5 Ways to Green Your Dry Cleaning
By Jenny Everett,SELF magazine
We admit to loving the miracle that is dry cleaning. Red wine stain? Poof! Discolored underarms? Vanished! Wrinkles from being balled up on the floor for days (err...weeks)? Erased! At the same time, we can't help but wonder what types of harsh chemicals are needed to pull off these disappearing acts.
Turns out, according to the Centers for Disease Control, 85 percent of dry cleaners in the U.S. use petroleum-based perchloroethylene (a.k.a. perc) as their primary solvent.The Environmental Protection Agencyhas classified perc as an air contaminant and health agencies have labeled it a possible carcinogen.
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Not sure our wool sweaters are worth that toxic nastiness! What to do?
Perc is a volatile organic compound that can cause dizziness, headaches, and respiratory irritation. In larger doses, it's been linked to liver and kidney damage. As a result, the government has labeled it a "potential occupational carcinogen." On top of that, when improperly disposed of, perc contaminates ground water and can contribute to ozone depletion.
"Perc is showing up everywhere," says Alexandra Zissu, co-author of Planet Home: Conscious Choices for Cleaning & Greening the World You Care About Most, "It's in blood and breast milk. When they test for it there's no question it's in our bodies." Zissu shared these tips for avoiding the toxic grossness, without sacrificing your wardrobe.
1. Pay attention to fabrics.Easily-washed-at-home cotton and cotton blends can look stylish and tailored. "My basic thing is that I'm not some dude who has to wear a suit everyday," says Zissu. "Offices have toned down their dress codes so if you shop with fabric in mind you can do a lot with washing and ironing."
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She even encourages washing wool at home--on cold, then air-drying. "It may not be quite as gorgeous, but it's also not as chemical laden as when you get it from the dry cleaner." If clothing is extra smelly or dirty, add a half-cup of baking soda or a cup of club sodaduring the rinse cycle.
Beware: Items with a liner (or, gasp, shoulder pads) should not be laundered at home, as they will lose their shape.
2.Get a steamer. Often clothes don't need to be washed--in fact it's estimated that 33 percent of clothing that's taken to the dry cleaner simply needs to be pressed! The Jiffy Steamer is light and portable and will pay itself off quickly given the lack of dry cleaning bills!
3.Find anorganic dry cleaner. More and more organic cleaners are popping up around the country. However, don't just take their word for it--ask for specifics on their cleaning process. You're good to go if they're a wet cleaner (basically how you would hand wash your clothes at home, just using fancy machines to make them look more pressed and perfect) or use carbon dioxide (it's pressurized to turn into a liquid, then the pressure is released to return it to a gas that dries clothing--cool!). Go to nodryclean.com to find an organic cleaner near you.
4.Avoid home dry-cleaning kits. Zissu wouldn't let them through her front door. Although they claim to be perc-free, often other chemicals may be introduced. "Do your research and read labels very carefully," she says.
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5.Limit exposure to traditionally dry-cleaned items. Given that organic dry cleaning hasn't gone mainstream and sometimes you need an item cleaned ASAP that just can't be done at home, it's inevitable that you'll occasionally have no choice but to drop your clothes off at a cleaner that relies on perc.
"When you get it home, immediately remove the plastic that enshrouds it and let it hang outside for at least two hours while it's shedding the toxic gasses," says Zissu. "You don't want that sitting in your closet."
For bonus green points, return wire hangers to your local dry cleaner for recycling, stock your closet with fresh hangers, and get a reusable garment bag instead of taking home the plastic typically placed over dry cleaned items.
"Oh, and maybe you could find Zen in ironing," she says. "I mean, it's kind of yogic." Not sure about that, but if it helps us limit our exposure to perc, we're willing to give it a try!
What do you think? Is ditching the dry cleaner green-minded overkill or a smart health decision?
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Photo Credit: Condé Nast Digital Studio
