vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency • :
Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics
(TS-779) '
EPA744F-93-010
September 1993
Design for the Environment
Multiprocess Wet Cleaning Demonstration Study
How was the
Multiprocess Wet
Cleaning Study
conducted?
Background '
In May 1992, EPA, through its Design for the Environment (DIE) program, convened the
International Roundtable on Pollution Prevention and Control in the Dry Cleaning
Industry. Researchers, industry representatives, and government'officials met to exchange
information, on a number of issues related to the dry cleaning industry, including exposure
reduction, regulation, and risk communication. As a. result pf this roundtable, DfE
became aware of an alternative cleaning process called multiprocess wetcleaning. This
process relies on the controlled application of heat, steam, and soaps to clean clothes that
typically are drycleaned. ,
EPA conducted preliminary tests on this process at a Florida dry cleaning plant. For
this study, a comparative cost analysis of dry cleaning and wet cleaning techniques was
completed. These low volume tests suggested that the multiprocess cleanmg;method had
merit. However, it was determined that a larger, higher volume test for economic
feasibility and performance was required.
For four weeks in November and December of 1992, EPA formed a partnership with
members of the clothes cleaning industry to conduct a short term, high volume test
to compare the costs and performance of multiprocess wet cleaning and conventional
perchloroethylene (PCE) dry cleaning. In this test, over 1500 garments were collected
from consumers employed in government agencies in Washington D.C: and New York
City and shipped to the New York School of Dry Cleaning in Manhattan. The garments
were separated into lots of " .ems each; it was ran y determined (by the flip of a
coin) which groups would oe dry cleaned and which would be cleaned with the
multiprocess wet cleaning method. The following studies were performed on the garments:
• Economic Feasibility Study '. , '.'-.'-.
The EPA conducted an actual cost study of the two processes and. used the
resulting information to complete a model plant cost analysis.
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'NY Facility Analysis • .
The cleaning comparison was performed at the New York School of Dry
Cleaning in Manhattan. A comparison of raw costs unique to each
cleaning process was made. All specific costs compared are specific and
reflect costs of cleaning in New York City. The study compared the
following:
• Capital Costs
• Operating Costs
• Labor Costs
Model Plant Analysis
The conditions under which the multiprocess wetcleanmg study
was performed do not fully represent the situation of a typical
operating dry cleaning plant. A theoretical model plant analysis
was therefore developed using information from EPA's two
previous studies and other sources. Models were developed and.
analyzed for a variety of mixed mode facilities ranging from a
100% dry cleaning facility to a 100% wet cleaning facility.
„, ' ' f
• Performance Test
In addition to the economic feasibility study, EPA conducted performance tests
comparing the effects of PCE dry cleaning and multiprocess wet cleaning on
clothes.
Test Garments Wear Study
Thirteen pre-selected garment types, were repeatedly worn by
volunteers and then cleaned by one of the two techniques. The
following tests were conducted:
• Appearance Test
• Odor Test
• Shrinkage Test
• Garment Wear Logs
Documents the time each participant wore test garment
• Test Garment Postcard Survey
Documents responses to garment wear survey questions
• Test Garment Visual Tests
Documents responses to garment appearance
General Consumer Satisfaction Survey
. • Attached to each garment was an evaluation form to solicit
customer satisfaction information
The results of the multiprocess wet cleaning study are currently under review and
will be publicly available the week of September 27, 1993.
For more information, EPA's Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse (PPIC); U.S.
olease contact: Environmental Protection Agency; 401 M Street, S.W. (PM-211A); Washington, DC
' 20460; Tel: 202-260-1023; Fax: 202-260-0178
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