GreenEarth Cleaning

Gifting season is upon us, and it is even easier to go green this season!   When searching for gift ideas that support our love for sustainable and environmentally friendly products and best practices, we were thrilled to find so many fun and unique ideas. From clothing made from coffee to reusable paper towels, we found a little something for everyone!   Let’s jump right in!   Coalatree Eco-Minded Goods. https://coalatree.com/ A love for the great outdoors is a common thread shared by many. Whether you live in the city and are destined for weekend adventures or enjoy a lifestyle in mountainous terrain, Coalatree has gear for all outdoor enthusiasts. You will find an eco-friendly product line offering clothing for men and women, hammocks, blankets, and accessories, all with rave reviews!    However, we found one product fascinating and, quite frankly, just super cool. Clothing made from Coffee! You read that right. Not only can you enjoy a hot cup of joe each morning, but you can also sport clothing made of coffee. Sipping coffee while wearing coffee! It’s a thing!    Each year coffee consumption creates millions of tons of waste. How do we reduce that waste? One way is to recycle coffee grounds into usable fabric. Infusing yarn with coffee saves landfills from coffee waste, lowers carbon emissions, provides properties similar to synthetic performance clothing, and more. You will enjoy an odor-resistant fabric that is anti-bacterial, moisture-wicking, offers UV protection, and keeps you cool… AND is good for the environment.      Bearaby Napper https://bearaby.com/ The gift of rest is surely something everyone can appreciate. Whether it is a cozy afternoon nap or a long night’s rest, you can give the gift of relaxing slumber to everyone on your list. Your loved ones can snuggle up under a weighted blanket crafted with your choice of buttery-soft cotton, silky-smooth moisture-wicking TENCEL, or eco-friendly velvet in soothing colors like asteroid grey, evening rose, or terracotta, just to name a few. Self-care without compromise is the mission behind Bearaby products, and we think they nailed it. The products are made with eco-friendly materials, sourced ethically, manufactured responsibly, and oh so snuggly! They did not stop at blankets either. Be sure and search their sensory pillows and the cutest little stocking stuffer, the Hugget. Even your littlest of loves can have their own, youth-size, blanket and sensory pillow set.     Munjoi – The All-Dai Shoe https://munjoi.com/ The All-Dai shoe is like gifting four pairs of shoes in one! By removing the insole and collapsing down the desired toe or heel portions, you can have a sandal, a slide, a mule, or a sneaker – all in one. The All-Dai shoe is made from almost entirely plant-based materials (cotton, hemp, algae, and sugar cane). In sticking true to the mission of simplicity and less consumption, the color choices are classic neutrals – Black Sea, Sedona, or Neutral.      Homeostasis Living – REusable Collections https://www.homeostasisliving.com/ This season give the gift that keeps on giving, reusable paper towels. Replacing a one-time-use product in your home is a beautiful way to support a healthier planet. We found these adorable reusable paper towels in patterns that complement any décor. Made with organic cotton and natural eco-friendly dyes, you will enjoy their durable design and long-lasting construction. Each set of 12 or 24 comes with an organic cotton wash bag. Add a bamboo paper towel holder for a complete look.     One of the highlights of researching this article was seeing the passion and heart around creating sustainable, environmentally friendly resources that mirror our founding principle at GreenEarth Cleaning – “doing business without doing harm”. Our mission is a kinder clean. We seek to take better care of fabrics, the people who wear them, and the planet where we live.                  

