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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