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Dry cleaning
7 ways to Green Your Dry cleaning
Sure, there’s nothing like the pressed perfection of dry-cleaned shirts and suits. But the eco-price of maintaining your impeccable ensembles is steep. Fortunately, you can minimize your impact by choosing to dry clean green or eschewing it altogether.
Reduce the amount of clothes you dry clean
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Wear your clothes more than once before you take them to the cleaners: you'll save money, make clothes last longer, and help the environment.
Use "wet" dry cleaning
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This nontoxic option is non-toxic and produces zero emissions, utilizing water as the solvent with biodegradable detergents.
Use liquid carbon dioxide dry cleaning
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This is a nontoxic option available at certain commercial cleaners, making use of liquid carbon dioxide instead of toxic perc.
Use alternative solvent dry cleaning
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Multiple non-perchloroethylene commercial solvents are available; just ask which one your cleaner uses and opt for the greenest possible choice.
Use home dry cleaning kits
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For only lightly-soiled clothing, this cleaning method cuts down on both cost and exposure to harsh chemicals.
Recycle your plastic bags
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That pesky plastic film your dry-cleaned garments are returned in can be easily recycled with other plastic bags.
Store your dry-cleaned clothes in a well-ventilated area
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Once home, dry-cleaned clothes emit perc, a toxin and possible carcinogen, for the first four or five days. Cut the effects of this chemical by airing out your dry-cleaned clothes.
Comments
4:07pm
Very often clothes that say "dry clean only" dont have to be -- wool, cashmere, cotton etc can easily be washed by hand with a gentle cleanser in the sink, else in the washing machine on a gentle setting.
2:22pm
Does anybody know of a "green" dry cleaner in NYC that they've been to and trust?
2:08pm
Yes, try Polaris Drycleaners on 39th @ Park 212.682.8733
Not only are they Green, but my clothes smell better, and they get out stains that 'regular' cleaners can't.
12:08pm
hi tree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12:10pm
DONT WHAT!?! ME!!!!!!!!!!!!
12:17pm
OMG!!! U KNOW THAT I ALWAYS DO THE OPPOSITE OF WAT U TEL ME 2 D, SO U SHOULD HAVE SAID: "ASK HIM OUT FOR ME PLZ" AND ME AND JORDYN WOULD HAVE FORGATEN IN WAHR?, 5 MIN!!!!!!!
12:20pm
Well Im sorry I thought you guys could finally do something that is not the opposite, like normal people.
9:51pm
no need to dry clean -- ever! wash by hand or just air the thing out!!