Am I helping the environment if I enjoy to drive 5 miles out of my style to walk to an life dry cleaner? I usually take clothes to the dry cleaner near me, on my...
I usually take clothes to the dry cleaner near me, on my mode home, wasting almost no gas. But a dry cleaner about 5 miles out of my way only just started offering organic dry cleaning. Am I helping or hurting the environment if I'm wasting more gas to get a "greener" dry cleaning service?
Also, are at hand any websites or other resources that have quizzes or charts that compare tough questions approaching this--like is it better to take showers or baths, wash dishes by paw or in the machine, or use article towels or sponges?
P.S. - We take a few items to the dry cleaner about twice a month. They are items similar to suits, that cannot be washed at home.
Answers: Organic dry cleaners use earth friendly chemicals instead of Perchlorothylene (PCE). If used appropriately, PCE is fine, but oodles of the old dry cleaners have highest issues from PCE being dumped on the ground or into floor drains and getting into soil and groundwater where it's immensely difficult to cleanup. If your dry cleaner is newer, with modern processing facilities, later it's probably fine. If it's an older one, check with your state environmental agency to see if they are planned as a contaminated site already. 5 miles is not a long way, but it's good to save these things in mind when you're making green decisions on an everyday proof.
p.s. Showers use much less water than baths roughly, handwashing uses less water than standard washers, but lots new ones recycle their own water. Sponges second a long time and don't come from trees, but you can get recycled paper towels and support recycle. Use the sponge where you can, but there's probably not a big difference.
Perhaps you can save up the dry cleaning until you are head that direction for another errand. Or maybe you can walk or ride your bike surrounded by the evening. Otherwise I probably would not. Even if you weren't concerned with the environment, the cost of gas for 5 miles is something to think in the region of. It's nice to think green.but we need help out from the big boys with the bucks...if they don't care..okay you know the story..shop with your own bag..and rescue on everything..esp. gas...good luck