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

It seems like everything is a carcinogen nowadays. How I haven't died from cancer already really amazes me.

With that said, I don't think dry cleaning your woolens once a year will really bother you. Maybe if you got your suit for work dry cleaned every other day for 30 years it might, but even then my guess is it has the most effect on the people who work in dry cleaning places....and the ones I know are older than average, so I don't feel like I'm in that much danger.

Is your clothing being dry cleaned or you?

Around here, dry cleaners were forced to switch away from Perc about a decade ago... The new chemical (which I gather is basically kerosene - and sure smells like it) doesn't seem to do as good a job as Perc. Heck, I remember dry cleaners using Carbon Tet - I've pictures of the 1939 worlds fair when they had a trench full of carbon tet, (to show if dry cleaning - walk in one end, and out the other - clothed, and get your clothes clean

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

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...

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:



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

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

"... 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

Thanks for the advice Susan. It's clarifying.

Frankie