Dry Clean Only?
by The Well AdminMay 17, 2012
That smell you get when you pick up your dry cleaning? It's called Perchloroethylene (perc), a chemical cleaning agent harmful to both the environment and bodies. Perc gets absorbed into fabric and eventually into our lungs and skin. Short term exposure can cause dizziness, headaches, nausea and skin irritations, while long term exposure can lead to kidney and liver damage.
To prevent the harmful side effects of perc exposure:
- Unwrap your dry cleaning immediately from its plastic and store it in a ventilated room, not a closet or bedroom, for up to two days or longer
- Choose an eco-friendly cleaner that uses paraffin-based cleaning agents
- Do it yourself and launder “dry clean only” clothing at home after it has been dry cleaned once
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Why We're Hooked:
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Sukey says: "Dry cleaning can be expensive and hard on your clothes. I try to avoid it as much as possible. To prolong the life between dry cleaning, I like to spray lavender water (filtered water with drops of lavender essential oil) on a skirt, blouse or sweater and use a steamer to bring the garment back to life after I have worn it. For silks, I shelve the spray and just steam. It’s easy and saves me a trip."
