Why is it better for the earth?
Eighty-five percent of dry cleaners use a solvent known as perc, short for perchloroethylene, a chlorinated hydrocarbon classified by the EPA as a Toxic Air Contaminant. Use of perc is highly regulated because indiscriminate disposal of perc can seriously contaminate soil and groundwater, and exposure can irritate eyes, nose and throat, as well as cause headaches, dizziness or fatigue. Perc is also classified by the EPA as a possible to probable human carcinogen.

In contrast, GreenEarth is so safe the EPA does not regulate it; it’s safe for the air, water and soil. What’s more, the GreenEarth solution is not a VOC; it is non-toxic, and non-hazardous. If you wanted to, you could safely rub it on your skin. In fact, you probably already do. That’s because GreenEarth’s solution is pure liquid silicone—essentially liquefied sand. It’s the same base ingredient found in everyday shampoos, soaps and lotions. Plus, when released to the environment, liquid silicone safely degrades back into its three natural components: sand (SiO2), water and carbon dioxide.

Why is it better for clothes?
GreenEarth solution is different from dry cleaning solvents in that liquid silicone is chemically inert, meaning it does not interact with the textile fabric or dyes during the cleaning process. This helps preserve the quality of garments, eliminates problems with fabric wear or color loss, maintains a soft "hand" and prevents shrinkage. Delicate silks, suede, leather, beads, sequins, painted garments, specialty buttons and trims, and other "problem" items are no problem at all. And, unlike petroleum based solvents like perc or hydrocarbon, liquid silicone is odorless, so there is no lingering chemical smell on your clothes.

Are there other environmentally friendly dry cleaning alternatives? The only other recognized "green" alternatives in dry cleaning are CO2 and 100% wet cleaning. CO2 systems use a liquid carbon dioxide solvent, converted from gas under extremely high pressure in special machines. Wet cleaning uses water as its solvent, much like home laundry, only with more sophisticated machinery. Both systems offer an environmentally safe alternative for consumers, but dry cleaners have been reluctant to risk investing in them. The problem for dry cleaners, especially the small "mom and pop" cleaners who are the backbone of the industry, is that it is very difficult to make a living operating exclusively with either of these eco-friendly systems. CO2 machines can cost up to three times as much as traditional dry cleaning machines. Wet cleaning requires more labor to produce and finish garments, thus both options are considerably more expensive to operate. Less than one-third of one percent of dry cleaners operates with CO2 or 100% wet cleaning exclusively.

I am seeing a lot of "organic" dry cleaning claims, is GreenEarth organic?
No. And that is a good thing. When "organic" describes food, it is universally understood to mean pesticide and chemical free. "Organic", as it relates to chemistry means something very different because it refers to anything with a carbon backbone. Gasoline and asphalt are organic. Dry cleaners who market themselves this way are misleading the consumer. Perc and hydrocarbon are both organic solvents.

Is hydrocarbon (sold under brand names like DF2000) environmentally friendly? Many well intentioned dry cleaners have converted from perc to hydrocarbon believing that it was a good "green" alternative. But while certainly a big improvement over perc, hydrocarbons are classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC) which means they are a contributor to smog formation. They would also likely require clean up if spilled. And, like perc, hydrocarbon is listed by the EPA as a neurotoxin and skin and eye irritant for workers. The good news is that most machines designed to use hydrocarbon solvent are also designed to use GreenEarth solution, so dry cleaners using hydrocarbon can affordably convert to a truly green system if they want to.