by Chang Suh |
A dry cleaning method called wet cleaning has been taking over the cleaning industry by storm. This cleaning process uses only water, all natural soaps, conditioners, computerized washers, and moisture controlled dryers to clean any garment that states, “dry clean only.”
In other words no toxic chemicals such as PERC or hydrocarbon are used to clean your clothes, which leaves toxic chemical residue behind. The beauty of this process is that you will no longer breathe or smell it on your clothes. This is especially true for household items such as down comforters, blankets, rugs or drapes, which tend to retain more of the harmful solvents used in typical drycleaners. Customers sleep on or near these items, breathing in chemical residue nightly.
Why should you be concerned about what solvent is used in the dry cleaning process? About 85 percent of all dry cleaners in the United States use a solvent called “PERC.” The EPA has classified PERC as a probable human carcinogen and the state of California has labeled it as a known agent to cause cancer. California has passed regulations to phase its usage out by 2023. It is currently against regulation to establish any new PERC dry cleaning facilities in the state of California. It is a great cleaning agent especially when cleaning greases and inks and was essentially a degreasing solvent, used to clean auto parts. But what it does not clean well are stains that are water-soluble. This is not good considering most of the stains procured by people are food, drink, dirt and sweat. Wet cleaning is the ideal cleaning process, ensuring your clothes come back smelling fresh and clean, as if you pulled them out of your washer at home.
How does wet cleaning affect the environment? It affects the environment as much as your home washer. Usually, wet cleaning facilities use only soaps, conditioners, and spotting agents that have been approved by the EPA. Therefore, it is as harmless as the detergent you use at home. Wet cleaning does not produce any toxic waste or filters that require special use permits, nor are these green facilities subject to regular inspection by local and state agencies. The EPA considers wet cleaning and CO2 cleaning as the only two methods that are environmentally friendly. PERC and hydrocarbon are not considered to be eco-friendly due to the toxic waste produced in the cleaning process. Washoe County closely monitors dry cleaning plants using these solvents. They are considering the future ban of PERC because of its contamination of the water supply.
For more info, contact Spot Cleaners, the only 100-percent, all-green dry cleaner in northern Nevada at (775) 851-7768.
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