The PERC Test

Inside the "green" dry cleaning craze: 3 ways to tell if it's real or moregreenwashing

How green is your dry cleaner?
One easy way to check is to ask if they use PERC or not.

It seems that dry cleaners have been riding the green wave in Houston this year. Countless dry cleaning businesses have recently rebranded themselves as being “eco-friendly.”

But as is the case with many “green” businesses, it’s important for the consumer to conduct independent research to determine whether or not those environmentally focused claims are true or more greenwashing. Here are three key questions that you should ask to determine if your dry cleaner is as green as it says:

Do they use PERC?

This is the big one: most dry cleaners use a cleaning solvent called perchloroethylene, also known as PERC. In addition to polluting the air and water, PERC is believed to be a human carcinogen, and inhalation of fumes can cause severe health problems.

Fortunately, several alternative methods exist — and they all leave your clothes smelling better and last longer than PERC does.

Do they recycle plastic and hangers?

Wire hangers are notorious for causing closet organization crises, and I would advise most gentlemen to transfer their shirts to wood hangers for storage. However, that doesn’t mean that you should throw those old wire hangers away.

Take them back to your cleaners, and they should recycle them and use them for other customers. A green dry cleaner should also provide a bin for you to recycle the plastic garment bags, just in case you don’t have recycling in your neighborhood.

Where’s the cleaning done?

Many dry cleaners operate storefront locations throughout the city, but the clothes themselves are often actually cleaned offsite. However, it’s best to try to support a dry cleaner that does its cleaning onsite. Not only are the waiting times reduced, but less gas is wasted constantly transporting clothes to and from storefronts.

If your dry cleaner is doing all of these things, then it actually is "eco friendly", even though the phrase may be absent from its name.

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Helping hand

ExxonMobil donates $3 million to Houston nonprofit that feeds hungry kids

Courtesy of Kids’ Meals

The 50,000-square-foot building will triple the size of Kids' Meals' headquarters.

At its annual Harvest Luncheon last week, Kids’ Meals, a a nonprofit combatting childhood food insecurity and hunger, received a huge boost: a $3 million gift from ExxonMobil. The gift makes a milestone for the organization.

“We are incredibly grateful to ExxonMobil for the generous $3 million donation, which is the largest corporate donation Kids’ Meals has ever received, both in size and in impact,” CEO Beth Harp said in a statement.

The nonprofit will use the gift toward its new campus, a 50,000-square-foot facility in Spring Branch. Kids’ Meals broke ground on the project in June.

The new building will nearly triple the size of its current headquarters, further helping Kids’ Meals achieve its goal of serving 26,000 children each weekday by 2031. The organization currently serves over 9,000 children every weekday through its 18,500-square-foot headquarters in Garden Oaks. The new building will carry Exxon-Mobil’s name.

“In establishing the Kids’ Meals ExxonMobil Campus, we will be able to expand our programs, reach more children in need, and make a lasting impact on the lives of countless families in the Houston area,” said Harp. “Together, we’re feeding the future and providing hope.”

Founded in 2006, Kids’ Meals serves children ages five and under, and is the only organization in the country that delivers free, healthy meals to the doorsteps of Houston’s hungriest children. Since its inception, the organization has delivered more than 14 million meals to children in 56 Houston-area zip codes. After delivering a record-breaking 2.4 million meals in 2023, the nonprofit is on track to deliver 2.7 million meals in 2024.

The Harvest Luncheon is the nonprofit’s biggest event of the year. The event raises funds to provide more than 500,000 meals for preschool-aged children. Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s daughters, Sarah and Whitney, chaired the event. Best-selling author Bob Goff served as keynote speaker.

Courtesy of Kids’ Meals

The 50,000-square-foot building will triple the size of Kids' Meals' headquarters.

nonprofits charity kids meals exxonmobil