Daily Tip: Dry Cleaning Alternatives
Dry cleaning chemical perchloroethylene (perc), while good at removing stains, is a serious health risk, especially for those working directly with it. It has also infiltrated soils and groundwater over the years in areas near dry cleaning facilities. The concern over this chemical has prompted California to ban the use of perc by 2023, and sent many searching for alternative methods to dry cleaning.
There are alternatives out there. Wet cleaning technology was introduced in the mid 1990’s and doesn’t require any solvents. It is garment specific, and uses soap and water in “smart” washers and dryers to clean clothes, which are then finished, or pressed accordingly. Some garments are also handwashed depending on the fabric.
Other than wet cleaning there’s liquid carbon dioxide, which uses captured CO2 in the cleaning process and is a lot less toxic than conventional dry cleaning. A Consumer Reports comparison found the CO2 cleaning method achieved better results than wet cleaning or conventional dry cleaning.
However, when taking something to a professional cleaner, always ask if you’re unsure if their method is safe for your garment. And while there are an increasing number of green cleaners popping up, they aren’t available everywhere just yet.
You can avoid the cleaners altogether and hand wash your garments at home. While the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Care Labeling Rule insists that ‘”Dryclean Only’ is a warning that the garment cannot be washed,” depending on the fabric, you can wash some garments labeled as such. The FTC’s Care Labeling Rule also says that clothing only has to carry a washing instruction or drycleaning instruction - even if both are acceptable for that garment.
When washing garments home, hand wash using a mild detergent and cold water. Don’t wring or twist the fabric and lay it flat to dry. Keep in mind that not all “dry clean only” garments can be washed. If you’re unsure if it’s best to take it to a cleaner.
Amy says: I’m still waiting for a green cleaner to pop up in my neighborhood…
For more on garment labeling and tips for washing at home:
Federal Trade Commission - Care Labeling Rule
Care 2 living - Wet Clean Wool Silk and Rayon
The Dollar Stretcher - Save Money on Dry Cleaning
For more on dry cleaners and the alternatives:
National Geographic - The Green Guide
Green Options: California Bans Toxic Dry Cleaning Chemical
Children’s Health Environmental Coalition
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Tags: clothing, Daily Tips, Dry Cleaning, Environment, Fashion and Apparel, hand wash, Perc, wet cleaning
July 31st, 2007 at 8:52 pm
I’ve noticed that a lot of clothes say dry clean only, yet really can be washed with caution. I do prefer to simply avoid them as much as possible, since I don’t need dry clean only as I work at home.
As I see it, dry clean only is expensive and environmentally unfriendly when the usual chemicals are used. There’s not much to recommend it to me.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:01 pm
As someone who worked in a dry cleaners many years ago, I can personally attest to the nastiness of perc… had to take a co-worker to the hospital once who accidentally breathed fumes from the stuff… he was fine, but it was pretty scary.
_______________________________________
Jeff McIntire-Strasburg
Senior Editor
Green Options
jeff@greenoptions.com
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:58 am
Jeff McIntire, just how much solvent did the alleged victim breathe? It takes a lot of Perc Vapor to cause one to pass out. The chemical is STILL CLASSIFIED as a SUSPECT CARCIOGENIC despite decades of tests. I can also PERSONALLY attest to the safety of the solvent after 16 years of owning and working in my own drycleaning shop without any adverse health effects. PROPER safety practices and personal protection devices whould have prevented ANY contact with perc vapors. Jeff, you were FOLLOWING proper safety precautions when you were hendling perc, weren’t you? Or did you perhaps ignore or not follow safe handling practices? If so, the fault of solvent exposure would be yours and your workmate, not the solvent.
As for washing garments labeled as dryclean only, don’t do it. The care lable law must state one safe method of cleaning a garment. Anyone who does not follow the recommended cleaning method is liable for damage if the garment fails. I hope you are prepared to pay for any and all damaged garments that may fail because of your flawed advice in this posting.
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Tips like these are so fantastic for informing people on what they can do in their own lives and making environmental change a personal decision.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s new environmental documentary “The 11th Hour” outlines the current climate crises, but focuses more on actions that we can take to create a more harmonious relationship between human beings and the natural environment.
In addition to the release of the film in theaters (Aug. 17th), there is also an 11th Hour Action campaign that hopes to spearhead this massive social movement towards environmental sustainability.
Please join in the Action Community and blog or post links like these as well as suggestions and actions to the 11th Hour Action website at http://www.11thhouraction.com.
I hope to see you there
August 9th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Dry cleaning? I’ve never had anything dry cleaned in my life. What the heck kind of crazy fabric needs to be dry cleaned? How could clothing be made of something that can’t be gotten wet?
September 29th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Darcy Moen: Your uncalled-for, haughty, sarcastic and accusatory response to Jeff and this blogger is typical of close-minded people who don’t want to look at facts. The move away from PERC is overwhelming. Deal with it.
Adults are (or should be) mature enough to take responsibility for how to clean their own clothes. we are all big boys and girls, Darcy. When a new way of doing a thing is in the experimental stages a few garments may be sacrificed for the higher good. No one is killing puppies here.
I can’t even get clothes drycleaned bc even the residue from PERC makes me so very sick. I’m really glad for you that your system is so tough and resistant to toxins, but that is hardly true for everyone, and PERC is a really bad toxin. Why would you take it so personally and blast people with such a defensive and mean-spirited stance over such a very real and emerging issue? People are seeking health for themselves and new ways of doing things, as always in life.
To approach you with your own hateful-sounding attitude I must ask: Did your Dad create PERC? Do you own stocks in a PERC manufacturing plant, or are you just normally bitchy?
PS: Contact us later in life and let us know your health status. You may find a cumulative effect from 16 years of PERC use, or are you so perfect nothing like that could ever happen to YOU? And by the way, it is RUDE to type in all caps, it means you are YELLING at people online. Be nice.
September 29th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
So true! I have spent about 20 years not wearing anything that requires drycleaning bc I took your same stance. Dressy & brightly colored women’s clothes seem to need it more bc they are wool or silk or something else that must be handled carefully… why can’t we create more of these kinds of clothes that hold their color and fancy shapes in water? Maybe our efforts need to go in that direction, too.
September 29th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
I’d like to add: I don’t want my clothes, which I wear against my skin and close to my face, cleaned with something you, the cleaner, must use major protective protocol for. “Airing” such as toxin as you recommend on your website, is hardly safe enough!
Maybe the bad attitude comes from the PERC. Hateful emotions are a typical symptom of many forms of toxicity in the human body!
Thanks to all on this website, especially Jeff, who are working and taking time to help us get free of these toxic chemicals in our world. Blessings.
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:36 pm
I recently started a dry cleaning business ( http://www.austincleaners.net )and we don’t use Perc, instead we use hydrocarbon. I obviously know the negative health effects that Perc produces but by contrast I have read many places that hydrocarbon is a great alternative to Perc?
March 31st, 2008 at 3:46 am
Linda Redmond, do you have any facts to back up YOUR claims? So far, the best that 100 years of science can prove about PERC is its a SUSPECT carciogen. Suspect is a long way from PROVEN. You are entitled to your opinion, I am entitled to mine.