Can dry cleaners be green?
There's a newly green dry cleaner in town: the Glyndon Lord Baltimore Cleaners. The shop uses GreenEarth Cleaning, a solicone-based solution, which is like sand, instead of perchloroethylene. Perc is used by most dry cleaners and is considered a health and environmental hazard by the Environmental Protection Agency.
A few options for greener cleaning have cropped up in recent years, and experts don't agree that they are all perfect alternatives.
Here's what the Union of Concerned Scientists says about the silicone method: "Silicone cleaning is a proprietary technology that employs a silicone-based solvent to clean clothes. The solvent itself is currently considered safe for the environment because it degrades to sand, water, and carbon dioxide, but it has caused cancer in lab animals in EPA studies. In addition, it is manufactured using chlorine, which can generate harmful dioxin emissions."
The group points to other methods, including wet cleaning, which uses water and special computer-controlled washers and dryers and mild detergent. The EPA considers this among the safest pro cleaning methods. There is also carbon dioxide cleaning that uses liquid CO2 captured as a by-product of industrial processes. It the same stuff used to carbonate soda.
You fashionistas could consider not dry cleaning at all. Some stuff can go in the gentle cycle or be hand washed. You could try that special stuff meant to be used in the dryer in a bag. Or you could try not buying stuff labelled "dry clean only."
For its part, Glyndon Lord Baltimore Cleaners says it continues to research the best methods. In the meantime, operators also recycle hangers and containers, use earth-friendly soaps to clean most wet-cleaned clothes, drive high-mileage diesel vans and supply reusable bags to customers.
Anyone use Glyndon? Other dry cleaners. Or have you found alternative methods that are eco-conscious and actually clean?
Photo courtesy of außerirdische sind gesund via flickr
Categories: Air Pollution, Fashion, Going Green, Products, Tips
Comments
I have been waiting for a "wet cleaner" to come to town. I think the closest now is in Silver Spring -- which is too far to take my dirty clothes. There is another dry cleaner in Federal Hill that advertises that they use "green cleaning" but I have not been able to ascertain what that means.
I try to not use dry cleaning at all - except for say, coats, which I haven't figured out how to clean at all. But it'd be nice to have a truly greener option.
Posted by: a_nic | September 16, 2009 4:08 PM
I use those dryer sheets, which work well for knit shirts and sweaters -- less so for pants and button-downs that need to be pressed. But they save time, travel and money, and I assume are a greener option.
Posted by: Mary | September 17, 2009 9:29 AM
Hello I'm the owner of OrganiCare Fine GarmentCare Centers located in Phoenix, AZ. I agree with not using perc. and looking for a cleaners that uses alternatives to perc. Wet Cleaning is offered at both of my plants, we can clean any type of fabric in water! We will be changing out our DF 2000 or hydrocarbon dry cleaning machines for CO2 next summer. Co2 and Wet Cleaning are the only real organic green technologies of cleaning garments don't be fooled by your neighborhood cleaners saying that their Organic. I have had an alternative to Perc. called df2000 or hydrocarbon for years before co2 and wet cleaning were real options for garment care. My thoughts are to always stay on top of new technologies in the market place to be as green as possible. That's why we are implementing co2 and we have already implemented wet cleaning. Of course we are carbon neutral as well as our vans and we offer bio degradable poly bags, re useable garment bags, promote clients to recycle their hangers, use natural gas boilers, and all the other greener options that we can. That should be standard in your cleaners. Complementary delivery and pick-up of your garments from your home or office should be standard as well at your local cleaners. This lessens the amount of emissions of 100's of clients coming to your cleaners every week. Feel free to call or email for any questions that you might have. 480-585-3936 or brad@organicdrycleaners.com. P.S. please don't be really fooled by any cleaners that say they use Green Earth solvent, this solvent number one doesn't clean anything on its best day and is made out of silicone. Canada is looking towards banning this solvent. It sounds really good but it doesn't work and is not a green alternative at all.
Thanks Brad Keeling President organiCare Fine GarmentCare Centers www.organicarecleaners.com
Posted by: Brad Keeling | November 29, 2009 3:38 PM
Environmentally friendly dry cleaning is possible. Right now we have removed our perc dry cleaning machine and replaced it with a Solvair hybrid CO2 machine.
The results that we are seeing are fantastic. The quality of the dry cleaning is much better than DF2000 or perc, plus the method is considered safe by the EPA.
The only downside is the high cost to purchase the machine plus the CO2 costs.
We raised our retail prices about 9% to cover our expenses. Our clients love the new process which we have branded as Eco2 Cleanse.
Posted by: Jerry Pozniak | December 14, 2009 8:18 AM
If you want the facts about the home dry cleaning kits, here is my post on the subject:
http://www.pressatlanta.com/home-dry-cleaning-kits-do-they-work/
Sadly there are way too many dry cleaners that use PERC. They simply don't care because they are entrenched in an area and know no one will open right next door.
Posted by: Dry Cleaning Delivery Service Atlanta | December 30, 2010 5:35 PM