If you have any of the rebel -- or cheapskate -- in you, you've probably been tempted to ignore the "dry clean only" label at one time or another. Perhaps more than tempted if you've heard anything about perc (perchloroethylene), the solvent used by 90% of American dry cleaners.

This toxic chemical can cause headaches, nausea and memory problems, is associated with various reproductive disorders and is a suspected carcinogen. While the workers at dry cleaning establishments, and their neighbors, are at highest risk from exposure, customers may also be affected. When perc gets into the air and water, everyone can suffer.

Until recently, there was no alternative that was safe all around -- for your health, the environment *and* your clothes. But now, you can have your clothes professionally wet-cleaned.

Like home laundering, wet cleaning involves immersing garments in water (instead of a chemical bath), followed by drying and finishing. But wet cleaners' machinery is different from yours. Theirs controls the elements most responsible for shrinkage -- water temperature, agitation and drying -- in ways that yours can't match. Their expertise is also superior, enabling them to customize treatment effectively to specific fabrics and stains.

Preliminary research indicates high rates of customer satisfaction with the way clothes turn out. People say they look as good as dry-cleaned garments -- and smell much better.

Depending on where you live, availability could be your biggest obstacle. If you can't find a wet cleaners nearby, ask your dry cleaners if they do wet cleaning too. You'd be surprised how many do.

Unfortunately, the cost of wet cleaning is comparable to dry cleaning, so switching won't satisfy the cheapskate in you. But the rebel (and the do-gooder and the health nut) should be happy. And the clothes horse shouldn't mind a bit.

For related information, see these pages:

CHEMICALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT: PERCHLOROETHYLENE
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/chemfact/f_perchl.txt

WET CLEANING: AN ALTERNATIVE TO DRY CLEANING THAT IS SAFE
http://www.deq.state.va.us/osba/factshts/wetclean.html