EcoZeal

“Dry Clean Only.” How many items in your closet are labeled with this tag?

The “Dry Clean Only” label may as well be a warning!

Traditional dry cleaning methods rely heavily on a chemical called perchloroethylene, or PERC for short. PERC is nasty stuff, both for you and the environment. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, exposure to this chemical is known to cause central nervous system damage, irritation of the mucous membranes, dermatitis, headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, and in cases of extreme exposure, death. It’s a known carcinogen in animals and a probable one in humans.

What’s more, this substance contaminates up to 25% of drinking water in the U.S., and is regulated by the EPA as an air pollutant as well.

Clearly, it’s not something the eco-conscious consumer wants anything to do with. But the vast majority of dry cleaners still use the stuff. What are the alternatives?

Better doesn’t necessarily mean good.

A relatively new dry cleaning solvent, DF-2000 is being touted as a better, safer option than PERC. Its manufacturer (which happens to be the behemoth oil company Exxon Mobil) claims that it’s less toxic to living organisms and exits the ecosystem faster due to its greater volatility. However, the chemical is a neurotoxin and skin and eye irritant. It contributes to global warming, and has been listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as a chemical of “high concern” in regards to environmental hazard ranking for aquatic toxicity.

Also, don’t be fooled by claims that this chemical is organic. As any chemist can tell you, “organic” simply means the chemical contains a carbon chain, and is a term that can be used to describe any petrochemical.

Carbon Dioxide to the Rescue

A better solution is a dry cleaning method using liquefied carbon dioxide (CO.) Normally a gas at room temperature, the CO2 is pressurized and used as the main ingredient in a cleaning solution that is much more benign than chemicals made from petroleum. After washing a load of clothes, the solution is cleaned and used again in a closed-loop system. It is gentle on clothes because the cleaning process does not require heat. An added benefit to the cool process is that it avoids setting stains with heat.

CO2 cleaning is more costly than traditional dry cleaning, but is much easier on the planet. You can look for a CO2 cleaner in your area here.

Another option is Green Earth cleaning.

Less than ten years old, this proprietary process uses a silicone solvent to carry detergent to and from the fabric. Because it’s chemically inert, it doesn’t react with your clothes, so is exceptionally gentle to the garments. To find a Green Earth cleaner near you, click here.

The Old Fashioned Way

When all else fails, and if you’re not heavily invested in your garment, you could try good old-fashioned hand washing. Many dry-clean-only items hold up just fine under this traditional cleaning method. Just be sure to use a mild detergent (like dish soap or Woolite) and cool or warm (not hot) water. Squeeze the excess water out gently and hang to dry. While you may not want to try this with any item you can’t bear to lose, it may just be the least invasive process out there – and it’s certainly the least expensive!

Traditional dry cleaning solvents can be a real cause of headaches for both people and the planet.