Environmental concerns are becoming increasingly prominent in the community. Green initiatives are on the rise; following in the footsteps of good old-fashioned recycling, we are now witnessing a new trend: zero waste. This lifestyle, which aims to reduce waste at the source, highlights, among other things, the problems associated with fast fashion. Given that 60% of all clothing produced ends up incinerated or in landfills within a year of being made, zero-waste advocates prioritize a minimalist wardrobe composed of high-quality clothing.
Their challenge: to ensure that their clothing is cared for in a way that is both effective and environmentally friendly, so that their clothes stay looking their best for as long as possible.
Taking care of your clothes is an eco-friendly solution in itself
Did you know that the fashion industry is the second most polluting industry on Earth? Fast fashion is one of the main causes, as this practice offers a constant, rapid, and affordable way to update one’s wardrobe, allowing customers to keep up with the latest trends. Clothing is often manufactured in Asia and is not designed to last more than a single season. This practice encourages waste and overconsumption, in addition to polluting the planet through the overexploitation of resources needed to manufacture and transport clothing. Fortunately, there are various ways to counter this environmentally harmful industry.
Something as simple as changing our daily laundry habits can be very beneficial for the environment. Often, it’s not necessary to wash your jeans after every wear, and caring for your clothes is better done by using organic detergents or taking them to a green dry cleaner. Additionally, concentrated detergents or those bought in bulk, for example, help reduce your detergent usage and the number of containers thrown away.
Meanwhile, an alternative trend to fast fashion is quietly gaining traction among consumers who are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their excessive clothing consumption. Indeed, thrift stores and clothing swap clubs are becoming more and more popular. These venues encourage responsible clothing consumption by promoting the reuse of garments rather than letting them gather dust at the back of the closet or replacing them with new ones.
First step: Dry cleaning
If you want to take good care of your clothes to ensure they last, taking them to the dry cleaner is a good habit to get into. It might seem logical to assume that dry cleaning uses very little water and is therefore environmentally friendly. Think again: this type of hydrocarbon-based cleaning actually uses a huge amount of water and substances that are toxic to the environment.
In fact, dry cleaning performed at traditional dry-cleaning franchises uses harmful stain removers—which often end up in wastewater—and ultimately only removes surface grease from clothing. Contrary to what one might expect, an eco-friendly, water-based cleaning cycle uses less water and less energy. For example, 70 liters of water and 2.4 kWh are used for a complete cycle at an eco-friendly cleaner, while an equivalent dry-cleaning cycle requires 275 liters of water to cool the equipment used and 15 kWh.
So, to keep your clothes from soaking in toxic solvents, visit eco-friendly dry cleaners. These cleaning professionals are environmentally conscious and have impressive expertise in eco-friendly cleaning and garment care!
Eco-friendly solutions
Eco-friendly cleaning has come a long way in recent years, to the point where solvent-free, eco-friendly solutions have taken over and become widely adopted by many dry cleaners. Made with water and biodegradable ingredients, Aquaperformance is one such eco-friendly solution that preserves the luster of your clothes while ensuring a high-quality clean. Water has always been the most effective cleaning agent. It can treat and remove even the toughest stains, such as wine, blood, or coffee, and also cleans dirt thoroughly, unlike perchloroethylene used in dry cleaning, which only cleans clothes superficially.
In addition, by mixing water with silicone-based solvents, aquaperformance can be used on all types of fibers and fabrics, even those intended for dry cleaning. Whether it’s wool, fur, cashmere, silk, or leather, your entire wardrobe can benefit from it. That’s why it’s important to check with your eco-friendly cleaner, as some even go so far as to reuse hangers or agree to use your fabric covers to avoid using plastic bags to protect your clean clothes.
Eco-friendly cleaning for everyone
At Daoust Eco-Friendly Cleaners, we’re always on the lookout for new developments in the field of eco-friendly cleaning. Our mission isn’t just to clean your clothes, but to give them a new lease on life. As specialists in eco-friendly cleaning, we encourage our customers to adopt eco-friendly habits, starting with the care of their clothes.
