Are your clothes getting clean, safely?

Have you ever taken a deep sniff of your clothing after getting it back from the dry cleaners? The strong smell of chemicals embedded into the fabric immediately tells your brain – this is NOT natural!

We can spend a lot of money on nice clothing and their maintenance. Certain fabrics in our wardrobe must be handled carefully so that the garment doesn’t ruin. Traditionally, water cannot be used on items made from material such as silk or wool, and ‘dry clean only’ was the recommended way to clean these items. So, I did some research to find out if there are any alternatives to cleaning these fabrics.

Let me share an expensive lesson with you.

I had a beautiful down-filled duvet that became soiled after months of normal use during the fall and winter months. As part of my spring cleaning chores, I had this duvet professionally dry-cleaned, and stowed away until it was needed again in the fall. That was my first mistake. The second mistake I made, was keeping the duvet in the plastic wrap from the cleaners, thinking it would cut down on any dust that might accumulate over the summer. So, there I happily stored it in my linen closet with all the noxious odors tightly sealed in its plastic wrap.

Several months later, when I was ready to use the duvet again, I opened the plastic wrap, and the strong scent of dry-cleaning chemicals overtook me. I proceeded to hang it over our large staircase for a week, thinking I could air-out the fumes, but to no avail. Finally, I hung it outdoors for a week, and saw very little improvement. And, the last thing I wanted to do was to sleep eight hours each night breathing in those chemicals that just wouldn’t go away. So, I gave up, and trashed the duvet! (I could have donated it, but I didn’t want anybody else to breathe in those noxious fumes.)

What a waste of money due to my ignorance. Of course, had I done my research at that time, I could have easily and safely washed my duvet (see below for some tips). But, at that time in my life, I was willing to just hand it over to the ‘professionals’, without knowing the dangers of the chemicals used in dry-cleaning. Hey, I was busy, and didn’t have time to try to clean it myself. And, more importantly, my naïve voice within said ‘the dry cleaning process must be safe, otherwise it would be banned.’

Are these chemicals really as bad as they smell?

Oh, yeah! And, it’s not just the smell - the problem is all the chemicals used during the dry cleaning process. I’ve learned that over the last decade or so, people started to become aware of the risks of using PERC and other petro-chemicals. Perchloroethylene ("PERC") has long been recognized as an effective dry cleaning solvent, and today it is by far the most commonly used solvent in dry cleaning shops. However, as a volatile organic solvent, PERC may pose serious health hazards if exposure is not properly controlled.

In 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggested that PERC be classified as a "likely human carcinogen." This means that while there's no definitive proof that the chemical causes cancer in humans, there's strong evidence it does – and, there's proof that the chemical causes various cancers in animals. Moreover, the EPA found that PERC's most dangerous non-cancer toxicity is brain and nervous system damage.

So, how do we get our clothes clean?

What I recommend, and what I do, is to try to get as many wears from these ‘dry clean only’ items as possible. Many suits and better clothing are made from fabrics such as silk or wool. Of course, it’s best to try to buy washable items whenever you can. But, if not, try to be careful of spills and any potential mishaps when wearing. And, as soon as you return home or back to your hotel room, immediately change into more durable (washable) fabrics. Hang up your garments, inspect for stains, and reuse on another day, if you can. You will save money from professional cleaners (wet or dry), and your garments will last much longer with fewer washes.

Second, try to find a business who offers ‘Wet Cleaning’ or ‘Green Cleaning’ – basically any firm who is not using PERC or any other petro-chemicals or chemical solvents to clean your clothes. According to the EPA, “wet cleaning is the most environmentally sensitive and professional method of garment cleaning. It does not use hazardous chemicals, it does not generate hazardous waste, nor does the process create air pollution, and it reduces the potential for water and soil contamination. The specialized detergents and conditioner used in the wet clean process are milder than home laundry products. All of the products are disposed of down the drain and easily handled by the local waste water treatment facility.”

Proponents of wet cleaning process state that these methods can be used without shrinking or otherwise damaging garments that typically require dry cleaning. Talk to your cleaning professional to find out how they are cleaning your clothes, and what alternatives are available to keep your clothes looking great – but, more importantly, to keep you and the environment safe from harmful chemicals.

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How to Wash a Down Comforter or Duvet

Credit: Michelle Ullman, The Spruce

Warm, snuggly and comfortable – down is the perfect filling for bedding. When it comes time to wash your down-filled comforter or duvet, however, don’t assume that dry-cleaning is a must – that’s not always the case. First, check the care tag: if the fabric is delicate – silk or satin, for instance – or if the comforter is embellished with beads, metallic threads or fancy trim, you’ll probably need to leave the cleaning to a professional. Fortunately, if the cover of your duvet or comforter is 100% cotton or a cotton-blend, you can usually wash it and dry it yourself. It’s not a quick process, however, so schedule your bedding laundry day for an open afternoon, and bring a good book to keep yourself occupied for a few hours.

For the best results, a queen or king-sized duvet should be washed in an extra-large capacity front-loading washer and dryer. You can find these machines at any laundromat, but be prepared to spend far more than the usual dollar or two per load – some laundromats charge as much as $6.00 for the use of these oversize washers. Don’t use a machine with an agitator – you’ll end up with a damaged, clumped duvet. If you are washing a twin duvet, and have a full capacity, front-loading washer, and dryer at home, you’ll be able to forego the trip to the laundromat.

As a rule of thumb, down-filled bedding should be washed once a year. Obviously, you’ll need to wash it more frequently if your bedding becomes soiled. Take advantage of laundry day to wash your mattress pad and bed skirt as well – you’ll go to sleep in a completely fresh bed, and get rid of dust mites and other allergens.

What You’ll Need

• Gentle laundry detergent
• Two clean socks, each with a tennis ball knotted inside

What to Do

1. Put your comforter in the washing machine, making sure it’s not folded or crumpled. Spread the comforter out as much as possible in the machine.
2. Add the socks with tennis balls to the load. These help keep the down from bunching and also add a bit of extra agitation to remove dirt, sweat and body oils from the bedding.
3. Pour a SMALL amount of a gentle, natural detergent into the machine’s soap dispenser. Use a little less than the recommended amount for an average load – you don’t want to end up with soap-stiffened down. Do NOT add bleach.
4. Set the washer to the gentle/delicate cycle with warm water. If possible, set the machine for an extra or extended rinse cycle.
5. Turn the washer on and let it run through the full cycle.
6. Check your duvet for any remaining soap. If you see suds or feel any soapy residue, you’ll need to rewash the duvet, this time without any detergent. This is important – soap residue will leave your down clumpy.
7. Be gentle when removing the comforter from the washer. Wet down is heavy, and you don’t want to rip your comforter’s cover. You might notice a slight odor from the wet down – this is normal. The smell will be gone once the down is dry.
8. Put the duvet or comforter into the extra-capacity dryer. Spread the comforter out as much as possible, then add the socks with tennis balls to the load. Their beating action will help keep the down from clumping.
9. Set the dryer to the lowest heat setting, and turn it on.
10. Every half-hour, stop the machine and take the duvet out. Give it a gentle fluff to keep the down evenly distributed. Make sure the duvet doesn’t feel too hot – down can scorch.
11. Expect it to take three or more hours for your down-filled bedding to completely dry. Be patient – if you end the process before the down is entirely dry, it’s quite possible you’ll end up with mildew and odor. You’ll know the down is dry when it doesn’t clump, but feels light and evenly spread throughout the comforter.
12. If you simply cannot wait any longer, and the comforter isn’t entirely dry, you can hang it on a clothesline in a warm, dry area inside or outside your home until it dries completely.