Caring for your bedding
Often I am asked the question; How often should I clean by bedding?
A lot depends on the type of bedding and how you use it. Top and bottom sheets along with the pillow cases should be washed every one to two weeks. If they are decorative cases then they can go longer between washing or dry cleaning. Duvets should always be used with a duvet cover unless you have a sheet between the duvet and yourself. The washing/cleaning frequency will depend on weather the cover comes into contact with your skin. This will range from one to two weeks like the sheets to once a month or two.
Blankets like duvets should always be used with a sheet separating yourself and the blanket and can be cleaned every few months.
The duvet itself within the duvet cover or decorative comforter, spread and pillow covers only need to be cleaned once year or season.
The reasoning behind how often you clean bedding or anything for that matter is to remove body oils, dirt from the environment, odors and perspiration. That is also the reasoning behind using a sheet to separate you and the outer covers and washing the sheet on a regular basis. If these foreign matters are left on for an extended period of time it may cause discoloration, yellowing, odors or just unsightly dirt buildup. Often dirt build up in not 100% removable due to the fact that the dirt has been ground to deep into the weave of the fiber and has aged.
Things to remember;
Keep light off the bedding; this includes direct and indirect light. A bright room or even a light from a light bulb will cause discoloring or soften the color and when you do wash/clean it the color will fade, often in streaks or blotches.
Dust and dirt in the air settling on the bedding will also cause discoloring.
Body oils especially from your neck can cause discoloring, yellowing and grimy dirt buildup not to mention the odor.
Any stains on the bedding should be removed immediately and bedding should be washed/cleaned. Stains left on for an extended period of time will age, cause yellowing, discoloration and be permanent. So eating in bed is not advised.
Keep pens away from the bedding. It is extremely difficult to remove ink from anything let alone bedding. That means do your office work on your desk not on your bed.
Three percent shrinkage when washing is acceptable within the textile industry. Keep that in mind before wash a spread or duvet. Three percent of ninety inches (queen size) is 2 3/4 inches.
ALWAYS WASH/CLEAN YOUR BEDDING BEFORE STORING AWAY FOR THE SEASON. That applies to your clothes as well. Refer to our article “Storing Clothes” in the “Cleaning Tips” category for tips on how to store your clothes for the season.
Pacific Heights Cleaners, San Francisco & Sausalito, your non toxic alternative.
www.eco-drycleaners.com
Marin’s 1st & Best Certified Green Dry Cleaner.
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Yuppie Friday – Princess Project
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- Harry Denton’s Starlight Room
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- Dress Donation Event
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- Fashion Show
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- Photo’s by www.Blanchard Photographic.com
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- Many raffle prizes including free green dry cleaning
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- Raffle tickets anyone?
The Yuppie Friday – Princess Project dress donation event was a huge success.
A large gathering at the Harry Denton Starlight Room set the mood for socializing among friends, having a drink or two and sitting back and enjoying the fashion show. Many exciting raffle prizes helped raise money for Princess Project.
The unofficial word is; over 70 dresses were donated, over $2000. was raised and most importantly free wine and a good time was had by all, including this old guy.
Everyone who donated a dress will receive a $50.00 gift certificate from us for Non-Toxic dry cleaning and if you purchased a ticket in advance for the event you can use that ticket to receive 20% off Non-Toxic green dry cleaning at one off our two locations.
Thank you to everyone who participated and/or made a donation to such a great cause.
Photos by;
Blanchard Photographic
2000 Broadway Studio 217
San Francisco
Karl
Pacific Heights Cleaners, SF & Sausalito, your Non-Toxic alternative.
www.eco-drycleaners.com
The Best Certified Green Dry Cleaner in the Bay Area
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Dry Cleaning’s Dirty Trick
In most big cities you will see drycleaners attempting to go green. For many, though, green refers to money, not environmental consciousness.
There’s a curious sign in the storefronts of many drycleaners boasting of a new “organic” cleaning technique that is non-toxic and environmentally benign. Clearly they are trying to capitalize on the consumers’ pursuit of all things wholesome.
The new cleaning fluid they are using, called DF-2000, is indeed very organic, as organic as gasoline and every major dry-cleaning fluid since the creation of the industry 150 years ago. After all, to a chemist, a chemical is organic if it contains a chain of carbon.
