Most of us don’t have the time to wash all our clothes every day and that’s why we hire dry cleaners. They can do all the heavy-duty work, leaving you with clean clothes and a neat house.

The Good Side of Dry Cleaning

Besides, dry cleaning saves you the hassle of carrying around a huge bag full of clothes. These professionals will come to your home or office and take care of your garments.

In addition to saving you a lot of time and energy, dry cleaning also helps you maintain the quality of your clothes. They can remove tough stains and grease that water won’t easily do. They also have the expertise to ensure that your fabrics stay as bright and beautiful as new. Read more

The Bad Side of Dry Cleaning

Dry cleaning uses chemicals that are both toxic and carcinogenic. The most common chemicals used are perchloroethylene (PERC), a petroleum-derived solvent that can cause cancer and kidney damage. Fortunately, there are now nontoxic alternatives to PERC.

The Ugly Side of Dry Cleaning

One Seattle-based dry cleaner has gotten into hot water with the Department of Ecology over its waste stream. The small shop, based in Lynnwood, is working with the state to test its still bottoms.

The state has been cracking down on the industry, especially those who use PERC. The agency has strict regulations for PERC emissions and requires ventilation systems to prevent overuse of the chemical. In fact, some shops are banned from operating until they meet certain requirements.