I’m not exactly a fashion expert, but I do value clothing that’s well-made. My big issue is that a lot of women’s clothes these days require special care, like hand washing or dry cleaning. The cost of dry cleaning adds up, and the chemicals they use are a concern too.
So, when an “organic” dry cleaners opened in my town, I decided to look into what organic dry cleaning really means and if it lives up to the hype.
According to the EPA, the definition of organic dry cleaning is pretty broad. Basically, any cleaner with carbon in it is considered organic, even if it includes the chemical perchlorethylene, or “perc.” This is worrying because perc has been linked to cancer, including tongue cancer, in workers. It’s also harmful to the environment, and there was a push to eliminate its use in dry cleaning altogether by 2020.
Interestingly enough, dry cleaning actually involves soaking clothes in perc and then tumbling them, so it’s not really “dry” at all.
Most organic dry cleaners today use a few different methods: GreenEarth®, CO2 dry cleaning, or hydrocarbon dry cleaning. These methods are marketed as environmentally friendly and non-toxic.
GreenEarth® was one of the first alternatives developed to replace perc, but it hasn’t proved to be perfect. It involves a chemical known as decamethylcyclopentasiloxane or D5. There are concerns because D5 has been linked in studies to the growth of malignant tumors and can negatively impact the nervous system, liver, immune system, and more. Plus, D5 sticks around in the environment for a long time.
Before perc became popular, dry cleaning was done with hydrocarbons, but they were largely abandoned due to being flammable. Now, with the phase-out of perc, hydrocarbon cleaners are making a comeback. Although safer than perc, hydrocarbons can have side effects, like affecting the nervous system, and are still flammable, posing risks for everyone nearby. They also contribute to smog as they’re petroleum-derived.
CO2 dry cleaning is another method that uses carbon dioxide, the same stuff that makes drinks fizzy. It’s seen as environmentally friendly by organizations like the EPA. This process uses CO2 that changes between a liquid and gas state, effectively cleaning clothes without leaving any residue or waste behind. Interestingly, CO2 is recycled from industrial waste and the process itself has no negative environmental impact.
On top of being kinder to the planet, CO2 cleaning is gentler on clothes, avoiding the damage that heat-based methods can cause. It prevents fading, shrinking, and pilling, and garments come out without any chemical smells.
I also stumbled upon a newer method called wet cleaning. Unlike dry cleaning, which doesn’t use water, wet cleaning does. It uses water along with specially formulated detergents and softeners, and involves agitating clothes in this solution. After washing, items are hung to dry and pressed to remove wrinkles. While this method is considered eco-friendlier, it does release detergents into the water, so its impact depends on what’s in those detergents.
Wet cleaning isn’t suitable for all fabrics, especially those labeled dry-clean-only, as it can cause stretching or color bleeding.
For consumers like me, it’s good to know that dry cleaning is evolving toward healthier practices for both people and the planet. But simply picking “organic” dry cleaning isn’t the whole answer—it’s important to be informed and ask the right questions.
More people are also trying to clean their dry-clean-only clothes at home. It’s not without risks, but I’ve had some success by looking into how to handle each type of fabric.
Overall, being informed and asking questions is crucial to making the right choice. Checking if you can wash a garment by hand at home could save money and benefit your health. If that’s not possible, it’s worth exploring the local dry or wet cleaning options available.
Remember to always consult your doctor for medical advice.