As we progress through the Fall and Winter seasons, the more we’ll need to stay warm.  There’s now more of a tendency to add a layer of clothing as energy prices continue to increase. One of the best and most sustainable fabrics to help stay warm is wool. Whether it’s your clothing or blankets! There are lots of different types of wool, including Merino, Angora, Alpaca and Cashmere. All the different types of wool can be found in items such as bedspreads, coats, suits and sweaters. The great thing about wool is that it will keep you warm, but it is also a classic fibre that is very much representative of ‘Slow Fashion’.  Over the years, more manufactured and synthetic fibers have been used as an alternative to wool, but what cost to the planet in the era of ‘Fast Fashion’? Well, wool is coming back into favor, and it has many supporters from pop stars to royalty. King Charles III of the United Kingdom (who proudly boasts that he still wears a wool suit that dates back to the 1970s), is the patron of ‘Campaign for wool’ and even took part in an experiment, which involved burying both a synthetic and wool garment for 4 months. Then Alex James (member of Brit Pop Band Blur) dug up both items. The wool item had degraded significantly, where the synthetic item had not, and in fact had solidified, showing that it would never degrade. Imagine then, a landfill site full of synthetic items. Alex also conducted an experiment on the show ‘Slowing Down Fast Fashion’, setting fire to a wool item and a synthetic item with a blow torch.  The blow torch did burn a hole in the woollen item, but it did not catch fire. The synthetic item did catch fire, and in his words, “That smells really toxic, and it’s really sticky… that’s like an oil slick burning.” So, as well as environmental concerns, there are also safety concerns. Wool is also being used in innovative ways too. Armadillo Merino, create clothing made of wool for astronauts to wear on their missions, helping to reduce odour in confined spaces – something that is not considered to be an obvious requirement to us non-astronauts! And these are not heavy-duty sweaters, but t-shirts, long johns, balaclavas and socks! It’s great that they don’t have to consider after care when on a mission, but back on terra firma, GreenEarth Affiliates and their customers can rely on the gentle and effective properties of our pure liquid silicone.  Whether it’s heavy duty wool or something more delicate like cashmere, these items can be cleaned time and time again, without losing color and shape, plus they will keep their original soft feel – also, customers don’t have to worry about drying items flat, when they entrust their wool items in the experienced hands of our collective affiliate network!

Reaction to change can be unpredictable, and not all changes are the same. Some are temporary or seasonal, others are more permanent. Our reaction to change can take us by surprise, not because of the actual change itself, but what memories it may trigger, which in themselves cause us to react in a way that we may not have anticipated. Coping with change might be a slower or faster response for some, and until we get our heads around the change itself, we may not be ready to implement a coping strategy. Dry Cleaners around the world have had their fair share of changes (and their impacts) to deal with in the last 30 months. So much change in fact, and it is important to differentiate between changes we can have some control over and those we cannot. Understanding the difference, will lead to developing a coping strategy. The need for all of us to react to climate change, has led first of all for our Affiliates to make the change to our environmentally non-toxic pure liquid silicone. But more than that they look at plastic consumption, energy usage, recycling, sustainable retail products and so much more. The COVID pandemic meant that many had to completely change their business model. Whether it was introducing social media, creating a website, review staffing or implementing a delivery route. We were fortunate enough to draw on our respective experience to assist with this, but the ability of our network to adopt change should not be underestimated. That is probably why they were looking for a different dry-cleaning solution in the first place. With the current changes to energy pricing, our Affiliate network is facing a higher cost base, but many have chosen to take control of the situation, by converting to our optimised system, which reduces energy and water usage and any associated costs. According to NLP practitioner and life coach Mandy Mackenzie, “Adapting to change can be a lengthy process for example when a loved one dies, we lose our jobs, we have sustained a life changing injury or are abandoned by a spouse or long-term partner. On the other hand, if we initiate a change for example Get married, have a baby, we find a new better paid job with another company, move to a home that better meets our needs, because they are chosen changes which by and large we are in control of they seem positive.” Each GreenEarth team member has embraced change where they can by making earth pledges on Earth Day each year, trying to effect change. We started small, but we have built on those foundations and kept focus on those goals. Having goals generally can help with accepting and managing your own changes.

