Organic Dry Cleaning 101
Many dry cleaners have figured out—like a lot of other business—that you can make a lot of green by going “green.” So, in an effort to attract business, they’re trying to appeal to your sense of environmental awareness. But are they being honest?
“Beware of green claims,” cautions Consumer Reports. According to this watchdog publication “professional cleaners can call themselves ‘green’ regardless of the process they use.”
So how can they get away with it?
Simple. “Organic” cleaners use dry cleaning solvents that contain carbon, an “organic” substance in the high school chemistry class sense of the word. It’s not the same “organic” that you’ll find at your local farmers market.
The Green Guide mentions that some “organic” cleaners are using DF-2000, a hydrocarbon solvent made by Exxon Mobil, the same mega-corporation that fuels billions of cars. The full toxicity of DF-2000 is still unclear and hydrocarbons in general are known pollutants and should be handled as such.
Maybe Exxon is going to start labeling their gas stations “organic” too.
Out of a well-placed desire to do good and live better, many people are switching everything—their food, their clothing, their skin care products, their cars—to the “organic” or “green” counterparts, without doing any research. Marketers know this, and some, unfortunately, are taking advantage. There’s even a name for it—GREENWASHING.
Want the dirt on GREENWASHERS? Here are some of the worst:
Green Earth
Solvair
DrySolv
Pure Dri
Rynex
And while we can’t put Wet Cleaning into exactly the same category as the others, there are a few things you should know about wet cleaning as well.
So what should consumers do? Is there any “green” dry cleaning out there?
YES. You can still be “green” and dry clean.
By definition, dry cleaning means cleaning without water. That means it relies on other liquid solvents (chemicals). But that’s not automatically a bad thing. You rely on chemicals everyday. You use chemicals to wash your face, your hair, your dishes, your laundry, etc.
The reality is that much of the “danger” posed by dry cleaning is in the process—and the people using it—rather than the products. If a dry cleaner cuts corners—doesn’t filter solutions while cleaning, doesn’t dispose of waste properly, doesn’t adequately ventilate a plant, doesn’t know the environmentally responsible way to handle the solvents he’s using—then problems can arise.
But a good cleaner, one who doesn’t try to cut corners, will offer a variety of cleaning methods and will assess each garment to determine the most effective method for cleaning. A good cleaner will invest in environmentally safe and efficient technologies. A good cleaner will educate his staff and run his facility responsibly, exercising caution for his consumers, his employees and the environment. A good cleaner won’t return your clothes reeking of chemicals for you to inhale. A good cleaner will practice a broad range of proactive environmental initiatives, not just hang a sign. And a good cleaner won’t lie to you about the chemicals he uses and GREENWASH his processes.
So, how do you tell the good guys from the bad?
Avoid cleaners displaying signs touting “ORGANIC” cleaning. They are deliberately misleading you and insulting your intelligence. They don’t deserve your business.
Stinky clothes? Avoid cleaners who do not return your garments odor free. That smell? It’s not automatically chemical. Usually, it’s a sign of a cleaner who doesn’t filter his solution. So the stink is OPB (other people’s bacteria). Gross.
Stinky storefront? There should be no “dry cleaning smell” in the facility. If it stinks, they aren’t practicing good environmental stewardship and should be avoided.
Avoid cleaners who can’t tell you about their processes and technology. If they don’t know what they are doing well enough to communicate it to you, they shouldn’t be trusted to be environmentally conscientious. Nor should they be trusted with your Gucci.
Look for cleaners who offer professional wet cleaning services. This water-based technology, while not suitable for all garments, is the most environmentally benign process, as well as the most difficult to master and the most expensive to provide.
And if you’re really committed to being “green,” don’t just ask your cleaner about the cleaning fluids he uses. Ask about his use of alternative energy, biodegradable plastics, recycling of hangers and other green initiatives he employs.