I recently stumbled upon what might be my favorite hidden gem in the Twin Citites: Muberrys Dry Cleaners.
Traditional dry cleaners employ the highly toxic solvent perchloroethylene (commonly known as perc), which is classified as a hazardous air contaminant by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and must be handled as a hazardous waste. This chemical, which has been used by the dry cleaning industry since the mid-1930s, has been identified as a toxic contaminant and potential human carcinogen! To prevent it from getting into drinking water, dry cleaners that use perc must take special precautions against site contamination. Even like many putatively green cleaners, which use a slightly less-toxic chemical, siloxane
Mulberrys is different. Mulberrys processes clothes with pressurized carbon dioxide, a method approved by the EPA and Greenpeace. As a solvent, carbon dioxide rubs out stains and doesn’t shrink fibers. More important, if spilled, it dissipates into the air. It also doesn't leave that stale, "fresh"-from-the-cleaners smell.
Mulberrys is a boutique dry cleaer with impeccable service and a bright atmosphere; it seems more like a Starbucks than a dry cleaner. They have drive-through service and Sunday hours, free coffee, a small selection of organic snacks and juices, and Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day and Caldrea products for sale. They also return your clothes on beautiful, reusable cherry wood hangers, which are better for your clothes, the environment...and look much nicer in your closet!
Q+A from the Mulberrys website:
What is dry cleaning?
Dry cleaning is the process of cleaning clothing with a solvent other than water, hence the term “dry”. Traditionally, dry cleaning has been performed using a chemical called perchloroethylene or “perc”. In perc-based dry cleaning, clothes are placed in a large machine resembling a washing machine, soaked in perc and detergent, and then heat dried. While effective at removing oil-based and other stains, perc is a known carcinogen and ground water contaminant.
Do you use Perc in your cleaning?No. At Mulberrys, our award-winning dry cleaning and stain removal experts use pressurized, naturally occurring C02, the same thing soda-makers use to carbonate beverages. The use of odorless C02 enables us to return your clothes cleaner and without the chemical smell. Also, because no heat is used, your clothes are finished without the fading, shrinking, pilling or stain-setting common to all other dry cleaning methods.
We are the only CO2 cleaner in the State of Minnesota and we’re proud of it!
How are you different from other “environmentally-friendly” cleaners?Other so-called “environmentally-friendly” cleaners use a chemical called siloxane to clean your clothes. While not as harmful as Perc, siloxane is a toxin and is known to cause cancer in lab rats and liver failure in humans.
Mulberrys uses 100% natural, recycled CO2 similar to what you would find in carbonated beverages.
But isn't CO2 a greenhouse gas?We use recycled CO2, and recapture unused CO2, so no new CO2 is released as a result of our processes. We also actively work to combat global warming by investing in projects to reduce CO2 emissions in our community.
How does Liquid CO2 cleaning work?Liquid CO2 Cleaning isn’t nearly as complicated as it sounds. First, we place your clothes into the CO2 machine, which resembles a gigantic washing machine. Then, in addition to biodegradable detergent, recycled natural CO2 is released into the drum of the machine. At this point, the drum is pressurized, and when the CO2 comes under pressure it converts from a gas to a liquid. The clothes are then cleaned in the CO2 liquid multiple times, and finally the pressure and gas are released. Because the CO2 naturally evaporates, no heat is needed and your clothes come out of the machine cool and clean.
Is CO2 cleaning as effective as other methods?Yes. In fact, Mulberrys’ proprietary CO2 system is the most effective cleaning method available according to the Delta Whiteness Index.
Be on the lookout for toxin free dry cleaners in your area!