The American company Blue Sky Cleaners might open a new orientation for dry cleaning. From toxic solvent to more eco-friendly carbon dioxide. Blue Sky Cleaners is pioneering in this direction. The family-owned business recently opens its first non-toxic dry cleaner in Union City ― only 35 others exist around the United States.
For many years, dry cleaners mainly use perchloroethylene (see Wikipedia). Up to 80% according to the San Fransisco Gate here. This solvent causes so bad dizziness, headaches or worse, cancer that Los Angeles air quality officials have ordered dry cleaners in their region to stop using it by 2020.
Dealing laundry with carbon dioxide is quite simple. The gas ― exactly the same as in soda ― is pressurized into a clear liquid, before it is mixed with soap. Clothes are then washed in a traditional dry cleaning machine. Environmental experts deeply back this washing technique and Consumers Reports clearly show it can produce better results than perchloroethylene.
Of course, Blue Sky Cleaners ambitions to succeed in demonstrating the business viability. It wouldn’t be that easy. Even if a load costs around one fifth of a use of perchloroethylene (€2.4 to €13), the initial investment in the new technology is more expensive: €135,000 for the machines against €24,000. Yikes
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