ECOLOGIC CLEANERS offers a professional garment cleaning technique that uses water and specialized non toxic, non allergenic detergents instead of chemical solvents. We are a safe alternative to traditional dry cleaning.
The process we use is called Professional Wet Cleaning. This European developed technique has been proven effective in many places around the world. Now it’s coming to Weston, for you to experience and love its outstanding results.
Garments that are treated in our process come out cleaner, with a sharp finish, a fresh smell, and a softer feel; all without the risk of affecting human health or the environment. Stains are removed better than ever before, whites come out whiter and colors come out brighter.
Our computerized systems, together with our highly trained staff, allow us to safely wet clean any material, including silk, woolens, linens, rayon, suede, and leather.
At ECOLOGIC CLEANERS, we direct all our efforts to the best quality of service. So our process not only benefits the environment and protects your health, but it also cleans better and extends the life of your delicate clothes.
GARMENT CARE HISTORY
Over the years, human curiosity has found different methods to clean clothes. This has been a process of trial and error that touches many people. This process continues today, as we keep looking for more efficient ways to remove stains and protect our delicate garments. Concerns for better quality of life and preservation of our environment have strengthen in the last years, leading to the development of advanced technologies that break with traditional schemes and deliver better results.
Dry cleaning is known as the process used for removing dirt and soil from clothes using non water based solvents. Despite its name, dry cleaning as we know it today is not actually dry. Clothes are submerged in liquid solvents to be cleaned. Let’s take a look back to find the origin of dry cleaning.
Dry cleaning’s origin dates back to ancient times. The ruins of Pompeii give record of the first dry cleaning processes known. Pompeii was a Roman port town that in 79 A.D. was covered and “frozen” in time by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. As archeologists have determined, Romans from this time utilized lye, ammonia, and a clay like compound called “fuller’s earth” to absorb soil and stains from delicate clothes that could not be laundered.
The origin of modern day’s dry cleaning is found later in time. The first dry cleaning store was opened in France in the 1840’s. Jean Baptiste Jolly discovered solvent dry cleaning by accident. He noticed that a tablecloth in his home became cleaner after kerosene, from a gas lamp, was accidentally spilt onto it. Kerosene quickly evaporated and the stains were “miraculously” removed. During that time several more fluids were found effective as dry-cleaning solvents, including camphene, turpentine, benzene, and gasoline.
In 1926, William Joseph Stoddard, from Atlanta, discovered the first petroleum-based solvent called Stoddard solvent. It was widely chosen because it cleaned well, it could be made widely available, and it was less expensive than other solvents. However, as earlier discovered solvents, it was very flammable, which caused several explosions and fires in the early dry cleaning plants.
After World War I, dry cleaners began using various chlorinated solvents, because they were much less flammable and had greater cleaning power. In the 1930s, perchloroethylene (or "PERC"), was introduced. This solvent is still used by 85% of dry cleaners today.
Although PERC is a relatively effective cleaning agent, it is highly contaminating to the air and water, and has been linked to many health problems including asthma, skin irritations, birth defects, cancer and other conditions. In many areas of our country, groundwater has been contaminated by PERC, rendering the water useless for consumption.
PERC is believed to contribute to global warming, one of the causes of the intensity increase of hurricanes in the Atlantic. Modern society has recognized the urgent need to take action and respond to our planet’s call; reduce contamination!
On an effort to make professional garment cleaning more effective, while protecting the environment and the health of employees and customers, the industry has developed a process called Professional Wet Cleaning. While this method can not strictly be called new, as water has been used for cleaning since the beginning of times; the technology it uses is absolutely state of the art.
Wet Cleaning is a non-toxic environmentally safe garment cleaning alternative. Utilizing computer controlled washing and finishing equipment, and biodegradable soaps and conditioners, this process has shown to be suitable for virtually all fabric and fiber types.
In 1991, the first wet cleaning equipment was publicly presented by a European company as an environmental alternative to dry cleaning. It soon started gaining recognition in Europe because of its outstanding results. It had a wide acceptance among the customers and the industry.
Since then, manufacturers in Europe, and America, have improved and perfectioned this technology, making it the finest garment cleaning process available. It not only cleans better and lengthens the life of your clothes: It protects the environment by being an absolutely natural process with no contamination hazards. It is also non toxic and non allergenic, so it represents no threat to human health.
ECOLOGIC CLEANERS is bringing to you the best wet cleaning process available. This, in combination with our highly trained staff, allows us to offer top quality service for garments of any material.
In our process each garment gets individual attention and is processed according to its unique requirements. You will love the results.