| Almost everyone has had some experience with the | | | | if one can clean without using solvents, this would be |
| dry cleaning industry, whether to have a favorite | | | | of great benefit to the environment. |
| blouse or shirt cleaned, or to preserve one's wedding | | | | Studies have shown that there are certain items that |
| gown after the celebration and honeymoon are over. | | | | could benefit from dry cleaning, but without the |
| This process is an important part of the laundry | | | | solvents used today. These include sports equipment |
| business in most areas. | | | | such as hockey gear. These items are difficult to clean |
| The simple definition of dry cleaning is to clean clothes | | | | and sanitize using simple dry cleaning methods. Those |
| and fabrics using a solvent other than water. Unlike | | | | cleaning establishments that deal with sports |
| normal laundering which uses some type of soap and | | | | equipment are now cleaning with ozone, a colorless |
| water, the objects being dry cleaned are immersed in | | | | gas that is present in nature. One can recognize the |
| a liquid solvent, a process that has been around for | | | | scent in a thunderstorm with lightening. |
| quite some time. In early times, the solvents used | | | | An important part of cleaning sports equipment |
| included gasoline and kerosene. After World War II, the | | | | involves destroying any bacteria that might remain on |
| solvents used were carbon tetrachloride and | | | | the equipment after its use. Because the athletes are |
| trichloroethylene. | | | | usually perspiring when in the uniforms, it becomes a |
| Besides being very volatile, these chemicals were | | | | breeding ground for germs. It has been shown that the |
| difficult to work with. Today, the majority of dry | | | | inside areas of hockey gloves, as well as those used |
| cleaners use a solvent called perchlorethylene. This | | | | in other sports can have a much higher bacteria count |
| solvent has been found to be much easier to work | | | | than other pieces of equipment, and those with cuts or |
| with, better at cleaning, and able to shorten the | | | | scrapes on their hands are at risk of infection. |
| process needed to clean various fabrics. Because it is | | | | This is where the ozone cleaning can be put to use. |
| easy to work with, many more dry cleaning | | | | Because of the chemical makeup of the ozone used |
| establishments have been able to enter the laundry | | | | in these dry cleaning systems, it is able to kill up to 97% |
| business. | | | | of the bacteria in the gloves, as well as the other parts |
| Today, a good amount of clothing is marked dry clean | | | | of a uniform. This is not possible when using the usual |
| only. Although it is possible to wash some of these | | | | solvents. In addition, when the ozone cleaner is used, it |
| items by hand, for the most many familiar objects | | | | is not necessary for the equipment to get wet or |
| benefit from being dry cleaned. As mentioned before, | | | | heated, and there is no toxic residue left behind. |
| a good majority of brides have their wedding gown | | | | This process can be used for cleaning all parts of the |
| dry cleaned and boxed to preserve it after the | | | | hockey uniform, including the helmet. Other sports that |
| wedding. Other items that are commonly dry cleaned | | | | can benefit from this process include football, lacrosse, |
| include those made of leather and suede, even | | | | and baseball, to name a few. Even objects such as |
| including the popular boots, UGGS. | | | | sleeping bags, paint ball equipment, and pillows and |
| Drapes are another item that benefits from a good | | | | bedspreads from hotels can be cleaned and sanitized |
| dry cleaning every year. Any type of gown should be | | | | in this manner. |
| dry cleaned only to preserve the shape and color, | | | | Dry cleaning has been a part of the cleaning process |
| making it fresh for the next use. Athletes make use of | | | | for many years, but it is now catching up to the rest of |
| the process to deep clean their uniforms, especially | | | | the technological advances that we see each day. |
| bulky items. Even carpeting, including car floor mats | | | | Being able to have items cleaned properly, as well as |
| can be dry cleaned, and come out looking new. | | | | sanitized, without putting people or the environment in |
| Although dry cleaning is a common tool used to | | | | danger by using toxic chemicals, will hopefully be one |
| preserve the life and beauty of clothing as well as | | | | of the goals for those in the dry cleaning business, thus |
| other objects, there are changes coming. The | | | | helping to make our world a much safer world to live |
| emphasis today is on preserving the environment, and | | | | in. |