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CHEMICAL
SOLVENTS There is a
chemical solvent new to the market that is considered biodegradable. We
are hopeful that this will be the new standard if the issue of residual
odor can be overcome. Until then, when you really need a chemical solvent
to remove grease and oil or when wet cleaning is inappropriate,
perchloroethyene (Perc) is the best stuff out
there. According to
Wikipedia, a properly functioning perc dry cleaning machine will
remove 99.99% if the solvent from the fabric.
The residual will dissipate quickly from the
fabric upon removal from the cleaning machine due to the high volatility
of the
chemical.
There is a
solvent called hydrocarbon that some
cleaners tout as “organic”, “natural”, or “green”. We strongly disagree with this
policy for 5 reasons: 1.
It is a toxic chemical. If you drink it you’ll
probable die. 2.
The U.S. EPA considers it a neurotoxin.
3.
In a study conducted for the California EPA, it
proved aquatically
toxic in 4 out of 8 samplings.
4.
It is flammable and
can only be vaporized in a partial vacuum. That means any
residual will not “
air out”. 5.
It supports bacterial
growth, which can cause foul orders.
There is one more method of dry cleaning that
is environmentally friendly. CO2. Carbon dioxide is condensed
from the atmosphere to achieve a liquid. The problem with this method is
you can't test dyes in the clothes for sensitivity to bleeding. The air is compressed to about 600
psi to liquefy the CO2.
This doesn't allow for keeping a bottle of liquid CO2
around to put on the dark dye of your two-tone sweater to see if the black
dye will bleed into the white when you put it in the machine. In my opinion the best option is wet clean when you can. Dry clean when you
can't