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Switch to a green dry cleaner

Why This is Green

The EPA says the main chemical used in traditional dry cleaning, perchlorethylene (aka perc), causes cancer in lab animals, and is a likely human carcinogen that impacts brain, liver, and kidney function. It’s no good for the environment, either. 85 percent of U.S. dry cleaners use perc (there are an estimated 35,000 of them).

Unfortunately the chemicals most so-called organic cleaners use aren’t much safer than perc. Many use hydrocarbons, which are petroleum-based solvents.

The greenest dry cleaning is actually “wet” cleaning with water and biodegradable detergents. C02 cleaners are also safe and green, but there aren’t many using this technology, as the equipment needed is quite expensive.

Learn More

How To

When searching for a green cleaner, keep an eye out for greenwashing. It’s great to recycle hangers and plastic bags, and/or offer reusable garment bags, but cleaners touting these eco perks and still using perc should be avoided.

Look online for wet and CO2 cleaners online via the suggested links below. Ask questions!

Try washing your clothes; many items labeled “dry clean only” do just fine in a cold water cycle. And buy clothes that don’t need to be dry cleaned.
If you happen to conventionally dry clean something, remove it from plastic and air it outside for several hours before hanging it in a closet (especially one in a bedroom). This will give the chemicals time to evaporate some (but not completely) and will reduce the health risk. Avoid sleeping under a freshly dry cleaned blanket.