modern dry cleaning uses solvents that do not use water to remove dirt and stains from clothing. jean baptiste jolly discovered that petroleum-based solvents (chemicals based on fuel like gasoline or kerosene.) can be used for dry-cleaning in the mid-19th century. jolly was a french dye-works owner. he noticed that his tablecloth became cleaner after his maid spilled kerosene on it. because of this, he developed a service cleaning people's clothes this way, which became known as "nettoyage à sec," or "dry cleaning".