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This awesome article from Co-Op America details how "un-green" the traditional dry cleaning industry really is. The keyword is "Perc":

According to the Occidental College's Pollution Prevention Center, 85 percent of the more than 35,000 dry cleaners in the United States use perchloroethylene (or perc, for short) as a solvent in the dry cleaning process.

Perc is a synthetic, volatile organic compound (VOC) that poses a health risk to humans and a threat to the environment. Minimal contact with perc can cause dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, nausea, and skin and respiratory irritation. Prolonged perc exposure has been linked to liver and kidney damage, and cancer. Perc has been identified as a "probable" human carcinogen by California's Proposition 65.

Furthermore,

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that clothes dry cleaned with perc can elevate levels of the toxin throughout a home and especially in the room where the garments are stored. Nursing mothers exposed to perc may excrete it in their milk, placing their infants at risk.

Are we poisoning ourselves with our dry cleaning habits? Read the entire article for the do's and dont's of dry cleaning, in addition to a guide to finding non-toxic dry cleaning shops.

Not mentioned is an awesome site, run by Occidental College, mentioned above, entitled "Find a Greener Cleaner Near You!" You can just type in your zip code, and voila! you have a green cleaner near you...

My Name is Sam I co-founder a eco-freindly dry cleaning company which uses co2 and wet cleaning. We are located in Pleasanton California 3283 Bernal AVE suite 105. 94566. Help spread the non-toxic message around. Here at PURE CLEAN , sustainability is the founding principle.we like to think of it as doing our part. We strive to help our customers do their part too by offering the best and safest service. We aso hold ourselves to the strictest quality control standards. At PURE CLEAN, we are committed to being part of the solution - and so can you!

Sam,

That is great. There are no green dry cleaning facilities near me (foothills south of Yosemite). I launder and press my shirts myself. Too bad i can't do that with my sports jackets.

Environmental awareness is rising. I wish you much success!

Dan

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