The Ten Minute Activist
Easy Ways to Take Back the Planet
Clean Dry Cleaning
It's true--there are clothes in your closet that you really can't clean yourself. But before you take them to the cleaners down the street, think about how toxic that little shop might be. The Federal Clean Air Act says that perchloroethylene, the main dry cleaning chemical, is an environmentally hazardous air pollutant. When released into the environment through spills or sewage leaks, it ruins soil and groundwater and poisons people, animals, and plants. It's hazardous to workers and neighbors, and is firmly linked to kidney damage, liver damage, and cancer.
In the past few years,there have been some real breakthroughs. Foremost among them is earth-friendly "wet cleaning" that uses computer-operated washing machines with special biodegradable soaps, conditioners, and finishers. According to the EPA, wet cleaning works at least as well as dry cleaning. And it costs about the same to start and run a wet cleaner, so it shouldn't cost you extra. A bonus is that wet cleaning creates skilled jobs. Plus, it's more kind to your clothes, which saves you bucks in the long run.
So the next time you need a professional cleaner, scout around for one who doesn't use perchloroethylene. And take the time to let your current cleaner know that you'll be back as a customer when they go wet.
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