Five Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Dry Cleaning
By Chris Baskind in Living
Dry cleaning fluid is a major contaminant of groundwater aquifers. But there are now more environmentally friendly ways to keep your clothes looking great.
Clothes are expensive — and we want them to last as long as possible. That’s why dry cleaning has always been so popular.
You may not be able to pronounce tetrachloroethylene, but you know how it smells. It’s the active ingredient in traditional dry cleaning solvent, and goes by the more common name ofperc. But perc has become a big environmental problem. It’s a know cancer-causing agent, and perc’s composition makes it resistant to breaking down once it’s spilled or released into city sewage systems. Up to half the United States’ ground water is now tainted with perc. In Florida alone, 2,800 sites are being considered for cleanup at a cost of $1.4 billion USD.
States are finally moving to phase out the use of perc, but eco-conscious consumers needn’t wait to take action. Lighter Footstep has rounded up five alternatives to traditional dry cleaning. Find a couple that work for you, and help clean the environment and your wardrobe at the same time!
Find a progressive cleaner
Seek out a professional who offers non-perc dry cleaning. There are three popular alternatives right now: high-pressure cleaning using liquid carbon dioxide; silicone-based cleaners (known as GreenEarth cleaning); and high-tech, computer-controlled wet washing. Of the three, Consumer Reports found that liquid CO2 performed even better than old-style perc. GreenEarth was close behind. CR’s testers were not impressed by the wet washing results. GreenEarth offers a convenient directory for locating an affiliated dry cleaner in your city.
Consider personal dry cleaning
Home dry cleaning kits — such as those manufactured under the Dryel brand by Procter and Gamble, and by Clorox as Fresh Care — are certainly not chemical-free, and you shouldn’t expect results identical to professional cleaning. But they don’t contain perc, and might be an alternative in areas without eco-friendly cleaners.
Opt for the washer
Modern washers with gentle cycles are often suitable for items you’d consider hand washing, such as cashmere. If you’re planning to upgrade in your laundry room, consider a front-loading washer. They’re more water-efficient than conventional models, and the money you’ll save on laundering your own delicates will more than make up for the purchase price.
Steam away dirt and odors
Sometimes a little is enough: Steam clean lightly soiled articles in your dryer. Place delicates in the dryer with a damp colorfast towel and a scented sachet (for freshness). Run a normal cycle.
Re-evaluate your wardrobe
The best way to reduce dry cleaning pollution is to stop buying clothes which require it. With the tremendous variety of low-care fabrics available these days, thoughtful shopping can pay-off in reduced cleaning costs — and a lighter environmental footstep. Get into the habit of checking labels in the store, and press online merchants to disclose cleaning care requirements before you buy. Manufacturers respond to consumer demands — so be demanding when it comes to your clothing purchases!
Have any other alternative dry cleaning ideas? Please share your tips in the Comments section!
PDF15 Responses to “Five Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Dry Cleaning”
Leave a Reply
Additional comments powered by BackType
I never buy anything that has to be dry-cleaned anymore. When I lived in a colder climte, I used to wear a lot of wool, but now all I have is my wool peacoat, and it is hardly ever worn.
Thanks for posting this topic. I actually purchased a steamer for my clothing, and assuming I don't have tough stains, I have the impression that I get reasonable results, both simple cleaning and odors using this device. But I'm curious if anyone else has had positive results with this approach
I think there's something bad about GreenEarth. Let me look it up. Hold on…
Oh yeah. Possible cancer risk. NPR story here. But this is from 2005. Do you know if further studies have been done?
Another suggestion to add to your list: vodka. Some people swear by spraying vodka (not sure the dilution) onto clothing that cannot be easily washed to kill odor-causing bacteria and freshen them up. I have not personally tried this myself, but I have used vodka to clean other things. Works great.
I think there's something bad about GreenEarth. Let me look it up. Hold on…
Oh yeah. Possible cancer risk. NPR story here. But this is from 2005. Do you know if further studies have been done?
Another suggestion to add to your list: vodka. Some people swear by spraying vodka (not sure the dilution) onto clothing that cannot be easily washed to kill odor-causing bacteria and freshen them up. I have not personally tried this myself, but I have used vodka to clean other things. Works great.
I think there's something bad about GreenEarth. Let me look it up. Hold on…
Oh yeah. Possible cancer risk. NPR story here. But this is from 2005. Do you know if further studies have been done?
Another suggestion to add to your list: vodka. Some people swear by spraying vodka (not sure the dilution) onto clothing that cannot be easily washed to kill odor-causing bacteria and freshen them up. I have not personally tried this myself, but I have used vodka to clean other things. Works great.
Thanks for the caveat on GreenEarth, Beth. We'll poke around and see what's new there. As for the vodka, he's another possible use for this miracle liquid. There's always some around at my house. Na Zdorovie!
Fresh Start was discontinued by Clorox in 4 or 5 years ago. The best at-home dry cleaning product out there is WOOLITE by Dry Cleaner's Secret. It's non-toxic and it is easy to use since it doesn't require a bag or kit like Dryel. Plus you can wear the clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer. You can find it most everywhere. Wal-Mart, CVS, and grocery stores.
Steamers won't get the odors of the day out. Try Woolite by dry Cleaner's Secret to get the odors out and preliminary wrinlkling. Then steam it. You'll have better results.
Don't steam it first and put it in the dryer as the residual steam could shrink your garment when placed in the dryer.
My approach has been to quit the corporate world, work in my basement, and avoid dry cleaning. However, about once per year I do need to do so. I will look for the kind of service you describe - I know there are some I have seen, but I just need to go somewhat further away.
Thanks for the reminder.
My approach has been to quit the corporate world, work in my basement, and avoid dry cleaning. However, about once per year I do need to do so. I will look for the kind of service you describe - I know there are some I have seen, but I just need to go somewhat further away.
Thanks for the reminder.
Chris, I have not had good luck washing some delicate in a front loader such as silk or wool. Some fabrics actually shrink.
It is really hard to iron wool and silk when they dry even through the front loaders have a setting for them. Wool pants come out looking really wrinkled. In addition. silk does not have a spin cycle due to how delicate it is. So when I lay my sweaters out to dry, they never look great when they dry. I would recommend a laundry bag for dedicates as well such as hose, lingerie, etc.
Perhaps I should try a steamer since I have an old one to see if this makes it easier to get wrinkles out. Teresa, do you have a suggestion?
I've done wool sweaters with good results, but I generally avoid purchasing fabrics which require special care. I haven't tried silk.
Any other reader input? Please share your "best practices."
First, thanks for following me on twitter. Great site! My dry cleaner here in Naperville, IL uses the liquid CO2 process and it indeed does work better. Who can stand the smell of the perc!
Thanks for promoting this. Many of these dry cleaning companies are run by immigrants with limited marketing skills. Even though they are doing the right thing, the word isn't getting out.
Best, Jeff Korhan
http://www.twitter.com/jeffkorhan
http://www.truenature.com