Greenopia Rating
Dry and Wet Cleaners:
Conventional “dry" cleaning actually involves washing clothes in
a liquid chemical solvent to remove stains. In about 85 percent
of dry cleaning businesses, this solvent is perchloroethylene (or
perc). Perc is a dangerous chemical that harms workers, brings
toxins into the home, and damages the environment. Perc has been
identified as a “probable" human carcinogen by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
Only those cleaners that meet our strict requirement of offering
wet cleaning and/or liquid CO2 cleaning exclusively qualify for a
four-leaf award. Those that offer hydrocarbon/silicone-based sol-
vent cleaning in addition to wet or liquid CO2 cleaning qualify
for a one-leaf award.