"Wet or Dry Cleaning, It's all the same to me"

What is Wet Cleaning?
Wet cleaning processes include professional, labor-intensive cleaning techniques and high-tech washing and drying machines that use soap and water to clean clothes. Unlike dry cleaning, where nearly every garment is treated the same, wet cleaning can customize treatment for each garment. The first step in wet cleaning is a close inspection of a garment for dirt and stains. Then, depending on the item's fabric and soiling, a cleaning technician decides how to treat it. A garment may be spot cleaned, steamed, hand washed, or some combination of those processes. Or the garment may be washed in a computerized washing machine that regulates water temperature and agitation. (These, rather than water alone, are the real culprits that cause clothes to shrink.) Technicians also choose from several methods of drying, including drying cabinets and computer-controlled dryers that carefully monitor the moisture content of garments so as to limit shrinkage. After cleaning, garments are pressed and finished with techniques similar to those used by dry cleaners.

Why Clothes Shrink.
Contrary to popular perception, water alone does not shrink clothes. It's the combination of mechanical action, high temperatures and water that causes fibers to contract. Excessive drying can also shrink clothes. High-tech washers and dryers with computerized controls limit the risk of shrinkage in modern water-based cleaning.

What You May Not Know About Dry Cleaning
Most consumers know very little about how dry cleaning works. You drop off a bundle of crumpled, soiled clothes and several days later those same clothes are neatly hung up and look almost new. So what happens in the meantime? Dry cleaning is actually similar to home laundering. Your clothes are sorted according to color, stains are pretreated and clothing is thrown into a washing and drying machine. But while your washer uses soap and water, dry cleaning machines are filled with chemical solvent that can leave a pungent smell. And they don't clean clothes thoroughly - even dry cleaners must use water to remove water-based stains like sweat. These solvents can also cause serious damage. The petroleum-based solvents used by about ten percent (10%) of dry cleaners are toxic and highly flammable. Perc, used by ninety percent (90%) of dry cleaners, can damage the central nervous and reproductive systems, according to recent studies by the United States EPA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Perc is also a suspected carcinogen. Workers and those who live near dry cleaning plants are the most likely to experience perc-related health problems. But millions more may be affected when their dry cleaned clothes release perc into their homes, or when they are exposed to contaminated air or water. One of the most prevalent contaminants in urban air, perc is designated a hazardous air pollutant by the Federal government. There is still disagreement over the degree of danger perc poses to our families and communities. In spite of evidence to the contrary, some industry representatives maintain that the health effects of perc are limited, and that new equipment reduces perc emissions and eliminates any risk. Amidst all this debate, one thing is for sure: developing and converting to non-hazardous cleaning methods will be better for both dry cleaners and their customers.

Promising Performance
So far, tests show wet cleaning is a hit with consumers. The EPA's Dry Cleaning Partnership, which includes the International Fabricare Institute, the Neighborhood Cleaners Association and Greenpeace, has conducted two tests to measure the performance of wet cleaning. In the first, seven hundred fifty (750) garments were wet cleaned and seven hundred fifty (750) garments were dry cleaned. Without knowing which technology was used, owners of the garments rated wet cleaned clothes as equal to or better than those that were dry cleaned. In the second test, pairs of identical garments were worn and cleaned three (3) times. Again, participants clearly preferred wet cleaning. Although favorable, the results of these brief tests are too limited to determine conclusively how regular wear would affect the performance of the wet cleaning processes.

Sound Economics
Right now the costs to the customer of wet cleaning and dry cleaning are about the same. But that could change as growing regulation and liability continue to drive up the cost of using perc, and business owners pass those increases on to their customers.

Industry-Wide Change
Palmer Cleaning Centres has already responded to the need for safe cleaning alternatives. Working with Government agencies and utilizing state of the art technology, we believe the investment in safer alternatives to dry cleaning are in your best interests.

So, How Green Is Your Cleaner?
Now that you know about dry cleaning, you may be wondering what process your cleaner uses. The best way to find out is to ask. Many dry cleaners have signs in their windows indicating that their business is environmentally sound, but these signs don't mean that the business doesn't use hazardous solvents. The commonly-seen "We Care" symbol, for example, simply means a cleaner disposes of hazardous waste properly. That's good, but it also means the cleaner is probably using perc. If your local cleaners don't wet clean, you can be comfortable knowing, Palmer Cleaning Centres do.