We all have to do it…gather up dirty “dry clean only” garments and head off to the neighborhood cleaners every week or so. To help you clean up your dry cleaning dilemma, here’s a hit list of things to consider:

• Perchloroethylene or PERC – While organic cleaners are not on every corner just yet, be aware of the associated risks with PERC, the major cleaning solvent and now considered a “likely human carcinogen”.
• Process – Don’t be shy. Ask your cleaner about their process for cleaning. Do they use a wet or CO2 technology which is safer than PERC? Check this directory to see if you have an eco-friendly cleaner in your neighborhood.
• Hangers - Hang on to those hangers and return back to the cleaners.
• Plastic bags – Did you know that 300 million pounds of single-use plastic dry cleaning bags end up in the landfill every year? Did you also know they can be recycled along with the plastic shopping bags? Consider adding that to your recycle list.

Better yet, invest in your own dry clean garment bag to avoid the plastic mess altogether. The Green Garmento is a winner! The bag fits nicely in the hamper to collect your clothes so all you need to do is pull out and you are bagged and ready to drop off. Then it converts to the garment bag upon pick up. There is a plastic sleeve on the front for an ID tag and I also have instructions on how to use the bag. What a relief not to have to unwrap and deal with the plastic. Best of all, my dry cleaner loves the bag too!

Though my dry cleaning and perhaps yours as well, will never totally go away, we can strive to purchase clothes that do not require dry cleaning in the first place. And for those that items that do, at least we can be a little cleaner in the process.

For your chance to win a Green Garmento, leave a comment below or tweet this message “@GreenSamaritan – I need a Green Garmento”. A winner will be randomly hand-picked on insert date here. (US Residents only).

For more green living tips, info, reviews and giveaways, check out her personal blog, TheGreenSamaritan, and connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.