Green Dry Cleaning
I try not to buy clothes that require dry cleaning, mainly because I think it’s kind of a hassle to have to drop it off and it pick up and then there’s the added expense. But, for some things, dry cleaning is preferred. It wasn’t until recently I started learning about “green” dry cleaning. With more and more dry cleaners popping up with the word green in their name, it made me wonder how “un-green” the traditional method is.
So I started doing some research. What I found was that the solvent that 90% of dry cleaners use to clean, is called perchloroethylene, or Perc. Well, Perc is a chemical that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers both a health and environmental hazard! Even with improvements in equipment, this toxic chemical can still get into the air, water and ground. Really? All that to get a stain out of my dress? Yes, but as I mentioned before, there are “greener” options available.
What makes these places greener? I was thinking the same thing, so I asked The Greener Cleaner at 1552 N Damen. Scott Fiero, Director of Business Development, explained that there is a method called wet cleaning that was developed in Germany. It’s a water based, solvent-free process using water and biodegradable soaps and conditioners, that have been proven entirely benign to health and the environment. The Greener Cleaner is Chicagolands only professional wet cleaners and they’ve been at it for over 15 years. In addition to using this more environmentally friendly and less toxic form of cleaning clothes, they use biodegradable plastic and recycle everything they can.
I’m sure there are people who can argue both sides of the fence here, but just given this information, I think I’ll try the Greener Cleaner next time, because with comparable prices and a location that’s within walking distance from me, why not opt for a chemical free cleaning?
To learn more about wet cleaning, visit the following sites:
By: Christina Solmos
Themocracy
[...] big fans of the site, and were thrilled and honored to read this wonderful post! I try not to buy clothes that require dry cleaning, mainly because I think it’s kind of a hassle [...]
I wanted to contact you about the Solvair Cleaning System (Solvair), which may be of interest to you and your readers. Solvair LLC is not only a Chicago-based company, but the first commercial Solvair machine offered is at Lake City Cleaners in Evanston. As readers inquire about green cleaners in Chicago, you may want to include Lake City Cleaners’ “Monarch Care Service”, using Solvair, in this list. Lake City has locations in Evanston, Highland Park and Lake Forest and offers pick-up and delivery service to the city of Chicago.
Solvair is a new option for consumers that represents a major scientific breakthrough in dry cleaning; an eco-friendly clothing care technology that truly works. As a system, it has been purposely designed to ensure that both superior cleaning results and good environmental practices are built into the system.
Solvair cleans clothes with a biodegradable cleaning fluid, conceptually similar to water and detergent in your home washer. Instead of drying clothes with heated air, like traditional dry cleaning or a home dryer, Solvair uses a unique cold liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) drying process.
Every aspect of the technology was engineered with environmental, worker and consumer safety in mind. For more information please visit http://www.solvaircleaning.com.
Thank you,
Ashley Bower
Solvair LLC