The Difference Between Organic and Perc dry cleaning

The Difference Between Organic and Perk dry cleaning!
HOW DRY CLEANING PROCESS WORKS
When you have clothes that are delicate, or that would be damaged by water or rough handling of a washing machine then the available means of cleaning such clothes is to dry clean it. Dry cleaning uses chemical solvent to clean clothes. Chemical solvents used include: perchloroethylene, hydrocarbons, dibutoxymethane, liquid silicone, bromine containing solvents etc. This process involves soaking clothes in solvent (except water) in other to remove dirty stains. Thus the process is not absolutely “dry”.

Mechanism of Dry Cleaning Process….
The process of dry cleaning involves the placement of the clothes in a washing (extraction) chamber of a dry cleaning machine while the solvent is placed in the rotating drum. The machine removes stains from clothes during the washing process by filling the chamber with the solvent which is then passed through the filtration chamber to remove the dirt and subsequently reused. After the wash cycle, the solvent is processed by distillation to remove water.
Solvent Commonly Used In Dry Cleaning…

The most commonly used chemical solvent for dry cleaning is perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene) otherwise known as “perc”. Also known as dry cleaning fluid, “perc” is a colourless, volatile, nonflammable, toxic chemical with sweet smell. It cleans perfectly and does not degrade clothes. It is produced by chlorinolysis of light hydrocarbons by high temperature. Its other uses include: degreasing of metals, in electric transformers as cooling gas, as one of the constituents of paint strippers, etc.

“Perc” has been classified as a potential carcinogen (cancer causing agent) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It can enter the body through the respiratory tract, the skin and by drinking contaminated water and long term exposure has been found to be associated with the development of breast cancer, lymphoma, and cancers of the cervix, oesophagus and various damages in other organs of the body. It also increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Pregnant women with prolonged exposure can also have their babies damaged. Thus in the year 2010 the California’s Air Resources Board shut down all dry cleaning machine using perc.
Organic Dry Cleaning…

In chemical industry, organic compound are those with carbon as the backbone of their structure. Though “perc” is an organic solvent, organic dry cleaning is used to refer to methods of dry cleaning clothes without the use of perchloroethylene (perc). Solvent used include silicone based solvent, hydrocarbon, carbon dioxide (CO2), etc. Organic dry cleaning using CO2 involves conversion of CO2 to liquid which is then used to wash clothes and subsequently converted back to gas.

These solvents are being used as substitutes for perchloroethylene due to their advantages over the latter. They are non-toxic, no documented risk of causing cancer, and environmentally safe. Thus, looking at the various health-related adverse effects of perc, and its environmental hazards, it is safer to go for organic dry cleaning and avoid perc.

In the end…
Everything depends what you feel is the best for you. Just always remember to ask your cleaners and questions you may have.

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