Drawbacks Of Going To Dry Cleaners

By Ann Hill


Laundry is a millennia old household activity. It used to be using only water but as time passes, soaps and then detergents are used along with it to clean the stains on the clothes. In recent years, dry cleaners Apopka are popping up at each corner.

Dry cleaning do not really mean dry. It means it does not use water. This is the difference they have against regular laundry. The dry cleaning machine is a combination of the washing machine and the dryer. Instead of water, it uses liquid solvents. As the clothes get placed on the machine, it gets soaked in the solvents. It gradually drains the solvent as the clothes tumble to dry.

These shops however have some drawbacks. This is both non economical and non environmental. Their liquid solvents have some compounds in it that are bad to health and to Mother Nature.

Money is obviously an issue here. This method is a bit costlier than the regular washing machine people have in their homes and at regular laundry shops. This is because the customer pays for the costly solvent they are using. Though it is being filtered for reuse after each session, it does not erase the fact the solvents are from expensive chemicals.

There is a chemical solvent which is well known in the business. In 1930s, PERC or perchloroethylene is developed as a synthetic and nonflammable solvent. Later on, it was found out that it is a toxic chemical highly affecting the environment and the people living in it.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration have made a statement that contact with the chemical gives people exposed to it a high health risk. It is highly carcinogenic even when people have made little contact, especially if it is not properly dried. There is a temporary symptoms trigger of ailments if mildly exposed.

There are scientific studies that adverse health effects have been found most common to those working with the actual cleaning process. They are constantly exposed to these chemicals that they have experienced headaches, muscle incoordination, visual impairments, and skin blisters. Those are only mild in comparison to the severe side effects like developing cancer cells and damaging the nervous system.

When not properly disposed, these chemicals create risks in the environment. Its effects may spread via water, air, and land. Let us take an example. Say that there is a drop of PERC spillage on the ground. Sooner or later, it will get seeped in the soil until it reaches the underground water reserves. That single drop may be carried into the atmosphere. It may even be swept by the wind while an unsuspecting person inhales it as he passes by.

Some shops have gone and applied a green movement. They use liquid carbon dioxide as a liquid solvent to clean clothes safely. Still, carbon dioxide is harmful to the health. If not duly regulated, then it makes the liquid unsafe for use. High concentrations creates acidic odor when inhaled can cause dizziness, headaches, rapid breathing, and stinging on the nose. Frostbites may also occur when contact with the skin due to its cryogenic property.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment