What Makes a Dry Cleaner Green?

Dry cleaning services are an excellent option for washing delicate clothes or clothes that are difficult to wash at home. They can also be helpful if you don’t have the time or energy to wash your clothes yourself. However, not all dry cleaning services consider the environment. Some use equipment or chemicals that are unhealthy and contribute to pollution.

As an environmentally conscious individual, you can search for a dry cleaner that employs low-impact processes. Green dry cleaning could be the option you need.

Green Dry Cleaning: What Is the Difference?

Conventional dry cleaning is one of those activities that few people think about when they consider environmental impact. The traditional way to dry clean clothes is with the solvent perchloroethylene, also known as perc. Perc is a known carcinogen, and it’s also toxic to aquatic life.

For these reasons, green dry cleaning is an essential alternative for people who want to reduce their environmental impact. Green dry cleaning uses solvents that are safer for the environment than perc.

These alternative solvents include hydrocarbons, silicone oils, and carbon dioxide. These are all effective at removing dirt and stains from clothes, and they’re all safe for the environment.

What to Look for in a Green Dry Cleaning Service

Here are a few signs to look for when determining whether or not a dry cleaner is green:

1. Using Organic Solvents for Dry Cleaning

As mentioned, perc can cause various health and environmental problems. Green dry cleaners have started using organic solvents to replace traditional solvents. An organic solvent comes from natural sources, such as plants. Some of the advantages of using organic solvents are that they are non-toxic, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly.

A green dry cleaner can use several types of organic solvents for laundry dry cleaning. After cleaning, they use heat and friction to dry the cloth and eliminate static electricity and wrinkles.

2. Using Environmentally Friendly Equipment

Dry cleaning has a bad image of being unfriendly to the environment because of the generated harsh chemicals and trash. However, all of that is changing with the advent of green dry cleaners.

Green dry cleaners use equipment and processes with a low impact and low carbon footprint. They also utilize recyclable materials whenever feasible, reducing dry cleaning waste. As a result, green dry cleaners are much better for the environment than traditional dry cleaners.

3. Using Wet Cleaning Processes

Green dry cleaners provide wet cleaning as a more sustainable way to clean clothes and draperies without harsh chemicals.

The wet cleaning process begins by soaking the fabrics in a soap solution. The soapy water loosens the dirt and dust. They then rinse and dry the fabric.

The benefits of wet cleaning include:

• Reduced environmental impact. Wet cleaning uses significantly less water than traditional methods, and there is no need for harsh detergents or solvents.
• Reduced energy consumption. Wet cleaned clothes require less drying time than dry cleaned clothes, reducing energy consumption.
• Increased fabric life. Wet cleaning eliminates the need for harsh cleaners that shorten the lifespan of your clothing.
• Improved fabric appearance and texture. The soapy water breaks down the dirt, which allows the fibers to move more freely and maintain a better structure.

4. Conscientiousness About Recycling and Waste Reduction

The dry cleaning process has always left something to be desired in terms of sustainability. However, there are dry cleaning services nowadays trying to be more environmentally friendly.

Recycling and reusing materials are meaningful ways these services lessen their environmental impact. In addition to organic solvents, many dry cleaners recycle or repurpose hangers, plastic bags, and other items. By doing so, they can significantly reduce the amount of waste produced by their businesses.

5. Conserving Energy and Water

In addition to recycling and reusing materials, green dry cleaning services also work to minimize energy consumption.

It takes a lot of energy to heat the solvents used to clean clothes. That’s why it’s so important to find a green dry cleaning service that uses energy-efficient equipment and conserves water.

Fortunately, there are green dry cleaning services in most cities. They use organic solvents that are less harmful to the environment. They also use energy-efficient equipment, which reduces their carbon footprint.

Most importantly, green dry cleaning services recycle their wastewater. They conserve water and help protect our waterways from pollution.

How to Get the Best Green Dry Cleaning Results

When you bring your laundry to a dry green cleaner, you want the best possible results. Here are some tips to help you get the best green dry cleaning results:

• Check the care label on your clothes. You cannot dry clean some fabrics.
• Bring your clothes to a reputable green dry cleaner. Ask around for recommendations or do a Google search for “green dry cleaners near me.”
• Ask what processes the dry cleaners use to clean your clothes. See if they are indeed providing sustainable services.
• Be sure to point out any stains or areas that need special attention.
• During pick-up, don’t forget to ask about any special care instructions, such as “hang to dry.”

Where to Find Green Dry Cleaners

To find a more eco-friendly way to clean your clothes, browse online for green dry cleaning services. Many different companies offer this service, and each has its unique benefits.

Using the internet allows you to compare services and quickly choose the best one for you. You can enter your zip code into a search engine, and a list of local providers will come up.

Once you’ve located a few companies that provide the service, read reviews to learn more about previous customers’ experiences. This will help you make the best decision possible when it comes time to choose a provider. Once you’ve chosen, visit their website, join up and set up your pick-up and delivery times.

You can take care of the environment with green dry cleaning services while enjoying the many benefits of dry cleaning. By choosing a green dry cleaner, you ensure that your clothes are clean in an environmentally friendly way. You can also feel confident that they will handle your clothes with care and that they will last longer. Ask your dry cleaner about their green cleaning procedures to guarantee you’re making an ethical choice.

Sources:

https://greenamerica.org/green-living/green-dry-cleaning

https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-green-dry-cleaning-2145936

https://www.partneresi.com/resources/blog/what-is-green-dry-cleaning-and-is-it-safe