California has placed a ban on a commonly used dry cleaning chemical PERC that could set a precedent for Austin, Texas and the nation as a whole. PERC, which is used by an estimated 90% of all dry cleaners in the U.S., has been linked to cancer for employees handling the dry cleaning chemical, customers who wear the clothes cleaned in PERC and even people who live next to PERC cleaners (See Video Below). Studies have even linked long-term exposure to PERC with liver problems and even kidney damage.

The ban passed by the Southern California air quality board will require current dry cleaners to completely phase out the solvent by 2020. While we at Austin Cleaners feel this is a good move by California we also know that the move to a more eco-friendly dry cleaning alternative can be costly. However the air-quality board in California has set up a $2 million dollar grant to help dry cleaners make the change to a greener cleaning alternative.

Luckily we came in to the industry when the negative effects of using PERC as a dry cleaning solvent was well documented, that wasn’t always so for cleaners in business for 25-30 yrs. Fortunately even with a nation wide ban on PERC our customers won’t see any price increases because obviously we don’t use the solvent. Kudos to California for taking a step to advance the publics health by saying no to PERC!
You Won’t Believe This Story!! (See Video Below)

Tags: california bans perc, dry cleaning chemical update