What is Green Dry Cleaning? People Friendly Nose friendly. Ever wonder why the clothes you bring home from conventional dry cleaners have a strangely sweet odor? That’s the smell of petrochemical residue. Most people find it distasteful, but some people who suffer from asthma or odor sensitivities find it can make them sick. GreenEarth has absolutely no odor. Your clothes are fresh and clean right out of the bag, so there’s no need to let them “air out” (though you should take them out of the bag before hanging them in your closet—if humidity gets trapped inside the bag it is not good for clothes).

Skin friendly.
GreenEarth solution is so safe you could rub it on your skin. In fact, you probably already do. That’s because GreenEarth solution is pure liquid silicone, the same base ingredient found in everyday shampoos, conditioners, skin lotions and antiperspirants.

Allergies or sensitive skin? No worries. GreenEarth is non-allergenic and non-irritating. Best of all, GreenEarth leaves fabrics silky smooth, with no static. Wools aren’t itchy. Sweaters feel soft. Fabrics drape nicely again. Clothes just feel good.

Store friendly.
People who work in or live near traditional dry cleaning stores often worry about the dangers of exposure to perc, with good reason. According to the EPA over-exposure to perc can lead to headaches, dizziness, skin and eye irritation and other health effects, including an increased risk of cancer. Seniors, young children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable.

People who work in or live near a GreenEarth dry cleaning store have absolutely nothing to worry about. GreenEarth is safe to work with, safe to dispose of and safe to breathe. Employees especially love working in an odorless store!

We have the tests to prove it!
Over $30 million dollars of voluntary testing and research has been done to confirm that GreenEarth’s solution is safe for the planet, for dry cleaning, and for people. Want to know more? Click here to learn about our air and waste stream sampling, fabric care studies and health and safety testing. You won’t find other dry cleaning methods openly and honestly sharing information like this.

You might also like to know that the silicone used in the GreenEarth dry cleaning process has been safely used for more than 40 years in a wide variety of other consumer applications from cookware to cosmetics to personal care products. Decades of in-depth research support its safety in all of its many uses.

Earth Friendly
Our name means a lot.
GreenEarth is a dry cleaning process that is completely safe. It has no hazardous chemicals.
No perchloroethylene. No petroleum. So there’s no risk to the air, water or soil.

Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream.
GreenEarth cleans with pure liquid silicone. In essence, liquefied sand. The same natural sand the earth has been creating for over six billion years. It is clear, odorless and gentle. In the environment, silicone simply returns to its three natural elements: sand (SiO2) and trace amounts of water and CO2.

Petroleum-free. Regulation-free.
GreenEarth is so safe, the EPA doesn’t regulate it. Neither does OHSA, RCRA or CERCLA. In contrast, the petroleum-based solvents most dry cleaners use are heavily regulated. That’s because they can be extremely hazardous to the earth and people when they aren’t handled properly.

Most dry cleaners (about 85%) use a synthetic chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent known as perc (perchloroethylene). It has been classified by the EPA as a toxic air contaminant, a hazardous, potentially carcinogenic substance and one of the top four contaminants found in drinking water. It can enter your body when you inhale its vapors or touch it. Perc can irritate your skin, eyes, nose or throat, and affects your brain much like alcohol does (e.g. dizziness,
headache, nausea, loss of balance or coordination, etc.). California has recently banned the use of perc; other states have proposed similar legislation.

Beware of “green washing”!
The second most common type of solvent used in dry cleaning is hydrocarbon, also petroleum -based. Hydrocarbon is sometimes marketed as “organic”. Beware! From a chemistry standpoint, anything with a chain of carbons can be labeled “organic”. That doesn’t mean it’s environmentally friendly or chemical-free. Gasoline is organic, but you wouldn’t want to wash your clothes in it.

Breathe easy.
Hydrocarbon solvents are classified as volatile air contaminants (VOCs), meaning they can vaporize into the atmosphere and contribute to smog and global warming. But GreenEarth is not classified as a VOC by the U.S. EPA. It’s good for the clothes you wear and for the air you breathe.

Fabric Friendly
If your clothes could talk, they’d say “Ahhhhhhh”.
GreenEarth treats clothes like a mineral bath, so they don’t just come back clean, they come back rejuvenated. Fabrics actually feel soft and supple again. Silky and smooth to the touch. They look better too. Because GreenEarth won’t damage fibers or leech dye like conventional dry cleaning. Clothes look newer longer. Colors stay bright and clear. Whites are whiter and repeated cleanings won’t cause yellowing over time.
And unlike other alternatives, GreenEarth doesn’t cause shrinkage. Clothes always retain their correct size and shape no matter how many times you clean them.

The Wow comes from the How.
Fabrics look and feel better with GreenEarth. And that’s not just our opinion, it’s science. The reason? Our solution doesn’t rub or swell fabric fibers like petrochemical solvents or water-based methods. It is chemically inert, with very low surface tension, so it won’t damage textile fibers. It gently carries in the detergent and carries away stains and soil.

A delicate approach to delicates.
GreenEarth is so gentle you don’t have to worry about dry cleaning delicate or sensitive fabrics and trims. Heirloom fabrics and lace, wedding gowns, beads and sequins, hand painted fabrics, silks, leather, suede, microfiber, even rubber backed drapes, acetate and elastic. They can all be cleaned safely with GreenEarth.

Cool and collected.
Garments come out of a GreenEarth bath with very little wrinkling and no static. So they need less ironing and finishing. That means less wear and tear on your clothes and your dry cleaning.

The secret is the sand.
Fabrics love GreenEarth because it isn’t harsh like petrochemical solvents. It uses pure liquid silicone. Silicone is made from sand, or silica, one of the earth’s oldest and most abundant substances. It is a gentle and remarkably effective solution for dry cleaning. Not just for clothes, for the planet!