Local Cleaners Move to Change
By Nikki Cobb, San Bernardino County Sun, Calif.
Jan. 26–As the California Air Resources Board sets in motion the banning of a commonly used dry-cleaning solvent, local dry cleaners are bracing for the change.
Some say the new machinery they will have to buy that is compatible with the new chemicals will cost them — and, in turn, their customers.
Others have already started to adapt to the new regulations. But they say the pricey equipment cuts into profits and requires extra work to clean clothes.
“It’s not going to make people happy,” said Cindy Fisher, owner of El Dorado Saturn Cleaners in San Bernardino. “It’s going to mean increased costs for everybody with the new machines, and that will be passed on to the customer.”
“There are different (cleaning) agents, but they’re not as effective,” Fisher said.
Fouad Hadad, owner of Continental Cleaners in San Bernardino, said the new process will “ruin a lot of clothes.”
“It mixes with water, and water is going to change the color,” Hadad said. “It might do damage. But for the environment I think it’s a good thing.”
Damage to clothes is also a concern of Kay Ruvalcaba, who works for ABC Drive-In Cleaners in San Bernardino.
Ruvalcaba said it would affect the way business is done in a big way. She said it even will change the way clothing is manufactured, as designers accommodate cleaning techniques that can cause damage to some fabrics.
“Things like wools and silks — it would discolor and fade them,” Ruvalcaba said. “There are new machines — but water and wool don’t get along so well.”
“I think they’ll come up with something that’s compatible to what we’re using now. It’ll cost more to clean clothes,” she said. “It is good that they’re phasing it out because it’s bad for health. I’m sure they’ll come up with something.”
Some cleaners have already bought the new machinery compatible with safer chemicals. They say, though, that more pre-processing is required — whereas before they could load the clothes directly into the machines, now they will have to manually work to remove spots.
Adul Boshi, owner of Acacia Cleaners in Rialto, said he’s expecting delivery of his new $40,000 equipment in about a month. The South Coast Air Quality Management District didn’t approve of his old machinery, Boshi said, and pushed him to replace it.
“I can’t raise prices, or I would lose my business then,” Boshi said. “There’s nothing wrong. It’s just a new law.”
At Family Cleaners in San Bernardino, owner Isis Kassissa has already invested $75,000 in the new, greener machinery.
Removing spots by hand is time-consuming, Kassissa said. But she, too, is absorbing the costs, fearful of losing customers if she tried to recoup her losses on the new equipment.
“I can manage,” she said. “Customers like it because it’s more safe.”
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