Greener dry cleaning

Conventional dry cleaning harms the environment. Whenever you can, choose a dry cleaner that uses eco-friendly methods.

Most traditional cleaners use a solvent called perchloroethylene, or perc. It is a risk for the people who work with it every day, and it can also escape from freshly cleaned clothes into the air of your home, which may affect your health.

A growing number of cleaners now offer safer options. The main ones are liquid CO2, silicone-based solvents and professional wet cleaning with biodegradable soaps. Prices and results are about the same as with the usual process.

Plastic bags are the second problem. They create a large amount of waste. Many cleaners now provide reusable garment bags, and you can also bring your own. Some green cleaners even replace plastic hangers with cardboard ones.

If there is no green dry cleaner near you, simply use dry cleaning less often. Buying clothes that can be washed at home helps a lot. When you do use a conventional cleaner, hang your clothes outside for a while before putting them away, if you can.