If you’ve ever been to a Dry Cleaner, the professionals there are cautious about the chemicals they use to clean your clothes. Workonicservices provides the best Dry Cleaners Services for your stuff. Some of these chemicals are dangerous for your health, so it’s essential to know about them. For example, you should never leave your clothing near Kerosene or Gasoline because they can harm clothes.
Perchloroethylene
Perchloroethylene is a chemical that is commonly used in the dry cleaning industry. The chemical is considered relatively safe and cheap. However, it can be toxic to your health if exposed in high doses. Several studies have been conducted to determine the risks of perchloroethylene in dry cleaning workers and their family members.
A review of 109 occupational studies found that the mean PERC exposure of a dry cleaning worker is 59 parts per million. The maximum permissible exposure levels for dry cleaning workers are ten parts per million for spotters and 100 parts per million for machine operators. In a study conducted in The Netherlands, ambient PERC concentrations were measured at 193 dry cleaning facilities before and after implementing a certification program. The average airborne concentrations were measured over fifteen minutes.
PERC is a petroleum-based solvent that can affect the central nervous system in humans. Exposure to it can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and memory problems. In severe cases, it can lead to leukaemia and spontaneous abortion. Furthermore, long-term exposure can affect a woman’s sperm and breast milk. Moreover, it can cause the fabric fibers in clothes to break down. In addition, it can push buttons to melt, so you must take action to avoid exposure to perchloroethylene.
Since the mid to late 1900s, dry cleaning has evolved tremendously. The industry now uses liquid CO2 and wet cleaning methods to replace PERC. However, the chemical is highly toxic and can cause serious health problems if not adequately controlled.
Kerosene
The first dry cleaner used Kerosene instead of water to clean clothes. Kerosene does not affect the fabric and is much more effective at lifting dirt. However, the problem is that Kerosene is highly flammable, and many insurance companies refuse to insure dry cleaning establishments using it. That led to the evolution of more environmentally friendly solvents for dry cleaning.
Kerosene is a petroleum product that is derived from petroleum. Producing Kerosene involves fractional distillation, which results in a clear thin liquid. This oil is similar in density to paraffin, which is 0.8 grams per cubic centimeter.
Commonly used Kerosene and gasoline were in early dry cleaning. Today, the dry cleaning industry uses perchloroethylene, a more environmentally friendly solvent. However, these solvents are expensive and unavailable to every dry cleaning establishment. As such, many neighborhood dry cleaners can’t afford to use them.
In the 1840s, a maid accidentally spilled Kerosene from an oil lamp on a linen tablecloth. The resultant stain was almost unreachable without the help of water or cleaning solutions. Jolly went on to test the theory on other fabrics and added dry cleaning Services to his dry cleaning business.
Kerosene has many uses in the modern world. It is a very efficient cleaning solvent and is effective in killing a wide variety of insects, including head lice and bed bugs. You can also apply Kerosene to stagnant water to kill mosquito larvae.
Gasoline
Historically, dry cleaners have used petroleum-based chemicals such as gasoline, benzene, or naphtha to clean garments. However, due to the flammability of these substances and the high health risks associated with their use, dry cleaners have since removed petroleum-based solvents altogether. In 1928, the United States Department of Commerce issued a standard for using solvents in dry cleaning. Perchloroethylene was the solvent of choice at this time, and it’s still used in most dry cleaners today.
However, it’s best to use personal protective equipment, such as vinyl or latex gloves, to prevent burns or other severe damage to clothing. Alternatively, you can apply baking soda to the affected area of the garment to absorb the gasoline smell. This process can be repeated as many times as necessary.
While petroleum-based solvents such as gasoline are the most common choice for dry cleaning in the United States, innovations in dry cleaning have made the process safer for employees. One such breakthrough is the use of CO2, a gas that is less toxic than perc. However, CO2 is still relatively expensive and only available in high-end dry cleaning facilities.
In addition to petroleum-based solvents, dry cleaners often use perchloroethylene (perc) to clean clothes. However, this solvent is not healthy for the environment, and overexposure to it can lead to depression, damage to the liver and kidneys, and even skin dermatitis. As a result, the EPA has tightened the regulations around using perc by dry cleaners.
