I have truly tried to stop using dry cleaning services, but I just can’t do it. I do worry about what is happening during the dry cleaning process. What happens to all of the used chemicals? How is the air affected by the dry cleaning process? Some times, when I get my cleaned clothes home and take off the plastic cover, the smell is so strong I cannot stay in the same room with them until they air out.
I think there are state and federal regulations on dry cleaning air emissions, hazardous waste disposal, etc. I read recently there are around 36,000 commercial dry cleaners in the U.S., with about 85 percent being “mom and pop” businesses with less than ten employees. I do not know if dry cleaners are inspected like restaurants on a somewhat regular basis. I hope that all of these small dry cleaning businesses are following regulations, but I do wonder if they are.
I also read that California is trying out “wet” dry cleaning using a hydrocarbon process that has very little air emission issues and no hazardous chemical residue that can get into the ground water. It sounded like most people do not like the results of this process, because their clothes don’t turn out the same as with the routine dry cleaning process. Speaking for myself, I know that I have to have my clothes dry cleaned, and I expect them to turn out a certain way.
I take my clothes to a small operation, and they do a wonderful job using the dry cleaning method. My hope is that they are following regulations, and that I am not contributing to another environmental issue that is going to be “the end of us all” one day.
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