fully disinfect clothing. That means some bacteria can still remain, especially if the garment was worn in heat, absorbed sweat, or stayed damp for a while before cleaning. Solvents can reduce a lot of residue, but without a consistent high-heat step, dry cleaning doesn’t guarantee the same level of germ reduction...