Alternative Dry Cleaning Chemical

[slester@essential.org]

Original-TO: People Concerned About Chemical Dry Cleaning.
Fm: Jack Weinberg, Greenpeace
Re: A New Alternative to Chemical Dry Cleaning 

Please Post and Distribute
 
An alternative to perc-based dry cleaning with the 

brand name "DryWash" (TM) has been selected by Popular 
Science Magazine for a "Best of What's New" award.  
More information can be obtained in the magazine's 
December issue. Information is also on the World Wide 
Web after November 13 by connecting to: 
http://www.popsci.com and clicking on the 
"Environmental Technology" page.
 
DryWash is a technology that cleans garments using 
liquid carbon dioxide instead of chemical solvents. Its 
developers have stated that machine manufacturers in 
several parts of the world will have commercial DryWash 
machines available on the market by late 1997.
 
Greenpeace has not yet had an opportunity to fully 
evaluate DryWash technology. On a preliminary basis, 
however, DryWash looks good. 
 
DryWash avoids the significant health and environmental 
problems caused by cleaning garments with 
perchloroethylene (perc) or with other chemical 
solvents. While Greenpeace has not yet done a 
systematic evaluation of possible other health, 
environmental, economic or performance issues, on a 
preliminary basis DryWash technology looks promising in 
all these areas. 
 
Greenpeace works to phase out the production and use of 
toxic chlorinated chemicals such as perchloroethylene: 
the solvent used by most dry cleaners. For several 
years, Greenpeace has been promoting Professional 
WetCleaning, an alternative, water-based garment 
cleaning technology. DryWash may soon emerge as 
another, complimentary alternative technology. 
 
Professional WetCleaning works well on most garments 

that have traditionally been dry cleaned. In some 
cases, however, the finishing costs associated with wet 
cleaning certain garments can be excessive. DryWash 
appears to perform best on those garments that are most 
difficult to clean with water. DryWash may be least 
effective on those garments easiest to clean with 
water. The combination of Professional WetCleaning and 
DryWash, however, should soon make chemical dry 
cleaning a relic of the past.
 
Readers of Popular Science and internet viewers can 
vote on which of the "Best of What's New" selections 
will gets the magazine's "Readers Choice" award. Check 
it out.
 
Other DryWash information on the Web can be found at 
http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9619/29/t_t/dry.cleaning/index.html
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