Chemical-Free Garment Care
I had a bag of clothes sitting in the bottom of my closet since March I've been meaning to take to the dry cleaners. Last week I finally buckled down and dropped them off at Mulberry's! Mulberry's is a non-toxic, chemical-free company here in Minneapolis I have used a few times before. Many people do not realize the dangers of conventional dry cleaning.
The solvent that most dry cleaners rely on –the source of that sweet, heady smell that hits you the second you enter the cleaners - is a chemical known as perchloroethylene or PERC. It's the same solvent used in paint strippers and spot removers, and while it's great at lifting stains, it could be damaging your health!
PERC lingers in recently dry-cleaned clothing and slowly escape into household air. Studies have shown that chronic exposure to small amounts of PERC can lead to headaches, difficulties with color vision, and impaired motor skills. People who work with this chemical have a greater risk of developing certain cancers, and women working at dry-cleaning facilities have higher rates of menstrual problems and spontaneous abortions. In animals, PERC has been linked to kidney and liver cancer. Pretty scary stuff!
I encourage you to scope out a "greener" cleaner in the area where you live! Questions? Please ask!
Sources:
https://drycleancoalition.org/chemicals/chemicalsusedindrycleaningoperations.pdf
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/drycleaning/
Copyright, 2017, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.
