MNN.COM›Green Tech›

Research & Innovations

Lean, green cleaning machine

Is the dry cleaning world ready to wash its hands of its dirty practices?
By PlentyMag.comTue, Mar 24 2009 at 3:36 PM EST  7 Comments

David Kistner spun a large steel wheel, opened what looked like a submarine hatch, and began pulling garments out of the only liquid carbon dioxide dry cleaning machine servicing New York City: a pleated red dress, a cashmere sweater, a black blouse with diamond-shaped beads decorating the waist.
 
"You could never have washed this in a heavy perc cleaner," he said, while inspecting the clothing for stains, "soft, beautiful and smells amazing."
 
Dry cleaning is a method of laundering fabrics that uses a substance other than water (usually called a "solvent") to dissolve dirt and stains. For 40 years, the most dry cleaners have relied on a perchloroethylene, a solvent commonly called "perc." But years ago, the International Agency for Research on Cancer labeled perc a "probable human carcinogen."
 
In the past few years, companies have begun to experiment with perc alternatives such as hydrocarbon and silicone, but so far, only liquid CO2 has weathered environmentalists' scrutiny: Clothes cleaned with hydrocarbon emit noxious Volatile Organic Compound's (VOC's) long after they're in the closet and silicone solvents are still being tested for possible health risks.
 
Green Apple Cleaners is one of only 32 companies in the country currently cleaning with liquid CO2. The company, which began operating in October 2006 out of a plant in Lodi, N.J., currently serves 25 doorman buildings in Manhattan on a daily basis. The company plans to acquire more clients, but Kistner is wary about expanding too rapidly. New machines are expensive—upwards of $100,000, five times the cost of a perc machine—and Kistner doesn’t want Green Apple to be a green flash in the pan.
 
A liquid CO2 dry cleaning machine looks like a washing machine on steroids.  The bulky door maintains the pressure necessary to keep CO2 in its liquid form. Clothing is placed in what launderers call "the wash wheel" and liquid CO2, stored in tanks in the rear of the machine, is pumped in. (Liquid CO2 is considered an ideal solvent because of the way it gently rubs stains out of clothing. Heavy solvents like perc and hyrdrocarbon can destroy fibers and make cleaning delicate garments, such as furs, impossible.)
 
Since heat is not needed to dry clothes washed in liquid CO2, stains not removed during the wash cycle won’t set, and clothing is less likely to shrink. At the end of the cycle, lowering the pressure in the "wash wheel" draws liquid CO2 out of the clothing and back into the storage tanks.
 
Even in New York City, not everyone is convinced CO2 cleaning is more than a trend.
 
"CO2 just hasn’t matured," said Charles Ickes, general manager at Madame Paulette, a Manhattan cleaner that boasts Louis Vuitton and Versace as clients. Madame, with two perc machines and one hydrocarbon, isn't planning on switching to CO2 anytime soon.  "Five years from now it may peter out on us,” said Ickes, “and then I’m stuck with this $100,000 dollar machine."
 
And cleaners in other parts of the country have had trouble enlightening their clients about green dry cleaning.
 
"A lot of people like the environmental thing," said Bart Williams, co-owner of Hangers/Williams Cleaners in Wilmington, N.C., which in 1998 became the first cleaner in the country to use CO2. "But the average person really doesn’t care as long as they get their clothes back on time clean and ready to go."
 
But Green Apple has faith in CO2. In February it will become the first cleaner in the country to begin using a CO2 machine produced by R.R. Street, the nation’s largest manufacturers of perc.
 
"They’ve seen the writing on the wall," said Kistner.
 
Story by Justin Nobel. This article originally appeared in "Plenty" in January 2007.
 
Copyright Environ Press 2007
 
CLOSE link:
Related Links
Related Topics
  • Green Cleaning

    • Comments

    Add your comment
    View:

    liquid CO2 dry cleaning machine

    Posted By Mike Sajad - Mon, Apr 26 2010 at 5:15 AM EST

    Any name of major suppliers of this kind of machine?Thank you
    Iraq-Baghdad

    silicone best cost effective approach

    Posted By green cleaners - Wed, Feb 24 2010 at 6:38 PM EST

    I have friends in the CO2 biz and they claim it will take YEARS to become profitable with the cost associated with this method. I can only recommend this if you want the marketing aspect of comparing yourself to perc or hydrocarbons.

    Green Cleaners

    Posted By Jessica Neu - Wed, Dec 23 2009 at 3:30 PM EST

    I manage a CO2 drycleaning business in Seattle Washington, Blue Sky Cleaners. You may contact me directly with any questions - Many states are addressing the truth in advertising issue with other "green" cleaners (whose various products use solvents based with silicone, anti freeze components, or petroleum components - which are all toxins ).

    CO2 cleaning is the only toxin free cleaner, and along with wet washing, the only true green cleaning method found.

    www.blueskycleaners.com
    206-838-8433.... More

    CO2 dry cleaning

    Posted By Anonymous - Thu, May 27 2010 at 2:30 PM EST

    Where does your business obtain the liquid CO2? I'm doing a project on CO2 dry cleaning and was wondering what the source is for the liquid CO2.

    Green Earth Cleaning

    Posted By Tego - Thu, Oct 15 2009 at 6:56 PM EST

    Green Earth has been using silcone for ten years - still studying health benefits? Is this a CO2 press release?

    Green Cleaners

    Posted By Anonymous - Tue, Jun 23 2009 at 6:58 PM EST

    Does RR Street produce the Solvair machine? Also is there any cheaper CO2 machine on the market? I intend to start a Green Drycleaner however would appreciate any assistance in finding my way around the many variations of GREEN cleaning. I only know of 1 environmentally friendly product CO2

    Green Cleaners

    Posted By eriks - Wed, Oct 28 2009 at 5:10 PM EST

    Call revolution cleaners in denver and talk to steve he has done research on this.

    ADD YOUR COMMENT

    To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.
    You can’t fool Mother Nature
    This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
    Image CAPTCHA
    Notify me with an email when other people comment on this article.
    Used only for emailed comments and will not be displayed with your post
    WorldShares lets you earn donations for your favorite nonprofit. Earn up to 20 points now.
    Learn More
    Earn points, claim WorldShares, save the planet and win prizes!
    Learn More Join Now

    ADVERTISEMENT

    FROM OUR SPONSOR

    Work Together. Apart. Green Tips for Your Car
    Green Tips for Your Home Green Tips for Your Office

    MNN ORIGINALS

    Not sure which green way is best? Get answers from our experts.

    We've got a new contest coming soon.

    Government data you need to know, in a way you can understand.

    Check out eco-photos of the week, top 10 lists and more.

    Learn more about everything from acid rain to wildlife.