DF-2000 is made by Exxon-Mobil, those stewards of the environment who dumped 30 million gallons of crude oil—the precursor to gasoline and, yes, DF-2000—onto the shoreline of Alaska in 1989 and are still in court today bickering over the fine. How anything with the industrial-sounding name “DF-2000″ could be construed as organic in the “all-natural” sense is beyond me.
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Semantics aside, the toxic DF-2000 is safe only in comparison to what it hopes to replace.
Trying to come clean
The fluid used by more than 85 percent of U.S. drycleaners is truly nasty stuff called perchloroethylene, or perc, classified as a probable human cancer-causing chemical by the Environmental Protection Agency. Perc is organic, too.
Last week California announced a plan to phase out perc by 2023, with a ban on new perc equipment in effect by next year. The chemical poses little immediate health risk to most customers aside from rashes for those with sensitive skin. Workers have long been at risk, though, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has found evidence of elevated cancer and death rates.
Perc isn’t so good for the environment, either. According to Greenpeace, 70 percent of the fluid winds up in the air or in ground water. We all ingest the stuff one way or another, although the long-term health implications are not known.
California’s new law doesn’t specify what should replace perc. Several good alternatives exist, but DF-2000 is best positioned to be the solvent of choice for cash-strapped ma-and-pa drycleaners based on price and ease of use.
Out with the old, in with the older
Dry cleaning isn’t dry; it merely uses a solvent instead of water to clean. In the mid-1800s, a Frenchman named Jean Baptiste Jolly noticed that kerosene accidentally spilled on a tablecloth made it cleaner. And an industry of dangerous, smelly cleaning fluids was born.
Organic solvents don’t bind to fibers the way water does and therefore don’t wrinkle or scrunch delicate fabrics. Up until World War II, most cleaning fluids were petroleum-based, such as the widely used Stoddard solvent. The problem with them, aside from causing dizziness or neurological disorders, was that they sort of exploded if they got too hot. Perc was a godsend: nonflammable, not as smelly, and the best solvent known for removing dirt.
DF-2000 is similar to Stoddard solvent, only with a higher flashpoint (meaning less of a tendency to explode if exposed to a spark). The EPA lists DF-2000 as a neurotoxin and skin and eye irritant for workers; and its use can contribute to smog and global warming, just like Stoddard solvent.
For the environmentally conscious
While DF-2000 is likely at least marginally better than perc in terms of health and environment, it is not green. Marketing DF-2000 as organic—a scheme apparently devised by dry-cleaning associations, not Exxon-Mobile—is shameless.
Much farther up the green ladder are dry-cleaning techniques using carbon dioxide and, of all things, water. Alas, the processes involving them cost more money.
Nearly all garments labeled “dry clean only” can be cleaned with water through a process called wet-cleaning. This takes time and skill on the part of the professional, hence the higher price. The carbon dioxide method involves liquid CO2 under high pressure. Here, the machines are expensive and often require licensing fees.
Kermit the Frog once sang that it’s not easy being green. Perhaps that’s why some drycleaners merely post a sign pretending to be green.
This article is found in LIVE SCIENCE
By Christopher Wanjek, LiveScience’s Bad Medicine Columnist
posted: 30 January 2007 08:03 am ET
Link to; http://www.livescience.com/health/070130_bad_drycleaning.html
Pacific Heights Cleaners, San Francisco & Sausalito, your non toxic alternative.
www.eco-drycleaners.com
Marin’s 1st & Best Certified Green Dry Cleaner.
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Yuppie Friday – Princess Project Event
raffle & dress drive Donate a dress and get 5 raffle tickets and a $50.00 gift certificate for green dry cleaning with Pacific Heights Cleaners & a chance to win great prizes! $20 Donation Includes 2 drinks and complimentary wine tasting brought to you by Artesa Winery
($12 of your entry fee goes to charity)
Charity raffle with great prizes including:
- Specialty products from Apple - Designer Bags from Hilside Bags - Funky Door Yoga membership - Crossroads Trading gift certificate - Passes to the Asian Art Museum - Night life passes to the California Academy of Sciences - 2 tickets to ACT theater
Please bring a formal dress for donation. Go to www.yuppiefriday.com for more details
Come back for new updates and prizes! |
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California Air Resources Board Report
California Air Resources Board
Dry Cleaning Notice 2009-2
November 2009
Alternative Solvents Used for Dry Cleaning Operations
This information is not meant to be exhaustive as other solvents may also be available. More information on the alternatives may be found in our March 2008, Fact Sheet titled Dry Cleaning Alternative Solvents: Health and Environmental Impacts located at the following website http://www.arb.gov/toxics/dryclean/pub.htm#fact.
