Kim Steele/Getty Images
READ MORE ABOUT:
Perchloroethylene or perc, is "the dominant chemical solvent used in dry cleaning. It is a clear, colorless liquid that has a sharp, sweet odor and evaporates quickly. It is an effective cleaning solvent and is used by most professional drycleaners because it removes stains and dirt from all common types of fabrics. Perc usually does not cause clothes to shrink, nor dyes to bleed. Perc is not flammable, unlike solvents commonly used to clean clothes in the 1930's and '40's. Since perc can be reused, it is a cost-effective and efficient solvent for cleaning clothes. Perc is also a toxic chemical with both human health and environmental concerns."
Helen Suh MacIntosh of TreeHugger.com adds: "Research studies have shown that perchloroethylene exposures may be dangerous to your health, having been linked to increased risks of bladder, esophageal, and cervical cancer, eye, nose, throat and skin irritation, and reduced fertility, among other effects. These findings have been shown for people working at dry cleaners, who are routinely exposed to high amounts of perchloroethylene, either through inhalation or through skin contact. People who work in dry cleaners are not the only ones exposed to perchloroethylene. Low levels of perchloroethylene can also be present in your indoor air, as any perchloroethylene that was not removed in the dry cleaning process will be on your clothes that you bring home. Once at home, the perchloroethylene will leave your clothes and go into the air."
Fortunately, dry cleaning can be made greener.
Related Posts:
Dry Clean Your Clothes Without Harming the Planet
Reusable Dry Cleaning Bag Cuts Down Single Use Plastic
-
- {}
