How Dry Cleaning Works Environmentally Friendly

Before I discuss how dry cleaning works environmentally friendly, I will explain on why we should protect the environment.

Why is our environment so important?

We hear and read a lot about saving the earth through protecting the environment. Why should we give this matter attention while we are also facing other threatening issues like wars, economic crises, unending social problems?

The earth is our home, it is where we breathe, eat, live, raise our families, etc. Everything concerning our life support is dependent on how well the other species are. This is normally known as biosphere, a term created by Vladimir Vernadsky, a 1920s Russian scientist.

The food chain and ecosystem explain the biosphere well.

• Food Chain

The sun provides heat and light for plant growth and development. These plants are food to animals that are in turn consumed by other animals or humans. Every part of the ecosystem plays a big role in the survival of entirety of the earth.

• Ecosystem

The biosphere is segmented into smaller sections that support life. It can be the rain forest, marine, tundra and the desert. All these are ecosystems that support the entire earth. They have great implication on the survival of the earth’s inhabitants.

It is critical to purpose to protect the environment since it’s the core of the earth existence. Man has devised ways to make his work easier and the same methods have challenged the environment. Man has invented some products that have ended up affecting the environment.

Some of those products are the ones used in the dry cleaning. For quite some time the cleaning industry has been using chemicals that have ended up bringing effects to the environment. However, drastic measures are always been taken to curb these.

Environmentally friendly cleaners are one-step to protecting the earth

Eco-friendly cleaners are one great milestone in protecting the earth. These types of cleaners are the ones that do not use chemicals that pollute the water system, air or the earth. This is very important, and it should be something that you ought to consider.

In the dry cleaning, harmful chemicals have been our solvents for a very long time. Obliviously, we have been using the dry cleaning products and machines that are harmful. Thanks to the research and technology. New safer methods have been devised to prevent further environmental pollution.

Nowadays, companies are offering green dry cleaning services due to the great call for environmental protection.

The dry cleaning machines are now coming with new technology that ensures all the chemicals are not exposed to the environment. The machines also are designed now to use eco –friendly chemicals, not the old hydrocarbon chemical, Perch.

The new design is encouraging a lot of people to look only for the environmentally friendly chemicals, therefore eliminating the harmful ones.

One of the main problems in the dry cleaning service is the use of Perc, it is harmful, although preferred because of its high ability to remove soil and debris clinging to garments.

What has technology done to improve the dry cleaning machine?

Since most people insist on using this chemical called Perc, the new dry cleaning machines have a “closed-loop” system, which helps to prevent solvents used from being released to the environment during the process of cleaning. This chemical can be recycled and reused.

However, despite the efforts of technology to invent environmental friendly dry cleaning machine, pollution is still taking place. People are now trying to look for more eco-friendly solvents.

Are green dry cleaning methods used?

Industries producing these harmful chemicals are trying to appreciate the importance of having a shift to more safer and effective solvents.

Some of the green cleaning products include:

• CO₂ Cleaning

Liquid carbon dioxide is a green solvent that is used as a pressurized liquid in place of Perc. Clothes are placed in a special dry cleaning machine. The liquid Co2 dissolves fats, oils and dirt in the clothes. After the end of the cleaning process, the liquid is pumped back to the tanks where it is reused again. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) endorses this method.

• Silicone Cleaning

It is also referred to as the GreenEarth system, patented as Silicone D5 Solution. It uses a system similar to the conventional methods of dry cleaning. It is effective in removing fabric odors and stains. While there is still debate about the safety of the solvent, it is not yet classified as air contaminant or connected to any chronic health issue-hence becoming a renown green alternative.

• Wet cleaning

This is more sophisticated method, garments are washed with water, special detergents and high efficient dry cleaning machines. The EPA recommends this method.

• K4 System

This is a system that has been popular in German. Kresussler created it, and he says that it is designed in a manner that does not pose risk to water, air, soil and human beings. The K4 is a recent method, and it should be available in different countries some years coming.

Another great way drying cleaning services can be done in a greener way is through recycling. If you are a responsible dry cleaner, recycling should be an essential activity you should consider.

How is green dry cleaning service implemented with recycling?

• Dry cleaning solvents

Filtration, distillation, and drying are some of the methods used to prepare solvents for reuse. These processes are aimed at removing impurities. This ensures that the next round of garments are exposed to the same pure solvents as the first one.

• Unclaimed garments

The garments that remain unclaimed by the owners are taken to organizations that require charity. These clothes can spun to thousands. This is a good way of disposing these clothes instead of doing the unthinkable-burning.

• Hangers

Hangers should not be thrown away. They can be recycled many times without a sign of depreciation.

• Packaging bags such a polyethylene.

As a dry cleaner, you can have this program of recycling used polyethylene bags. You can advise your customers to place the bags in a provided recycle bin. Remind them to remove staples and tags before placing in the bins. This way, everyone would feel he or she has participated in green dry cleaning.

It is possible to have a green drying cleaning service. Therefore, you can have a dry cleaning system that works environmentally friendly to you and all your surrounding.