Available Alternative Solvents
Water-Based Cleaning
Water-based cleaning systems use water and detergents to clean garments. In general, detergents are approved for disposal into sewer systems by local sanitation districts. Currently there are three types available: 1) professional wet cleaning system: 2) cold water cleaning systems: and 3) Green Jet™ dry-wet cleaning™ systems. Water-based cleaning systems are approved non-toxic and non-smog-forming dry cleaning technologies and qualify for grant money under California’s Non-Toxic Dry Cleaning Incentive Program, established by Assembly bill 998 (AB 998).
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
The CO2 process, developed by commercial and retail dry cleaners, is a high pressure system using liquid CO2 as the cleaning solvent. CO2 is a non-flammable, non-toxic, naturally-occurring gas that becomes a liquid solvent when subjected to pressure. There is no expected health risk to the general public from these processes. The CO2 process is also an approved non-toxic and non-smog forming dry cleaning technology that qualifies for grant money under the California’s Non-Toxic Dry Cleaning Incentive Program. The CO2 used in this process is obtained form large combustion sources, so there is no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions due to this process.
Hydrocarbon Solvents
Currently, the types of hydrocarbon solvent technologies available are: 1) DF-2000™ Fluid; 2) PureDry®; 3) EcoSolv®; 4) Shell Sol 140 HT; and, 5) Stoddard solvent. The machines using hydrocarbon solvents re predominately multi-solvent closed-loop machines equipped with primary controls. Detailed information on each of the hydrocarbons is available in the Air Resources Board staff report available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/2007/perc07/perc07.htm. Hydrocarbon solvents are considered volatile organic compound (VOC) which contributes to the formation of ozone which is linked t ill-health effects including respiratory irritation, asthma, and premature death. Although there is limited health information on these solvent mixtures, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) conducted a study on the Stoddard solvent that concluded some evidence of carcinogenic activity in male rats. Additionally, the Stoddard solvent can be irritating to the eyes, nose, throat, and an also have effects on the nervous system.
GreenEarth® (Volatile Methyl Siloxane)
Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) or volatile methyl siloxane is the ingredient present in the GreenEarth® dry clening solvent used inn multi-solvent machines. The ARB does not consider D5 to be a VOC. In 2007, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) conducted an evaluation of the available D5 information and concluded that exposures of D5 at the highest achievable vapor concentrations cause uterine tumors in rats. OEHHA is also concerned about the potential non-carcinogenic effects associated with D5 and its apparent persistence in the environment and animal and human tissues. However, available exposure information indicates that the use of D5 as an alternative dry cleaning solvent will not pose a risk to the public living near businesses using D5.
Rynex™ (Rynex 3 or Propylene Glycol Ether)
Rynex™ (Rynex 3) is an organic and biodegradable solvent with low volatility and a high flash point. It is considered a VOC. Rynex 3 can be used in most hydrocarbon multi-solvent machines with some temperature and timing adjustments. Rynex3 represents the crren formulation for Rynex™ and consists of a mixture of glycol ethers. Rynex 3 does not contain propylene glycol t-butyl ether which was an ingredient used in a previous formulation for Rynex but instead contains dipropylene glycol tert-butyl ether (DPTB). Currently, ther is limited toxicity data available for DPTB. More detailed information on the toxicological studies for the previous formulation of Rynex™ can be found in the Technical Assessment Reprot available at http://arb.ca.gov/regact/2007/perc07/perc07/.htm.
1-Bromopropane (n-proplyl bromide)
1-Bromopropane (n-proplyl bromide or n-PB or DrySolv) is now being used in California by a small amount of dry cleaning facilities. It is considered a VOC. Although one of the n-PB solvent manufactures has recently began to market a dry cleaning machine specifically for use with the n-PB solvent, this solvent is also being used in modified Perc dry cleaning machines with secondary controls. When using a modified Perc dry cleaning machine, facility owners are learning that n-PB must be used with stabilizers because the chemical is unstable when water is present. This process uses a lot of water and n-PB reacts with the water to form hydrogen bromide, which can be very corrosive. The stabilizer takes up the water and prevents the n-PB from going acid and destroying the dry cleaning machine. This solvent is listed under Proposition 65 as a reproductive toxicant. It causes sterility in both male and female test animals, and harms developing fetuses. It can damage nerves, causing weakness, pain, numbness, and paralysis.
