Classic
Tuxedo Cleans Up Dry Cleaning
BOSTON,
MA, January 26, 2005 – Classic
Tuxedo is the first New England based formalwear company
to dry clean exclusively with Green Earth, an environmentally
friendly product and process. For years, dry cleaners
have had no choice but to clean clothes in solvents
that have been based upon carbon chemistry. 
Things
have changed though. GreenEarth Cleaning, L.L.C., has
patented the process that uses a solution that is not
based on carbon chemistry unlike current solvents.
This exciting solution is good for consumers, because
it is an excellent cleaner; it is odorless and leaves
your clothes feeling and looking like new. It is good
for the dry cleaning industry because it is not toxic
and can be handled easily and safely. It is also good
for dry cleaning employees and provides a safe workplace.
Dry
cleaning is a term that is applied to washing fabrics in
a liquid other than water. Using water as the washing agent
is termed wet cleaning. This is the process that most of
us use in our homes and which is used in commercial laundries.
Legend
has it that dry cleaning was discovered accidentally in France
during the late 1800's. Apparently, someone spilled turpentine
on a tablecloth that had numerous stains that could not be
removed by washing, but which came out in the areas contacted
by the turpentine. Thus, the idea of "washing" fabric
in a liquid other than water was born. Turpentine and some
other early liquids used in dry cleaning posed threats, however.
Most were flammable at relatively low temperatures and gave
off vapors that were dangerous to breathe. These two issues
have always been present when considering various fluids
for drycleaning.
The Evolution of Drycleaning
In the
first quarter of the 1900's, a petroleum-based fluid termed
Stoddard solvent was widely chosen because it cleaned well,
it could be made widely available, and it was more economical
to use than other solvents. However, it had a low flashpoint
and caused many explosions and fires in the early drycleaning
plants.
In
the 1930's, perchlorethylene (or perc for short) was introduced
to the industry as an alternative to the Stoddard solvent.
It was also based upon carbon chemistry. Perc was a superior
cleaning agent and had no flashpoint, thereby reducing fire
hazard. It rapidly became the solvent of choice for the dry
cleaning industry. Currently, perc is used by 85% of the
dry cleaners in the United States and around
the world.
The Challenges Posed
Perc,
however, is heavily regulated by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) due to environmental concerns. Further, it has caused
the dry cleaning industry damage due to the costs of cleaning
up sites that have been contaminated, the ongoing expenses
and surcharges attached to buying and disposing of the product,
and the public policy issues associated with using the solvent.
About Classic Tuxedo
Family
owned and operated by Bill Tzizik, Classic Tuxedo opened
its first store in Newton, Massachusetts in 1991. Classic
Tuxedo has grown to fifteen stores in 2005 with its acquisition
of the 5 Maine based Strictly Formal locations.
In
1997, Classic Tuxedo opened a new production facility in
Waltham, Massachusetts. This facility has expanded to include
state of the art shirt laundering and pressing facilities.
With dry cleaning, pressing, alterations and inventory
housing from one location, this facility serves all the
Classic Tuxedo locations throughout Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine. Classic Tuxedo also
has the distinct honor of being the first tuxedo company
in New England to dry clean with only green earth environmental
friendly solvent.
Classic
Tuxedo is a 10-time award winning company including winner
of the prestigious "Best
of Boston" award for formal wear.
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