July 10th's Tip
Dry Cleaning: In an effort to go organic, you may have switched to an "organic" dry cleaner. We've come to know "organic" as meaning "chemical free," but what about in terms of dry cleaning? Is that chemical free? Well, no. In terms of dry cleaning, "organic" just means carbon based.
"organic" can also mean certified by the International Fabricare Institute, but even that certification doesn't mean such a store doesn't use perc, just that they operate in an environmentally responsible fashion.
Green Daily
So how are you supposed to know who to trust? That can be a toughie. 85% of dry cleaners in the U.S. use a solvent known as perc, classified as a probable human carcinogen by the EPA and a water and soil contaminant. It is also "organic." If you must use a dry cleaner that uses perc, remove the wrapper outside, and let your clothing air out for as long as possible (a few days would be best) before wearing them.
A newer method of dry cleaning has come about, allowing more dry cleaners to misleadingly label themselves "organic" - it uses a cleaning fluid called DF-2000. Made by Exxon Mobil. 'Nuff said. (or read more)
There are options for dry cleaners that don't use perc (or DF-2000_. Green options include cleaning techniques using carbon dioxide, and, believe it or not, water (wet cleaning). These, however, can be very expensive, and wet cleaning is very labor intensive, so not many dry cleaners use these methods. Another option is dry cleaning using a silicon based solvent - made of sand, water, and carbon dioxide. Safe for you, safe for the environment.
The dry cleaners that use this method are members of GreenEarth Cleaning, so you can use their locator tool to find one near you.
Want to risk it? I recently bought a couple of shirts from a local thrift store that said dry clean only. I didn't want to pay more to clean them then I did to buy them, and I didn't want to risk it with the chemicals in the dry cleaning process, so I decided to hand wash them. I was a bit worried about the outcome, but was happy to see that they washed and dried perfectly fine (and one is 100% silk). I wouldn't recommend this for every article of clothing, but in my case, it was a better option. If you decide to try this, be gently, and use a gentle soap (I used a biodegradable dish soap).
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6 Responses
1
yoga for me
July 11th, 2009 at 12:40 am
I think that part about the dry cleaners being able to label themselves as organic is v unfair and misleading !
2
Carla | Green and Chic
July 12th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Thank you for posting the green dry cleaner locator link. I had been looking for one for a while and haven't (until now) found one that had a large database.
3
Rick Blanks
July 13th, 2009 at 5:46 am
Nice post, had enlightened me regarding dry cleaning. But I am not a fan of dry cleaned clothes, would really prefer wet cleaning instead.
4
Links Love: Bottled water, organic produce and more... | Green + Chic
July 13th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
[...] Eco-Friendly Friday Tips Volume Fifty Five – Dry Cleaning by Focus Organic gives you the scoop on what organic, eco, green or chemical-free dry cleaning really means. There is also a link to help you find a dry cleaners that uses methods that’s healthier for you and for the environment. Follow Focus Organic on Twitter [...]
5
Server Support
July 15th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
How do these companies ensure they are really pro environment cleaners, and not just faking it for some free press, or customers?
There really is no way to know.
6
Stefanie
August 18th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Server, I don't suppose they could lie about what sort of cleaning product they use, but this is a question you could probably pose to all companies who make any sort of claim to attract customers.