To read the entire report go to; http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/dryclean/notice2009_2.pdf
With all these different concerns why would you even consider any solvent cleaning method to clean your clothes.
We are dedicated to being Green & Sustainable; the system we use is water-based and is deposable into the local sanitation district. Along with the environmentally friendly cleaning method we are also dedicated to reducing waste in our land fills by offering many different alternatives from reusable garment bags and recyclable #5 plastic hangers to reusing as much as we can.
We are not business people capitalizing on the green movement; we are an established dry cleaner changing an industry!
Pacific Heights Cleaners, Sausalito & San Francisco, your non toxic alternative
Marin’s 1st & Best Certified Green Dry Cleaner
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Leading an Industry by Example!
Leading by example is often an unrewarding endless endeavor. You put your heart and sole into a cause you believe is right and often your work goes unrecognized and criticized.
Not in this case, the cause is noble and just. And we have been recognized by Federal, State and Local Government Agencies as well as Magazines, News Papers and now the Television Media.
The following is an interview with KTVU Channel 2 News and KTSF Channel 26 Chinese News.
All great leaders will tell you; do what your heart believes in and you will persevere.
Perc phase out interview with KTVU Channel 2 News
Perc phase out interview with KTSF Channel 26 Chinese News
Pacific Heights Cleaners, Sausalito & San Francisco, your non toxic alternative
Marin’s 1st & Best Certified Green Dry Cleaner
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New Year Resolution!
Reflecting back as well as looking forward.
“We are not business people capitalizing on the green movement; we are an established dry cleaner changing an industry!”
Our mission remains the same from day one: to serve our customers, improve our industry and care for our environment, as always leading by example.
Reflecting back on this passing year we have made quite an impact in our community. We were honored by Zero Breast Cancer with the 2009 Honor Thy Healer – Francine Levien Activist Award, we helped the San Francisco Department of Environment put on a workshop and demonstration to inform the dry cleaners of San Francisco of the health and environmental hazards of dry cleaning with solvents and the benefits of the Eco Dry Clean (wet clean) System, we were honored by both California State Assembly member Jared Huffman and California State Senator Mark Leno with Certificates of Recognition, we have continued to train other dry cleaners to make the transition to the Eco Dry Clean System, we were one of six dry cleaners invited to Germany to visit the equipment and product manufacturers of the Eco Dry Clean System to see how the equipment and cleaning agents are made as well as to give feed back to the respective companies on how to improve the system. We were featured in the media numerous times in 2009: KTVU Channel 2 news, Local Channel 26 and KMTP Channel 32 news, front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, front page of the Marin IJ, Marin Scope, San Francisco Examiner, front page of the World Journal, Mill Valley Harold, Ross Valley Reporter, Twin Cities Times, Novato Advance, News Pointer, front page of the Sing Tao Daily and Marin Magazine.
Looking forward we are extremely excited with many ideas in the works to further improve our industry and community. We will update you as each idea progress and evolve to fruition. Help make a difference by asking your Dry Cleaner to stop using solvents and switch to the Eco (wet clean) Dry Clean System.
Thank you for your support.
Happy New Year!
Pacific Heights Cleaners, Sausalito & San Francisco, your non toxic alternative.
www.eco-drycleaners.com
Marin’s 1st & Best Certified Green Dry Cleaner.
See the links on our website to numerous agencies regarding the health and environmental effects of dry cleaning with solvents.
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Toxic Use Reduction Institute awards grant to dry cleaner
The Toxic Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at the University of Massachusetts/Lowell recently awarded Best Neighborhood Cleaners of Medford, Mass., an $18,000 grant to help discontinue the use of perchloroethylene (PERC). The grant helped fund the purchase and installation of wetcleaning equipment at the store.
“I am very happy to be using this equipment in my shop instead of sending clothes out to be cleaned in perc,” says Nguyen. “This technology is much safer for me and my staff, my customers, and the community.”
