The chemical most commonly used by the Dry Cleaning Industry, “Perc”, is classified as a Toxin. Toxins are defined as “poisonous compounds that have an adverse effect on the immune function.” The Human body is designed to detoxify itself, but, if too many external sources are exposed to the system, and the toxins build up, and the body becomes overwhelmed. Organs like the liver, one the body’s primary tools for detoxification can get stressed with this build up and will eventually fail.

Some of these Toxins also cause stress by mimicking the hormone estrogen and causing imbalance in the body. This imbalance of hormones creates inflammation as well as stress to the thyroid which stimulates the body’s natural defenses, thus having a detrimental effect on the Auto Immune system.

One Direct way to cut down on exposure to Toxins in one’s day to day life is to use a Dry Cleaner that uses a “Wet Cleaning” method of cleaning and caring for clothes. With new machines that control the moisture content, temperature and stress that the clothes are exposed to, this “wet” method uses basic soap and water so the chemical use, waste and exposure, is all but eliminated. With “wet cleaning” your clothes are cleaner, better cared for and don’t have that harmful, chemical smell!

Written by Bianca Stark-Falcone
Owner of Well Dressed a wardrobe consulting company and author of IMAGE POWER

The first step to green dry cleaning is replacing harmful chemicals with natural cleaning products. Perchloroethylene (perc) is a synthetic chemical that is made from a reaction between ethylene and chlorine. Like many synthetic chemicals, it poses a threat to our health. Perc is a central nervous system depressant. Exposure to it can occur in the workplace or in the environment when it is released into air, water, land, or groundwater. It can also occur when people use products containing perc, spend time in dry cleaning facilities that use perc, live above or adjacent to these dry cleaning facilities, or bring dry cleaned garments into their home before they are properly aired out. Short-term contact can cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, and irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, while long term exposure poses greater threats, including liver and kidney damage and cancer.

Liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) appears to be the most practical green dry cleaning solvent to replace perchloroethylene. It is cheap, abundant, naturally occurring and can even be recycled from the industrial wastes from the manufacture of chemicals such as ammonia. Most importantly, exposure to carbon dioxide has no health side effects. The only drawbacks for dry cleaning with CO2 are that it does not clean as well as perc does and the machinery needed to use it is very expensive, thus a higher price is past on to the consumer.

A virtue of environmentalism is moderation. That being said, green dry cleaning is best achieved if you do not dry clean at all or limit the use of professional dry cleaning by using at-home dry cleaning kits for garments with smaller spots and stains or that need to be freshened. Professional dry cleaning is a large process that uses a lot of energy and produces a lot of waste in the form of powder residue, sludge and wastewater. If the dry cleaner is still using perc (it is still allowed in most states), these substances are hazardous. At-home dry cleaning involves no more than a Dry Cleaner’s Secret cleaning cloth and your dryer. There are no harmful chemicals involved and no waste.

While perc remains the most effective dry cleaning solvent, the use of natural cleaning products and at-home dry cleaning can only be beneficial to our health and our environment.

Sustainable Living Articles @ http://www.articlegarden.com

Source: http://www.articlegarden.com/Article/Green-Dry-Cleaning–Do-You-Know-The-Benefits-/81793

By Becka Cremer, University of Kansas, Kansan
Thursday, April 23, 2009

Thanks to Eco-Logic Dry Cleaners, which opened last month, Lawrence has a green way to dry clean.

Eco-Logic, 2540 South Iowa Street, uses the GreenEarth Cleaning process to dry clean your duds. The only solvent used in the GreenEarth process is liquid silicone, says Eddie Ocampo, whose parents own Eco-Logic. Liquid silicone is not harmful to the environment and it breaks down into sand, water and carbon dioxide, Ocampo says.

The GreenEarth process preserves the softness and color of clothing, and it doesn’t have the usual just-dry-cleaned smell. And, Ocampo says, the average cost of dry cleaning the GreenEarth way is about the same as taking your clothes to a traditional cleaner.

But do we really need a greener dry cleaning process?

The Environmental Protection Agency thinks so.

About 85 percent of dry cleaners use a toxic chemical called perchloroethylene, or perc, to treat stains, according to the EPA. Perc must be disposed of carefully, and can pollute the air, water and the ground. Perc is also dangerous for people. Overexposure to the chemicals can cause liver damage and, early studies show, may also lead to cancer.

So, when you’re deciding where to take your dry clean-only clothes, consider the process used by your dry cleaner. Eco-Logic might be the best choice for you—and the earth.

For more information, visit www.greenearthcleaning.com or www.epa.gov.

Source: http://www.kansan.com/news/2009/apr/23/green_it_earthfriendly_dry_cleaning/

Eco-Logic dry cleaners received a package from Italy after nearly a month that will allow it to operate as a green dry cleaning company. Eco-Logic houses the only GreenEarth dry cleaning machine in Lawrence.

Santa Berlioz, owner and operator of Eco-Logic dry cleaners, is excited about the new environmentally safe machinery. Old-fashioned dry cleaning machines use chemicals that harm the environment and face fabrics. The new eco-friendly machinery eliminates the harmful chemicals and air pollutants.

All of the hangers and dry-cleaner bags used by Eco-Logic dry cleaners are non plastic and environmentally friendly.

Source: https://tv.ku.edu/news/2009/04/23/green-drycleaning-arrives-lawrence/