Why should you switch from dry cleaning to wet cleaning?

To protect you your family and our earth; and to get the greenest clean.

Wet Cleaners will not harm you, your love ones or our planet.  Yes, there are other method but lets take a look at them.  

If your cleaner claims to be Earth-friendly, be sure to ask about the specific methods and chemicals used. Some dry cleaners will advertise as “green,” “organic,” or “environmentally friendly” when they are anything but safe for the Earth.  

Hydrocarbon cleaning methods are not green at all. Hydrocarbon is a petroleum-based solvent and carries all the environmental concerns of petroleum, including the fact that it’s a major source of greenhouse gases. 

Some hydrocarbon cleaners claim their methods are “organic,” which Sinsheimer says is misleading. “It’s the same thing as petroleum,” he says. “It’s also a VOC, though it’s not as toxic as perc.” 

You might also run into cleaners that use the GreenEarth method, which replaces perc with a silicone based solvent called siloxane or D-5, which is similar to the base ingredients in deodorant and shaving creams. D-5 degrades to sand, water, and carbon dioxide. It’s chemically inert, which means no chemicals mix with your clothes while they are being cleaned. 

However, Dow Corning, D-5’s creator, did a study that revealed an increased risk of uterine cancer in female rats that were exposed to D-5, which has led the EPA to note that it may be a carcinogen. Also, manufacturing D-5 requires chlorine, which releases carcinogenic dioxin during its own manufacture. 

For the Future
The shift towards green dry cleaning is headed by California, the state committed to phasing out perc by 2023. States like Massachusetts and New York are considering similar legislation. Contact your representatives, and ask them to support efforts to phase out perc. Also, encourage your local dry cleaner to switch to wet cleaning. 

Next time you spill coffee on your “Dry Clean Only” sweater, remember that you don’t have to put your health, workers, or the environment at risk.   Help Natures Touch H2O Cleaners keep you safe and our earth protected.

Source:  http://www.greenamerica.org/livinggreen/drycleaning.cfm