Green Tips for your Dry Cleaning Business

With growing concern on the use of toxic chemicals in the cleaning process, dry cleaners face increasingly eco-conscious clients and a growing array of pollution-reducing regulations. That said, sustainable practices can also be a great way for your business to significantly lower operating costs while exceeding your customers’ expectations. Here are some of the Green Business Bureau’s top green suggestions for dry cleaners to consider when undertaking green initiatives:

1. Use non-toxic dry cleaning solvents: Although Perchloroethylene is the traditional chemical used as solvent in dry cleaning, Perc is considered a hazardous air polluter by the EPA and has been declared a toxic chemical by the state of California.

2. Heat laundry water efficiently: Make sure that any steam lines are well-insulated to avoid unnecessary heat loss, or even consider installing a return tank heat exchanger.

3. Treat laundry waste water on-site: While some dry cleaners will drum waste water to be sent off to hazardous waste facilities, you can also ensure appropriate disposal on-site by setting up an evaporative system or a charcoal filtering system.

4. Use recycled or reusable garment bags and hangers: Both plastic and wire hangers can easily be reused, and you can promote reuse by instituting a hanger recycling program. Consider offering free reusable garment bags to high volume customers as a 'reward' while also allowing other customers to purchase them.

5. Create a garment recycling program: Offer the opportunity for customers to donate gently used garments at your store, and donate these collected garments to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or any other local agency that accepts used clothing.