Method for treating personal protective equipment

A method for cleaning and decontaminating apparel comprising:

• providing a pressurizable cleaning vessel;
• providing a permeable container;
• placing the apparel within the permeable container;
• placing the permeable container containing the apparel within the pressurizable cleaning vessel;
• filling the cleaning vessel with a solvent, the solvent being a mixture selected from at least one of propylene glycol ether, water, organic acid or carbon dioxide;
• allowing the permeable container and the apparel to be in contact with the solvent for a first selected period of time;
• after contacting the permeable container and apparel with the solvent for the first selected period of time, introducing into the pressurizable cleaning vessel carbon dioxide gas under pressure to carbonate the solvent;
• allowing the permeable container and the apparel to be in contact with the carbonated solvent for a second selected period of time;
• after the permeable container and the apparel has been in contact with the carbonated solvent for the second selected period, removing at least a portion of the solvent from the cleaning vessel while under pressure;
• introducing into the pressurizable cleaning vessel a rinsing solution consisting essentially of liquid carbon dioxide and alcohol;
• agitating the cleaning vessel containing the rinsing solution, while under pressure, for a third selected period of time;
• removing the rinsing solution from the pressurizable cleaning vessel while under pressure;
• depressurizing the cleaning vessel;
• and
• removing the permeable container containing the apparel from the pressurizable cleaning vessel.