Royal Oak dry cleaner uses more earth friendly solvents - Fox 2 News Headlines

Behind the scenes at Rembrandt Dry Cleaners on West Eleven Mile in Royal Oak, there is a high tech setup the owner says is more green than most others cleaners.

"What makes it eco-friendly is the kind of chemistry that is used in this facility," Michael Szczotka from Eagle Star Equipment explained.

The business uses alternative solvents instead of perchlorethylene, the standard chemical dry cleaners use. Perc, as it's called, has been linked to kidney and liver disease, cancer and environmental risks, but what Rembrandt uses is more earth friendly.

"It's actually a solvent that isn't considered toxic as far as a hazardous waste, and it is also lighter than water," Szczotka said.

The machines they use in a closed loop system are another key e-friendly component.

"They're very tight, very sophisticated and automated with computer control on them," said Szczotka.

Rembrandt cleans about 400 to 600 items a day. In order to accomplish that, their machines are up and running about seven hours at a time.

As a whole, we're told dry cleaning is becoming a cleaner industry thanks to government restrictions. About 15 to 20 percent of Michigan dry cleaners use alternative solvents, but there are still hundreds of others out there using harsh chemicals.