#115753 - 12/13/07 04:42 AM
PERC - a stain on the dry cleaning industry
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Old Hand
Registered: 09/19/03
Posts: 736
Loc: Montréal, Québec, Canada
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I've posted a thread on how to store your woolens some time ago. Chris K. recommended to professionaly dry clean all your woolens before storage. But now I just read that dry cleaning uses a toxic chemical called perchloroethylene (perc)and that it's classified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and that it's even banned in the state of California. It also has been designated under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act as a persistent, bio-accumulative chemical that is toxic to the environment. Should I be concerned about dry cleaning? Should I look for a dry cleaner that doesn't use PERC? Or should I hand wash even "dry clean only" garments? Thanks Frankie http://www.grinningplanet.com/2004/02-10/dry-cleaning-alternatives-eco.htm
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#115762 - 12/13/07 05:05 AM
Re: PERC - a stain on the dry cleaning industry
[Re: Frankie]
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Cranky Geek
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 4642
Loc: Vermont
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Is your clothing being dry cleaned or you?
_________________________
-IronRaven
When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.
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#116250 - 12/17/07 08:17 AM
Re: PERC - a stain on the dry cleaning industry
[Re: KG2V]
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Geezer
Registered: 01/21/04
Posts: 5163
Loc: W. WA
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Wool has been harvested from sheep since before the Iron Age. People had two choices: wash it, or wear it until it rots off.
Dry-cleaning was invented in the mid-1800s. That's a span of 3000 years without dry-cleaning.
I don't know about men's Armani suits, but I would (and probably have) wash practically anything else made from wood: blankets, socks, casual wear, sweaters, etc.
Wool is hair. The best advice I ever received was to wash it with shampoo and then use a hair conditioner in the rinse water (Suave is fine) (washing machine on gentle is fine -- cold water). Hang to dry, or dry in very short increments at low temps in the dryer (check frequently -- it dries quickly, even heavy blankets).
Sue
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#116268 - 12/17/07 01:45 PM
Re: PERC - a stain on the dry cleaning industry
[Re: Frankie]
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Geezer
Registered: 09/30/01
Posts: 5695
Loc: Former AFB in CA, recouping fr...
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I wore drycleaning required uniforms for over 30 years, didn't seem to do me much harm (except in the pocketbook). However, the county our home is in, (the only county in CA without a traffic signal), will not allow a drycleaner, due to the polution they creat...
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OBG
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#116286 - 12/17/07 03:58 PM
Re: PERC - a stain on the dry cleaning industry
[Re: Susan]
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Old Hand
Registered: 09/19/03
Posts: 736
Loc: Montréal, Québec, Canada
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I don't know about men's Armani suits, but I would (and probably have) wash practically anything else made from wood: blankets, socks, casual wear, sweaters, etc.
In my case it would be more like "Salvation Armani" suits but anyhow, would you hand wash Filson's or other whipcord wool pants? Here is the method recommended at CustomWoolenMills: Wash Instructions - Fill your machine with warm water and soap. Agitate the water to dissolve the soap.
- Stop the machine and add your wool.
- Plunge gently up and down by hand to clean.
- Let soak for a 15 minutes.
- Set machine to spin and turn it on, allowing the machine to spin out the soapy water.
- Fill your machine again with warm water to rinse.
- Stop the machine (do not allow it to agitate the wool).
- Add fabric softener.
- Plunge gently up and down by hand to rinse.
- Let soak for 15 minutes.
- Set machine to spin and turn it on, allowing the machine to spin out the rinse water.
- Hang to dry: comforters, sleeping bags, mattress pads, socks, mitts or hats. Lay flat to dry: sweaters.
Just remember... DO NOT agitate the wool! So is it warm water of cold water? There is also a "green" alternative to dry cleaning called "wet cleaning" that uses computer controlled washing machines. I don't know if I can find one here. And would they apply a moth proofing stuff anyway? BTW, is it possible that this thread has been moved to Around the Campfire, I'm not sure but to my mind I have posted this thread in the Survival forum, but it's all right though. Thanks Frankie
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#116289 - 12/17/07 04:34 PM
Re: PERC - a stain on the dry cleaning industry
[Re: Frankie]
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Veteran
Registered: 07/08/07
Posts: 1268
Loc: Northeastern Ontario, Canada
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Hi,
I wash my heavy wool clothes (pants, sweaters, socks, hats, mitts) in a heavy duty washing machine in cold water, gentle cycle, with Sportwash detergent. I then lay them flat over a rack to dry. I also do not wash them more than is needed, often light dirt can be brushed away instead of washing.
Occasionally I will shrink something (my DW is bad for this) but since I wear extra-large size and my son is a large, I just pass the item down to him.
Mike
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#116341 - 12/18/07 12:50 AM
Re: PERC - a stain on the dry cleaning industry
[Re: Frankie]
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Geezer
Registered: 01/21/04
Posts: 5163
Loc: W. WA
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"... would you hand wash Filson's or other whipcord wool pants?"
Yes, I would. Even if they were mine. :grin
IMHO, I don't see a great diffeence between warm and cold water. Fill your washer with warm water and stick your hand in it. Tepid, is more like it. Close enough to cold that it probably doesn't matter.
Just remember that there is also a product called 'wool felt'. It is created by heat and friction. You don't want to do that with your clothes or good blankets. Cool and slow is what you want.
I usually use a short 'gentle' wash for woolens just to swish any soil and body oil out of the fibers, and it has always turned out well. I received a queen-sized, primo wool blanket as a gift several years ago, and it is still light, soft and fluffy.
The blanket that my stubborn sister washed on a long cycle and dried for 40 minutes on (probably) med-high or high, is a hard, stiff, itchy mess, like wool felt cardboard. She is not allowed to wash anything of mine that even resembles wool. EVER AGAIN.
Sue
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#116527 - 12/19/07 01:09 PM
Re: PERC - a stain on the dry cleaning industry
[Re: Susan]
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Old Hand
Registered: 09/19/03
Posts: 736
Loc: Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Thanks for the advice Susan. It's clarifying.
Frankie
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