Clean and green: how to choose a dry cleaner that's good for the environment - and you

A dry cleaner once described his job to me as "being the number one clothes recycler". Although the description isn't entirely accurate, I agree with his sentiment.
Every time I pick up freshly ironed clothes from the dry cleaner, I find a renewed sense of pleasure in every garment. Considering the immense amount of resources needed to produce clothes, anything that happily extends their lifespan is absolutely worth doing.
However, traditional dry cleaning methods can be bad for the environment – or for you. Here, experts explain what to look for in a dry cleaner.
What's the catch?
Like many things involving chemicals, dry cleaning has evolved over decades from something that can be dangerous to something regulated to protect people and the environment.
The process involves a chemical solvent in which the clothes are washed, without water, to remove dirt and stains. For a long time, perc (short for perchlorethylene, otherwise known as tetrachlorethylene) was the most common solvent used in dry cleaning. Perc has been found to cause liver and kidney damage, memory impairment, dizziness, and headaches. It is also considered a potential carcinogen.
According to the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction (Aicis) program, the manufacture of perc in Australia stopped in 1991 and in subsequent years, imports declined. But perc is still used by some Australian dry cleaners, although they must follow state and territory guidelines.
According to the Chairman of Dry-Cleaning Institute of Australia, Mark Ryan, "All solvents are safe to use when used in a well-maintained system and safe, certified solvent handling practices are in place". This is in line with the Aicis stipulation that dry cleaning in Australia "can be considered a substantially closed process" (meaning emissions and waste disposal are carefully managed).

But the Aicis says people working with the chemical may still be at risk depending on how it is transferred into the machine, how the filters are cleaned and how waste is disposed of. Perc disposal should always be done through a licensed waste contractor.
If you are concerned about perc, the best thing to do is to ask your dry cleaner what their processes are.
A spectrum of solvents
Ryan says solvents can be divided into two categories: chlorinated (perc) and non-chlorinated (Solvon K4, Hydrocarbon D60 and Green Earth). On your garment's care label, a circle with a letter inside indicates that the garment can be dry cleaned, with each letter indicating which chemicals can be used: "A" means any solvent can be used, "P" means perc is ok to use, and "F" means only petroleum-based solvents.

Fashion Jul 14, 2022 0 89 Add to Reading List

Clean and green: how to choose a dry cleaner that's good for the environment - and you

A dry cleaner once described his job to me as "being the number one clothes recycler". Although the description isn't entirely accurate, I agree with his sentiment.

Every time I pick up freshly ironed clothes from the dry cleaner, I find a renewed sense of pleasure in every garment. Considering the immense amount of resources needed to produce clothes, anything that happily extends their lifespan is absolutely worth doing.

However, traditional dry cleaning methods can be bad for the environment – or for you. Here, experts explain what to look for in a dry cleaner.

What's the catch?

Like many things involving chemicals, dry cleaning has evolved over decades from something that can be dangerous to something regulated to protect people and the environment.

The process involves a chemical solvent in which the clothes are washed, without water, to remove dirt and stains. For a long time, perc (short for perchlorethylene, otherwise known as tetrachlorethylene) was the most common solvent used in dry cleaning. Perc has been found to cause liver and kidney damage, memory impairment, dizziness, and headaches. It is also considered a potential carcinogen.

According to the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction (Aicis) program, the manufacture of perc in Australia stopped in 1991 and in subsequent years, imports declined. But perc is still used by some Australian dry cleaners, although they must follow state and territory guidelines.

According to the Chairman of Dry-Cleaning Institute of Australia, Mark Ryan, "All solvents are safe to use when used in a well-maintained system and safe, certified solvent handling practices are in place". This is in line with the Aicis stipulation that dry cleaning in Australia "can be considered a substantially closed process" (meaning emissions and waste disposal are carefully managed).

But the Aicis says people working with the chemical may still be at risk depending on how it is transferred into the machine, how the filters are cleaned and how waste is disposed of. Perc disposal should always be done through a licensed waste contractor.

If you are concerned about perc, the best thing to do is to ask your dry cleaner what their processes are.

A spectrum of solvents

Ryan says solvents can be divided into two categories: chlorinated (perc) and non-chlorinated (Solvon K4, Hydrocarbon D60 and Green Earth). On your garment's care label, a circle with a letter inside indicates that the garment can be dry cleaned, with each letter indicating which chemicals can be used: "A" means any solvent can be used, "P" means perc is ok to use, and "F" means only petroleum-based solvents.