AZ
Green Magazine, Arizona's premier lifestyle publication devoted to
sustainability, got it (mostly) right.
In an article entitled "Dry Cleaning and Toxicology - An Expert
Talks Ecology," author Gabrielle Saveri, UCLA's expert on
sustainable garment care, discusses dry cleaning solvents and
fluids.
For anyone interested in a balanced presentation of the issues,
the article is a breath of fresh air. That's because Saveri
demonstrates a technical knowledge of the subject matter that's
noticeably absent from all the self-serving fluff articles and
ghost written articles that have appeared in Phoenix and Scottsdale
newspapers and magazines in recent years.
In the article, Saveri quotes RAVE FabriCARE at length ...
With clients in 38 states, Rave
Fabricare Master Cleaners, located at 8480 East Butherus Dr., in
Scottsdale, specializes in cleaning high-end garments, and will do
wet cleaning upon request. The customer needs to do their homework
when choosing a cleaner, said Rave Fabricare owner Stu Bloom, who
typically uses a combination of GreenEarth® and wet cleaning for
most high-end garments. While Bloom believes GreenEarth® is the
best product on the market for cleaning delicate garments, he is
also willing to do 100% wet cleaning once he and the customer have
deemed it is appropriate for their clothes.
"People look at the sign that says
'organic' or 'eco-friendly' and they get confused," he says. "This
is potentially dangerous for customers with sensitivities to
petroleum-based solvents, who need to be well-apprised about the
chemicals used to clean the clothing they wear. They need to be
aware of what 'organic' chemicals the dry cleaners are using."
Ultimately, Bloom explained, it is
up to the customer to make the best choice. "The most important
thing a consumer can do is find out specifically what dry cleaning
solvent a company is using," he explains. "Forget all the brand
names of solvents labeled 'organic' and all the 'eco-friendly'
marketing fluff. Find out the pros and cons, and make a decision as
to what is appropriate for your clothes," he adds.
Clearly, AZ Green Magazine got it (mostly) right. I could take
issue with a few of the points made but they are minor relative to
Saveri's primary point: Forget the creative buzz words. Focus,
instead, on the specific dry cleaning solvent or fluid your cleaner
uses, and the pros and cons of that solvent or fluid.
How can I help you?