The Truth About Organic Dry Cleaning:

Do not be fooled by unsubstantiated claims of "green" or environmentally-friendly dry cleaning processes!

Greenwashing - the deceptive use of green PR or marketing - is particularly prevalent in the dry cleaning industry.  In part, this is because the dry cleaning industry has such a well-deserved black eye when it comes to environmental issues.

It's not enough for a dry cleaner to claim to be 'green.'  To be a well-informed consumer, one must ask specific questions about the cleaning process.

For more information - and to understand why the words "Organic" or "All Natural" should be seen as warning-signs to the educated consumer 

The Problem with Typical Dry Cleaners:

85% of dry cleaners use PERC - A toxic solvent linked to cancer, liver and nervous system damage, infertility, and hormonal disruption.

(To read an EPA report on dry cleaning and PERC, please click here.)

The most widely-used alternatives to PERC are Hydrocarbonss:  Often marketed as "Organic" Dry Cleaners, Hydrocarbons are actually Volatile Organic Compounds considered by the EPA to be neurotoxins.

Two of the more commonly-used hydrocarbon dry cleaning solvents are DF-2000, which is made by Exxon-Mobile, and the deceptively-named EcoSolv mady by Chevron.

Approximately 99% of all dry cleaners nationwide use either PERC or Hydrocarbons in their dry cleaning!

Both PERC and hydrocarbons are heavily regulated by both Federal and State environmental protection agencies.  These solvents can contaminate our air, water, and soil, and if they do, it is a massive effort to clean up the contamination.

You really do not want to breathe, or come into contact with, these solvents...and you don't want them on your clothing, either!