January 31, 2018 9:34 pm
Published by Writer
Most households today have an in-house washing machine and dryer that the majority of your clothes can be washed and dried in as often as you’d like. The process uses water and a soap or other alkaline detergent to remove soils from your clothes. More delicate garments, however, typically have to be dry cleaned to preserve their quality. So, since it’s different from household laundry, what exactly does the dry cleaning process entail? The first thing to note is that dry cleaning is not very dry at all! Rather, the word “dry” in “dry cleaning” comes from the lack of... View Article
October 12, 2017 8:40 pm
Published by Writer
Conventional dry cleaning methods have drawbacks when it comes to their environmental effects. Generally, dry cleaners use a solvent called perchloroethylene to perform their dry cleaning duties. This chemical has long been listed as a hazardous air pollutant by the EPA, and when it is disposed of, it has to be disposed of according to very specific guidelines, as it is considered hazardous waste. Not only does perchloroethylene negatively impact the quality of air, it is also dangerous as a soil pollutant, and can leach into and contaminate groundwater. As the chemical is considered likely to be carcinogenic in humans,... View Article
October 1, 2017 8:24 pm
Published by Writer
Dry cleaning has gotten something of a bad rap lately. It’s easy to understand why, with our ever-growing knowledge of the risks of perchloroethylene, the solvent used by most traditional dry cleaners. Since the 1970s, the health and environmental risks associated with perchloroethylene (known as “perc” for short) have been well documented. Even short exposure to the chemical can cause dizziness and headaches, and exposure to a short intense blast can cause loss of consciousness. And over the long term, the chemical has proven to be highly carcinogenic. Why hasn’t perc been banned? Despite these health risks, perchloroethylene has remained... View Article
