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Many of us rely on our corner dry cleaners to ensure we look nice when we step into the office, go to important meetings, or attend evening banquets. We hand our stained and wrinkled suits and dresses to the nice lady at the corner dry cleaner and fill out a slip of paper. A couple of days later we get back stain-free, wrinkle-free clothes nicely placed on wired hangers and covered in all too familiar thin plastic wrap. How many of us go through this easy and painless process on a weekly basis? Countless. How many of us know how our clothes get miraculously cleaned without using water? Not many.

HAZARDOUS TO HUMAN HEALTH

Contrary to the name, dry cleaning is not exactly dry. Instead of water, the cleaning process employs a solvent, the most common one being perchloroethylene, or PERC for short. It also goes by the name of Tetrachlorethylene. PERC was introduced as a cleaning agent in 1934 to replace the once favored gasoline and kerosene. However, by the 1970s increasing evidence demonstrated that perchloroethylene used by professional dry cleaners was harmful to human health and to the environment. The National Toxicology Program, which evaluates exposures that may be carcinogenic, classifies PERC "as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen, based on sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity in experimental animals." The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies PERC as a possible to probable human carcinogen (1)

The greatest danger from PERC is via occupational exposure - dry cleaners and manufacturers who handle the chemical on a regular basis. In December 2005, the EPA proposed strict health regulations for dry cleaning businesses, which begs the question - what about the consumers who are exposed to low levels of residual PERC on a weekly basis?

HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT

According to the EPA, "PERC can get into the air, water and ground during the cleaning, purification, and waste disposal phases of dry cleaning." In the air, PERC breaks down into other chemicals within a few weeks of first release, some of which are toxic and some of which are "suspected to deplete the ozone layer". In the ground, PERC is known to be toxic to plants. PERC can seep through the ground and contaminate surface water, groundwater, and potentially drinking water. Even small amounts of PERC in the water have been "shown to be toxic to aquatic animals"

ALTERNATIVES

The California Air Resources Board voted unanimously in January 2007 to ban the purchase of new PERC machines beginning in 2008, and to phase out the use of all PERC by 2023. Newer technologies and processes have started to emerge in the marketplace. Unfortunately, because they are still in a fairly nascent stage, it is very confusing to consumers which new option is truly good for their health and the environment

• CO2 Dry Cleaning is a carbon dioxide based garment cleaning process. CO2 is a non-flammable, non-toxic, colorless and odorless gas. Under certain pressure the gas becomes liquid. The garment is placed in a special wash chamber, into which liquid CO2 is pumped. The liquid CO2 goes into the fibers and takes out dirt, fats, and oils. At the end of the cleaning cycle, the liquid CO2 is pumped back into a storage tank.
  Bay Area service: Bluesky Cleaners. It provides free pick up and drop off at various locations, including Elephant Pharmacy and participating corporations stores.
• Silicon-based Dry Cleaning process is billed as a non-toxic and environmentally-friendly alternative to PERC dry cleaning. It uses liquid silicon to clean and its byproducts can be disposed of without harming the environment. However, there have been mixed reports regarding the health risks (2). The dry cleaning industry group has been working with the EPA to conduct future human health tests.
  Bay Area service: Blossom Hill Cleaners at Los Gatos
• Professional Wet Cleaning is an alternative to dry cleaning. It is a water-based, non-toxic process for cleaning a full range of garments. This process uses computer-controlled washing machines to minimize agitation during cleaning. It calls for biodegradable detergents and additives. In a report published in 2003, Consumer Reports found it less than satisfactory because of potential shrinkage in certain fabrics (3).
  Bay Are service: Norge Cleaners at Albany

General tips on dry cleaners: As the awareness of and concern over traditional dry cleaning methods has increased, many dry cleaners have embraced healthier and more environmentally friendly alternatives. Unfortunately, some dry cleaners have also put up signs claiming to be green without actually backing it up with sound processes. It is a good practice to always inquire about the exact process a particular dry cleaner employs.

MINIMIZING TRIPS TO DRY CLEANERS

For people who have limited access to alternative dry cleaners, here are some tips to reduce trips to your local PERC dry cleaners:

• Purchase clothes that do not require dry cleaning
• Hang up clothes immediately after you have worn them
• Do not wear clothes on consecutive days
• Blot spills and stains right away, use a lint brush, and wear undershirts to avoid sweat stains
• Steam a suit to remove wrinkles
• Many "dry clean only" clothing items are actually washable. If they are not wool or silk, you may be able to wash them by hand or on delicate cycle of your washer. Use cold water, squeeze rather than wring, and lay flat to dry. There is always some risk in shrinkage when you try washing a particular piece of garment the first time. Not suitable for hand washing or home washing machines: suits, lined clothes, angora, wool, and some silk.

http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/garment/ctsa/factsheet/ctsafaq.htm

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4256304

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/cooking-cleaning/drycleaning-alternatives-203/index.htm

 

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