A green dry cleaner

Yes, it's most green to dry-clean less, but on the occasion I need something dry-cleaned, I go to Cleaner by Nature.

Environmentally friendly dry-cleaning process? Check. Friendly and reliable service? Check. Easy-to-use bag and hanger recycling program? Check.

If you're like me, you have a whole bunch of dry cleaners within walking distance. Finding a green one, however, is not as easy -- even though lots of dry cleaners are putting up signs saying they are "environmentally friendly."

California dry cleaners are slowly converting to new methods because conventional dry-cleaning — which uses perchloroethylene, a chemical linked to cancer -- is slowly being phased out by the government. New dry cleaners can't use perc, and existing dry cleaners can't add perc machines and must phase out existing perc machines as they get old or need to be replaced.

That said, some of the new methods the dry cleaners are using haven't been proved to be totally eco-friendly either. L.A. Weekly sized up the four new methods and found two of them problematic. The hydrocarbon method contains "volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that release into the air and mix with other pollutants to form ozone smog. Which means it’s a lot better than perc but still does damage to the environment." And the GreenEarth solvent method requires more testing to make sure there aren't health risks associated with it.

That leaves CO2 cleaning and wet cleaning. Cleaner by Nature uses the wet-cleaning method, though they do use GreenEarth for some garments too. Customers can specifically request wet cleaning only, however.

To find the eco-friendly dry cleaner nearest you, check out the list L.A. Weekly put together. But do note that Cleaner by Nature now has a Santa Monica location too. That's the one I go to. :)

Cleaner by Nature. Santa Monica: 2407 Wilshire Blvd. 310.315.1520; Brentwood: 11919 Wilshire Blvd. 310.914.0171; Encino: 5530 White Oak Ave. 818.345.0171.

Comments

[Peter Sinsheimer]

Great piece on envrionmentally friendly dry cleaning! Our Pollution Prevention Center at Occidental College has been evaluating and promoting environmental alternatives to dry cleaning for the last decade. You are right to point out that professional wet cleaning and CO2 dry cleaning are the most eco-friendly technologies. Our website provides a way to find a Greener Cleaners near you -- http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/ppc/index.htm. We update our list on a regular basis.

[Siel]

Peter -- Thanks for the link :)

[Chad Boucher]

The article starts by saying "it's most green to dry clean less." That statement is wrong. If you are using a professional wet cleaner, it is actually more green to take it to them than process it at home. Professional wet cleaners and launderers make more efficient use of water and utilities by taking advantage of advanced equipment and economies of scale that are not available to the home consumer. Professional wet cleaning can clean 2 to 4 times more pounds per gallon of water than a home washer. Even the "less friendly alternative solvents" use resources more efficiently than washing, drying and ironing garments at home. Be green, take all your clothes to the cleaners!

[Sarah]

If you're looking for a great CO2 and Wet Cleaner... there's one in the Bay Area, who also does fire restoration work in Southern California.

Blue Sky Cleaners... www.blueskycleaners.com