Dry Cleaning

All those great clothing treasures you’ve discovered at Goodwill will need to be cleaned at some point. Whether you wash your purchases right away or possess the “wear now, wash later” attitude that I do, you will eventually need to wash your finds. This is also useful for all those out there who participate in the most treasured of Sunday activities: laundry!

I’m going to start with dry cleaning, simply because I am very impressed with a local cleaner who is an environmental success story. But I will return to this in a moment. Many of you are aware that dry cleaning uses chemicals in the washing process. The dry cleaning process uses a solution called perchloroethylene (“perc”) or other solvent with little to no water. Unfortunately, “perc” is a hazardous air pollutant and is classified as a probable carcinogen.

So what do you do if you have a shirt or a pair of pants whose neatly sewn tag clearly spells it out for you: DRY CLEANING ONLY? Well, the good news is, there are a variety of alternatives. Many dry cleaners today offer what is known as “wet cleaning,” which is a water-based cleaning method that using biodegradable detergents. There are a number of cleaners in Maine that offer this service. Accent Cleaners is the largest cleaner in the state that offers wet-cleaning options. You can also drop off clothing at a number of cleaners that will use Accent Cleaners if you request wet-cleaning service.

And now about that local cleaner I am so excited about. Washboard Eco-Laundry in Portland has been in business since 2003 and not only offers wet cleaning, but their entire business is environmentally sustainable. In just five years they have reduced their carbon emissions by 27% and saved their business $80,000! Washboard Eco-Laundry participates in the Governor’s Carbon Challenge and a recent news release summarized their many accomplishments to date. They installed new energy-efficient washers and dryers, lighting, and windows, a radiant floor heating system, and a solar hot water system! Too cool! Portland residents, if you are looking for a laundromat, this is the place to go for all your laundry needs.

I had trouble locating wet cleaning services in New Hampshire and Vermont, so if you know of any, please let me know and I will add them to the list–I know they are out there!

Also, David McCaskill from the Maine DEP has written a great piece on alternatives to dry cleaning. He also advocates for wet cleaning, but as he points outs, “a little soap and water may be all we really need.” He advises minimizing the garments you purchase that cannot be washed in water (which, according to NoDryClean.com, includes acetate linings, highly tailored wools, antique satins and garbardines). If you do have clothes you must dry clean, he recommends airing them out in the garage so they can “off-gas” the dry-cleaning chemicals.

There are also products out there you can purchase for “at home” dry cleaning, though they tend to run on the pricey side. The Laundress offers a full range of products that use non-toxic, biodegradeable, and plant-based ingredients. While a bottle of cleaner runs around $16, you need less of it so it lasts longer. While all their products are designed for the regular wash or handwashing, they have special formulas for fabrics you would normally dry clean, such as silks and wools.

Want to dry clean on the cheap? Check out this site which offers dry-cleaning recipes you can make in your own home, using natural ingredients like vinegar, wheat bran, clay and salt. And as they point out, just because the label says “Dry Clean Only,” handwashing is often fine. There are also a variety of home dry cleaning kits on the market. I have not used them, but you can check out the pros and cons of these products.

In sum, finding an alternative to dry cleaning is not only better for the environment, but our own health. Stay tuned for future posts about how to reduce water and energy use when doing laundry at home.

About the author: Michelle is the Communications Coordinator for Goodwill Industries of Northern New England. She lives in Portland and loves thrift store shopping, food co-ops, New England history and finding people to write posts for this blog. Read more from this author