Did you know?

More than 30,000 dry cleaners nationwide use perc, but more than 150 eco-friendly wet cleaners have opened up in just the past 11 years.

Clean and Green

Have you ever noticed a distinctive odor on your newly dry-cleaned clothes?

It’s perchlorethylene, or perc for short—a toxic solvent that dry cleaners commonly use to remove stains from fabrics. Perc can cause a number of health problems, from headaches and skin irritations to liver and kidney damage, and perhaps even cancer.

Because of these problems, a new brand of perc-free cleaners has emerged: wet cleaners. Wet cleaners use old-fashioned water and detergents, along with high-tech washing and drying machines, to remove stains without damaging clothes. And they’re no more expensive than dry cleaners—just safer. You can find wet cleaners from Brentwood to Brooklyn, so see if you can find one near you!