Archive for September, 2010

Home Dry Cleaning Methods

September 5th, 2010

Home Dry Cleaning Methods photoKnown Perchloroethylene, better known as PERC, is 80 percent of the cleaners in the United States as a solvent for washing the clothes’ dry clean only “is used, despite its effectiveness.” The use of these chemicals have various health effects associated and recently was in under heavy public scrutiny. offer with heavy regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency, professional cleaning for the use of chemically-safe liquid carbon dioxide scrubbing with a green alternative. At-home dry cleaning kits such as Dry Cleaner’s Secret Cleaning provides options for cost-effective and secure environment, the cut used in the energy of combustion, waste water professionals for the production.
The first step to green dry cleaning is replacing harmful chemicals with natural cleaning products.  Perchloroethylene (perc) is a synthetic chemical that is made from a reaction between ethylene and chlorine.  Like many synthetic chemicals, it poses a threat to our health.  Perc is a central nervous system depressant. Exposure to it can occur in the workplace or in the environment when it is released into air, water, land, or groundwater.  It can also occur when people use products containing perc, spend time in dry cleaning facilities that use perc, live above or adjacent to these dry cleaning facilities, or bring dry cleaned garments into their home before they are properly aired out. Short-term contact can cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, and irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, while long term exposure poses greater threats, including liver and kidney damage and cancer.

Liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) appears to be the most practical green dry cleaning solvent to replace perchloroethylene.  It is cheap, abundant, naturally occurring and can even be recycled from the industrial wastes from the manufacture of chemicals such as ammonia.  Most importantly, exposure to carbon dioxide has no health side effects.  The only drawbacks for dry cleaning with CO2 are that it does not clean as well as perc does and the machinery needed to use it is very expensive, thus a higher price is past on to the consumer.

A virtue of environmentalism is moderation.  That being said, green dry cleaning is best achieved if you do not dry clean at all or limit the use of professional dry cleaning by using at-home dry cleaning kits for garments with smaller spots and stains or that need to be freshened. Professional dry cleaning is a large process that uses a lot of energy and produces a lot of waste in the form of powder residue, sludge and wastewater.  If the dry cleaner is still using perc (it is still allowed in most states), these substances are hazardous.  At-home dry cleaning involves no more than a Dry Cleaner’s Secret cleaning cloth and your dryer.  There are no harmful chemicals involved and no waste.

While perc remains the most effective dry cleaning solvent, the use of natural cleaning products and at-home dry cleaning can only be beneficial to our health and our environment.

Personal Touches to Our Wedding

September 2nd, 2010

Personal Touches to Our Wedding photoA perfect marriage is not only beautiful, it is personal. It is in the details have elected that you and your fiancee Affairs. Here are some easy ways to affect your own subtle, unique to the ceremony and reception are to add:
•Write your own wedding vows. It doesn’t have to read like poetry; the important thing is that it comes from your own heart. Print it out on an index card and keep it handy during the ceremony.
•Compile a CD with songs that symbolize your relationship or how it evolved. Play this during your reception or even burn a copy and distribute as souvenirs. Insert a small piece of paper explaining why you chose those songs.
•Instead of tossing your bouquet, present it to your mother (or a dear friend or mentor) during your reception. You can also have an additional bouquet made for your groom to present his mother at the same time.
•Guests often have free time on their hands during their reception. In the center of the table, place several pens and small pieces of paper in a pretty basket. Ask them to write their wishes, prayers, or advice for you and your fiancé. Compile in a scrapbook.
•Most wedding reception programs revolve around the couple: friends give speeches. Do something for the guests. Make a video of you and your fiancé talking about the people who’ve taught you what true love means. Mention friends who’ve demonstrated real loyalty, or family members who made great sacrifices for you. Intersperse your video with their photos. This is your chance to say thank you to all of them.
•If you have a close friend or family member who passed away, make him or her part of the occasion by inserting a small photo in your bouquet, or lighting a tribute candle at the church ceremony.
•If you have ethnic roots, incorporate a marriage ritual from your culture into your ceremony or perform it during your reception.
•Wear an heirloom. For example, you can use your grandmother’s veil, or wear a locket that belongs to your mother. This is an excellent way of creating a sense of continuity between generations, celebrating your own family even as you go on to begin your own.
•Prepare an audio-video presentation that will be played during the last dance of the bride with the father. This can be just a simple montage of childhood photos. A guaranteed tear-jerker!
•If you have kids, help them feel like they’re part of the new family by asking them to stand next to you as you say your vows.
•Add little elements that say something about your relationship as a couple. For example, if you’re giving away picture frames, insert a poem that you wrote or a copy of your wedding vows. If you met at a beach (and would rather not have a beach-themed wedding) incorporate shells into your table centerpiece.