The smell of dry cleaning fluid makes me a bit lightheaded. I try to avoid buying clotheswith a "dry clean only" label because once dry cleaned using the typicalsolvents they never smell fresh again (not to mention the expense of thecleaning!).
I was spoiled in my previous neighborhood nearLinden Hills there was an excellent green cleaner that was not only smell free,they could also get out any spot from any fabric. It wasa little more expensive but worth it.
Saturday I dropped off some clothes at my current neighborhoodcleane that is under new ownership. Iwas hoping that the new owner would switch to a less toxic dry cleaning processthat doesn't use perchloro-ethylene (perc), a toxic, highly regulated, andstinky chemical. But my hopes of smell and chemical freeclothing were dashed with the perplexed look on the clerks face when I askedher about any planned perc-free possibilities (say that 3 times fast).
MN Tap (Minnesota Technical Assistance Program)tracks less toxic dry cleaners on their site at http://www.mntap.umn.edu/DRYCL/22-AltDryCl.htm. The non-perc or less toxic optionsinclude: wet cleaning, a liquid silicone compound or hydrocarbon cleaning whichis petroleum based but safer than perc and odorless. Thewebsite provides a helpful grid with the cleaner's name, contact info, locationand type of cleaning that they use. While all of the cleaning methods listed havetheir environmental drawbacks none are as dangerous as perc.
One of the cleaners listed on the website is a pickupand delivery service but they don't yet service where I live. I will keep hoping for a green service tocome downtown or to NorthEast. In themeantime, I will remove the plastic from my cleaning when I get it home lettingit off-gas in the garage or basement for a day or two before putting it into mybedroom closet. It helps a little withthe smell and makes me feel like I am not breathing in left over chemicals as Isleep.
If you occasionally or regularly have clothes thatneed to be professionally cleaned, give one of the green cleaners a try.
Do I find a green dry cleaner miles away frommy home burning carbon and creating emissions by driving or do I stickwith my same toxic cleaner that I can walk to?
