title: Towards sustainable and safe apparel cleaning methods: A review.
abstract: Perchloroethylene (PERC) is a compound commonly used as a solvent in dry cleaning, despite its severe health and environmental impacts. In recent times chemicals such as hydrocarbons, GreenEarth(®), acetal and liquid carbon dioxide have emerged as less damaging substitutes for PERC, and an even more sustainable water-based wet cleaning process has been developed. We employed a systematic review approach to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing research evidence in the area of sustainable and safe apparel cleaning methods and care. Our review describes traditional professional dry cleaning methods, as well as those that utilise solvents other than PERC, and their ecological attributes. In addition, the new professional wet cleaning process is discussed. Finally, we address the health hazards of the various solvents used in dry cleaning and state-of-the-art solvent residue trace analysis techniques.
authors.affiliation: Human Ecology and Clothing Science, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University, Australia. Electronic address: olga.troynikov@rmit.edu.au.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Troynikov
authors.affiliation: Human Ecology and Clothing Science, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Human Ecology and Clothing Science, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University, Australia.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jadhav
authors.affiliation: Human Ecology and Clothing Science, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University, Australia.
authors.forename: Nazia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nawaz
authors.affiliation: Australian Wool Innovation Limited, Australia.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kettlewell
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology / Q000379:methods*; D007846:Laundering; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012997:Solvents; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene
keywords: Apparel; Apparel cleaning methods; Cleaning residue; Sustainable apparel