“We’re excited that the diffusion of this technology is starting to take hold in Massachusetts,” says Joy Onasch, TURI’s community program manager. “California has converted more than 100 facilities to dedicated wetcleaning, and we’d like to catch up-even if it is once cleaner at a time.”
To read the entire article refer to “TURI awards $18,000 grant to drycleaner” in the American Drycleaner Magazine November 2009 (americandrycleaner.com).
Pacific Heights Cleaners, San Francisco & Sausalito, your non toxic alternative.
www.eco-drycleaners.com
Marin’s 1st & Best Certified Green Dry Cleaner.
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Changing an Industry!
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- It’s a small world – Neuschwanstein Castle
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- Veit Pressing – tensioning machine
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- Meeting with Veit Executives & Engineers
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- Early days
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- Eco Dry Clean System (wet clean)
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- Meeting with Miele Executives
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- Kreussler
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- Meeting with Kreussler Executives & Chemist
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- Dreaming about the Autobahn
Changing an Industry!
We are not business people capitalizing on the green movement; we are an established dry cleaner changing an industry!
Pacific Heights Cleaners goes to Germany. What’s a Eco Dry Cleaner doing going to Germany?
Believe it or not we were one of only six drycleaners in California invited to go to Germany to visit the factories of the Eco Dry Cleaning machines, pressing apparatus and cleaning solution manufacturers. Even though the machines and products are made in Germany, California leads the way in pioneering the change in the dry cleaning industry. We have more dedicated and successful Eco (wet clean) Dry Cleaners in California than anywhere in the world.
Our tour of Germany consisted of approximately 2000km in six days – thank goodness for the Autobahn! We visited three different companies: Veit (pressing apparatus), Miele Professional (cleaning machines), and Kreussler (cleaning solution manufacture) spanning from Munich to Hanover. We toured the factories and saw everything from how the equipment is made to the test labs of the cleaning solution manufactures. The Germans live up to their reputation of producing quality products. All three of the factories hand made their products one at a time. Along with the tours of the factories we got to meet with the movers and shakers of these companies to discuss the Eco Dry Cleaning method and industry. They wanted to learn as much from us as we wanted to learn from them, within our discussions they also want feedback from us on how they can modify their equipment and products to suit our needs.
The trip was short but a great learning experience. To see a different culture really opens your eyes and lets you see things from a different perspective. At one point I was driving on the Autobahn at 180kmh (approximately 115mph) when a car came up from behind flashing their high beams, signaling to pass. After letting them pass I turned to my colleague and said “isn’t this great!” my colleague replies “what?” I said “Just when you think you’re fast, someone is faster and just when you think you’re the best, someone is better!”
What a great trip!
May I dare say again;
We are not business people capitalizing on the green movement; we are an established dry cleaner changing an industry!
Karl
Pacific Heights Cleaners, San Francisco & Sausalito, your non toxic alternative.
www.eco-drycleaners.com
Marin’s 1st Certified Green Dry Cleaner.
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Chocolate Stains!
Question; A chocolate fountain tipped over on my daughter who was wearing a two-week old dark blue varsity jacket (wool body, leather sleeves). Only a tiny bit of leather got chocolate on it; a lot got on the wool body and the lining. A cleaner that does these jackets can’t get to it for at least a week. Should I attempt to spot clean the wool areas and the lining or leave it alone and wait? What about the formerly white varsity letter? Thanks
Answer; Chocolate is a stain that will set over time but a week or so will not make that much or a difference. Since the chocolate came from a chocolate fountain it will have hardened as cooled down. Most of the chocolate will be sitting on the surface of the jacket with only a small amount penetrating into the fibers.
If you want to try and work on it follow the instructions I gave on my blog site under the Cleaning Tips Category, HOW TO REMOVE CHOCOLATE STAINS (http://yourgreendrycleaner.com/how-to-remove-a-chocolate-stain-from-your-favorite-outfit/ ) except you will be doing it in a larger magnitude. Otherwise leave it for your professional dry cleaner to take a care of for you.
Thanks for sending in your question.
Karl
Pacific Heights Cleaners, San Francisco & Sausalito, your non toxic alternative.
www.eco-drycleaners.com
Marin’s 1st & Best Certified Green Dry Cleaner.
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