Everything is trending towards sustainable and eco-friendly practices and that’s a great thing. The world can be a terrifying place sometimes, but if we come together we can make a difference. There are some scary statistics about the state of our planet but we can all do something about it. We don’t need to sacrifice style to be more eco-friendly, so read on to discover the answer to this question: Can you dry clean hand wash only clothes? A lot of people think that dry cleaning is bad for the environment because of how toxic it can be when done incorrectly, which is why many people avoid it unless they have no other choice. However, there are still plenty of ways to launder your clothing while being as eco-friendly as possible. With so many options available, hopefully, you’ll find one that works for you!
Can You Dry Clean Hand Wash Only Clothes?
I would highly recommend not to dry clean hand wash only clothes. Dry cleaning involves a chemical solvent that is both toxic and flammable. If not done properly, the solvent can cause damage to the fabric’s softeners and dyes. There are some instances where dry cleaning is necessary, such as when a garment is soiled and needs to be taken clean. But if you can, I recommend not to dry clean hand wash only clothes.
How To Dry Clean Eco-Friendly?
Air Drying
Air drying your clothes was a common practice back in the day, but it’s become less common as people have adopted more modern ways of doing things. Today’s fabrics are designed to be wrinkle-free out of the drier, which is great if you enjoy ironing and are planning to keep your ironing board in your regular rotation. Air drying your clothes is a great way to reduce your energy usage, especially if you’re drying in warm weather. That means less power is required to run your dryer, which translates to less pollution. Air drying garments isn’t just good for the environment. It’s also cheaper than using a drier, and it’s gentler on your clothes.
Use eco-friendly stain removers
If you want to keep your eco-friendly dry cleaning eco-friendly, you should probably give up the conventional cleaners and start using eco-friendly stain removers. They’re made from natural ingredients and are much safer for the environment. The best part about them is that many of them are actually cheaper than the conventional cleaners, especially if you make them yourself. This means you save money and you keep your clothes as eco-friendly as possible. If you don’t want to make your own stain remover or you’re in a hurry and don’t want to spend your time making it, you can always buy eco-friendly stain removers.
Neutral Detergents
If you know that you’ll be cleaning a lot of greasy clothes and dishes, you might want to consider switching to a neutral detergent. Neutral detergents are free of dyes, perfumes, and other chemicals that could be harmful to your health. This makes them a great option for eco-friendly dry cleaning. Keep in mind that not all brands are neutral. You should always check the ingredient list before you buy. If you can’t find the ingredients listed, don’t buy them. If you’re not sure where to buy neutral detergents, you can always buy them online. There are plenty of eco-friendly dry cleaning detergents you can choose from.
Dry in the sunlight
You can actually use the sunlight to dry your clothes and keep your eco-friendly dry cleaning eco-friendly. This way, you’re not spending anything on an energy source and you’re making the most out of the natural light. Drying your clothes in the sunlight is great for a couple of reasons. First, it’s free. Second, it’s gentle on your clothes. The sun isn’t as intense as a drier, so your clothes won’t get as hot. The only downside to this is that you might have to wait longer to finish drying your clothes because they’re not getting as hot as they would in the drier. However, the longer drying time is a small price to pay if it means you’re being a little more eco-friendly with your dry cleaning.
Stop using the dryer and ironing
If you’re looking for a real step up when it comes to eco-friendly dry cleaning, you should consider taking ironing and dryer out of your cleaning process entirely. Ironing isn’t as necessary as it once was. You can get away with not ironing your clothes if they’re made of synthetic fibers. If they’re made from natural fibers, like cotton, you can get away with not ironing them if they’re thin enough. If you don’t iron and aren’t drying your clothes, you don’t have to worry about buying any eco-friendly dry cleaning supplies.
Why Is Dry Cleaning Bad For The Environment?
Dry Cleaning Solvents Are Toxic
Dry cleaning solvents are highly toxic. While not all solvents are created equally, most are hazardous to the environment. For example, perchloroethylene, or perc, which is commonly used for cleaning textiles and garments, is extremely toxic. Perc has been known to cause serious health issues for humans, including neurological disorders, kidney damage, and liver damage. It can also cause death in extreme cases. Perc is also extremely harmful to our environment. It can be broken down by soil microbes, but not in a timely manner. Perc can be detected in the soil more than one year after it has been deposited. It has also been found in the groundwater. In addition to being toxic, dry cleaning solvents are also flammable. The flash point of these solvents is below room temperature, so even the tiniest spark can cause a dangerous fire. In fact, many garments are damaged and ruined due to fires caused by dry cleaning equipment.
Dry Cleaning Wastes A Lot of Water
The traditional method of wet cleaning uses water and chemicals such as ammonia, sodium carbonate, and perborate. In the dry cleaning process, water is not used; instead, solvents are sprayed on the garments. However, the solvents are later washed away. Overall, the dry cleaning process wastes a lot of water. At the beginning of the dry cleaning process, the water used to clean the machinery is wasted. Moreover, the water used to remove the solvents from the garments is also wasted. Dry cleaning uses a lot more water than wet cleaning. The wastewater from the process is also dangerous; it contains toxic solvents that are later discharged into the water supply.
Drying Out Wet Clothing Releases Chemicals into the Air
When wet garments are dried out in the dry cleaning process, they release toxic solvents into the air. The release of these solvents causes environmental pollution. The higher the temperature of the process, the more pollutants are released. In fact, the hotter the process, the more harmful emissions are emitted. The pollutants released during the drying out of wet clothes are similar to those found in car exhaust and tobacco smoke. These pollutants can cause health issues in humans, including respiratory and neurological disorders. They can also cause death in extreme cases. The chemicals that are used in the dry cleaning process can also cause damage to the environment. They can pollute the soil and the groundwater, which is extremely harmful.
Why You Shouldn’t Dry Clean Hand Wash Only Clothes?
There are many reasons why you shouldn’t be dry cleaning garments that are hand washed only. The main reason is that most of these garments are made of delicate fabrics that can become damaged if exposed to a solvent.
- If you’ve ever seen what happens when you mix water and gasoline, you get an idea of what a solvent does to fabrics.
- Solvents are strong chemicals that are designed to dissolve oils, so they will dissolve water-based natural fibers.
- This can lead to damage such as shrinking, warping, or even tearing. Another reason why you shouldn’t be dry cleaning garments that are hand washed only is that you should always wash garments according to their care label.
- Hand wash garments (and all garments for that matter) have been designed and engineered to be washed in the appropriate way.
- Washing them any other way can be damaging, not only to the garment but also to you.
Conclusion
There are plenty of reasons why you might not want to dry clean your hand wash only clothes, not least of which is the fact that it can be really bad for the environment. However, you should always be aware of the risks associated with each garment care method, so if you’re not sure if you should be dry cleaning something then you should probably just wash it by hand. Dry cleaning is a fantastic way to keep your clothes looking fresh and clean, but it’s important to do it the right way.
