In a
shocking expose that's rocking the drycleaning industry
to its very foundations, a 20 year veteran of the drycleaning
industry has revealed 8 "pretty scary", "really disgusting" and
"plain dangerous" drycleaning trade secrets.
After extensive soul searching, Jaipi Sixbear, "a former manager
of a prestigious drycleaner," has broken her drycleaning Omerta by
revealing - for the very first time - 8 trade secrets your
drycleaner never wanted you to know ...
Trade secret #1
"The average American thinks of drycleaning as some mysterious
process that cleans clothes without getting them wet. But your
clothes are washed in a wet chemical solution instead of
water."
So drycleaning isn't dry? No kidding, Miss Marple. No one knew
that. Thanks for enlightening the public.
Trade secret #2
"Conventional drycleaning solvents are highly toxic solutions.
They are as far from green as it gets."
So conventional drycleaning solvents aren't green? Say it ain't
so, Nancy Drew. No one knew that. Thanks for enlightening the
public.
Trade secret #3
"The main chemical used for drycleaning is known as
perchloroethylene aka perc ... a highly toxic and cancer causing
chemical. It's by no means safe or green."
So perc is toxic? Holy cow, Jessica Fletcher. No one knew that.
Thanks for enlightening the public.
Trade secret #4
"When you bring your clothes to a conventional drycleaner they
are washed in undiluted chemicals."
So drycleaning solvents are undiluted? No shit, Jane Tennison.
No one knew that. Thanks for enlightening the public.
Trade secret #5
"Distilled drycleaning fluid is reused to clean customers
clothes. Not only that but customer clothes are not cleaned
separately, they are cleaned altogether."
So distilled drycleaning fluid is reused? And clothes are not
individually cleaned? OMG, Laura Holt. No one knew that. Thanks for
enlightening the public.
Trade secret #6
"Drycleaning does not remove bodily fluids. Bodily fluids ...
must be removed manually from clothing either before or after
cleaning."
So bodily fluids must be removed before or after cleaning? You
don't say, Christine Cagney. No one knew that. Thanks for
enlightening the public.
Trade secret #7
Having your clothes drycleaned exposes you to minuscule amounts
of toxic dry cleaning chemicals ... Even if you only take your
clothes in to be pressed, they pick up chemicals from ...
drycleaning presses. Drycleaning presses are covered in porous
material. They absorb chemicals from the clothes being pressed
there. This residual chemical is then deposited onto anything
pressed on the same machine."
So presses transfer toxic chemicals onto anything pressed? Oh
no, Mary Beth Lacey. No one knew that (And I really do mean that.
No one in the dry cleaning industry knew that. Other than Ms.
Sixbear, of course). Thanks for enlightening me and the public.
Trade secret #8
"Just be careful which green cleaner you patronize. Some green
cleaners use hazardous dry cleaning chemicals on certain items
..."
So some green cleaners are green
washers? That can't be true, Pepper Anderson. No one
knew that. Thanks for enlightening the public.
Once again, thanks for the insight, Ms. Sixbear. Don't be
surprised if 60 Minutes comes knocking on your door.
How can I help you (and how can I help you, Ms.
Sixbear)?