Ideal Bite

Don't forget that there are the "Dryel" dryer sheets which do a pretty decent job freshening up your dry cleaning good between dry clean cycles. While the dryer sheets probably are very green, it's probably a much better alternative (not to mention cheaper) than the dry cleaners. Also, I've found that I can wash alot of items deemed 'dry clean only' if they're made of a washable material such silk, wool, etc. and are NOT lined...most of the new front-load washers are really gentle on your delicate clothes and even probably have a cycle for silks & wools (like my Bosch washer). I've even accidentally (and not so accidentally) washed my husband's lined wool dress pants, and while they need alot of ironing afterwards, they survived :-).

Sorry, just amending my previous post...meant to say the Dryel dryer sheets probably are NOT terribly green...

My husband started purchasing the Brooks Brothers Non-Iron dress shirts a few years ago. They wear as if you dry cleaned them, but you wash them at home. Although they are pricier than comparable dry clean only shirts, we have saved hundreds of dollars in dry cleaning costs, time going to the dry cleaner, and resources for the hangers, plastic covers, pins and papers. Check them out at: http://www.brooksbrothers.com/men/miracleshirt.tem

I found out a while ago that the best way to clean those 'dry clean only' sweaters (natural fibers) is by hand, with shampoo! It's incredibly easy... put some cold water in a bucket or your sink... put in a bit of shampoo, stir... then soak your garment(s) for a while. Squish around gently to lift the dirt/sweat/crud from the material, then rinse with a couple of changes of water (you can even put a bit of conditioner in the water for the last rinse - my sweaters have never been softer and fluffier), and then gently lay them on a towel, roll up the towel, and squeeze out the excess water. Block to dry. This works like a charm, and your sweaters smell great! And you never have to go to the dry cleaners, hooray!

It also works well for my silk blouses, my pashmina shawl, my silk saris etc. Before I discovered shampoo, I used Woolite or Dr. Bronner's for handwashing, but shampoo seems to be the best solution. Strange but true.... ;)

Most "dry-clean-only" things can be washed by hand, with warm water and baby shampoo, then lay flat to dry after pressing the water out with towels. You can do the same thing with wool, silk, that rayon material that looks like silk and so on. What ruins the fabric is not the water, but the wringing, agitating, and tossing that the washer/dryer does. So if you only wash by pressing water out, the fabric will do fine.

Years ago I learned from Heloise on Oprah that manufacturers are only req'd to put 1 cleaning method on the clothing label. A garmet may be good if it's dry cleaned, hand washed or washed on gentle cycle and air-dryed, but since the mfg. is only req'd to put one method on the label, they'll do what is easiest. Many "dry clean only" garmets can be hand washed or washed on the gentle cycle.

We have an organic dry cleaner here. Haven't tried it yet but a friend of mine says she likes it as there is not post wash chem fumes. They use an EPA approved solvents. A bit pricier but they do have coupons on their website. If anyone else has tried them I'd like more info before giving them a go.

wire hangers are more eco friendly that the plastic 1, can be easier recycles at any place you bring your cans to and 2, can be used by welders as rods on certian jobs, as for perk that stuff should be outlawed i worked at a dry cleaners and was told never to use bedding, sleeping bags with perk cause it will cause you to have health problems whae you sleep breathing in the fumes that never leave so the company i worked for would wash the sleeping items and the coustomers never knew the difference.

My husband does a ton of dry cleaning. We've tried washing his shirts but no - good. We found quite a few eco-cleaners in our area but they still use plastic bags. I got a free reusable dry-cleaning bag from thegreengarmento.com. It took our cleaner a while to get used to it but now they dig it. Also, I saw a youtube article about ecohangers - they seem to have a good "handle" on how to create good reuseable hangers.

Has anyone heard about using liquid silicone for dry cleaning instead of perc? Look at ecodrycleaning.com. I would like to know what you think.