Trends are always coming back in style, whether bell-bottomed jeans or sheepskin boots. Beyond your current collection of hand-me-downs, vintage or second-hand shopping is a great way to source authentic variations of returning trends. Research suggests that North America is responsible for approximately 10.5 million tonnes of textile and clothing waste disposal annually. Minimize your contributions by getting thrifty with existing creations.   Shopping Second-Hand   Supporting sustainable fashion can feel financially unattainable; second-hand shops are the exception. As endorsed by American rapper Macklemore, thrift shopping is a great way to acquire unique items at an affordable rate. Inventory is supplied by a variety of donors or consignors with varying styles. With patience, you can find your closet’s next holy grail.   Where to Start    Identifying your personal style can be difficult to navigate. When in doubt, consult your favorite clothing brands and style influencers for inspiration; this will give you an idea of what items to look out for and potential ways to style your finds. Pinterest is a great platform for building your ideal wardrobe in the format of a vision board.   Online Thrift   Retailers are eager to satisfy the growing demand for second-hand and vintage clothing. Online thrifting allows you to filter your searches by brand names, size, or garment type: all convenience, no commute.   Facebook Marketplace An online marketplace occupied by individual sellers and local businesses. The platform offers a simplified e-commerce format that values convenience among buyers and sellers. All sales are made via the chat feature between the buyer and seller. Prices can typically be negotiated.   thredUP One of the largest online consignment companies that feature authenticated items for up to 90% off their estimated original cost. Receive an additional discount of up to 50% off your first purchase when you sign up with your email address. Purchasing format is as simple as regular online shopping.   The Real Real An online consignment shop that sells authenticated luxury items from your favorite designers, including Gucci, Burberry, Prada, and many more. Sign up with your email address to receive a $25 store credit. Purchasing format is as simple as regular online shopping.   OuterKnown A sustainable clothing brand that produces original garments with a second-hand section consisting of preloved Outerknown items. In efforts to keep their clothing out of landfills, the store offers store credit in exchange for preloved Outerknown items that are no longer worn. Purchasing is done on their website directly.   You can find gently worn garments made from quality fabrics. For the items that show their age, bring them to a GreenEarth dry cleaner near you to restore and refresh. Nothing beats the blueprint; clothe yourself with care by sporting second-hand.   GreenEarth dry cleaners can also be used to maintain the quality of your newly purchased items. By caring for your clothing sooner, you can extend its wear. Furthermore, you might consider reselling the garments. Allow us to assist in preserving your pieces for the next owner.  

Care for Your Clothes Better Did you know that the fashion industry has an extremely high carbon footprint? You may not know this, but water consumption and waste have become a huge issue surrounding the fast fashion industries. A pair of jeans uses 3,781 liters of water just from being made. The fashion industry consumes 79 trillion liters of water a year, and that isn’t the only negative impact that it has on our environment. If you are interested in building a more ethical and sustainable lifestyle for yourself, here is a list of ideas on how you can help to decrease the impact of fast fashion on the environment. Whether you’re spending $1,000 on an item, or $30 how you care for the garment will determine how long It will last and whether it can have a future with another owner. The company may be affiliated with fast fashion, but so is the consumer regarding how they care for their items while owning them. With GreenEarth Cleaning, you can better care for your clothes by using our environmentally non-toxic cleaning solution. Our gentle cleaning process can help to extend the life of your clothes, reduce any wear and tear associated with cleaning, and cut down on landfill waste. With this, you will be giving your items a better chance to be loved by someone else while helping the planet. Buy from Your Local Charity Store or Second-Hand Shops Another way that you can support sustainable fashion is to buy clothing pre-loved. Rather than shopping new, go searching for something unique at the thrift store for a bargain. You would be surprised at how many items you can get that are still in great condition. Shopping secondhand, you can give a used item a new lease on life. Do a Clothing Exchange with Your Friends and Family Another way to reduce clothing waste would be to trade clothes rather than purchase new items. If you’re not sure about giving them up altogether, there is always the option to borrow. Exchanging can come in handy if your clothes are no longer fitting the way they should as well, just swap with someone who wears the same size and there will be no need to buy a different size. Repair Your Items Usually, when a shirt or a pair of pants gets a hole, we immediately consider throwing them away or going to the store for a replacement. But a better way that we do not often think of is getting your items repaired, if you have the ability to do so yourself, even better. This will help to save you money and minimize waste, and if you need help, there are also plenty of online resources at your disposal to help with your repair process. It is important to have the tools to build a more eco-friendly lifestyle through sustainable fashion. Do what you can to minimize the impact of fast fashion by educating yourself further, sharing your thoughts and strategies with others, or supporting different organizations that are tackling fast fashion. All change begins with one individual, make a personal choice to benefit yourself and the planet.

Now that we’re into May, we almost leave Earth Day and Earth Month behind, but not quite.  Whilst Earth Day is a big celebration for us, when we reflect, re-evaluate and refocus. By setting new company and individual objectives, we try to ensure that every day is Earth Day. GreenEarth Cleaning’s objectives for the next 12 months include continuing to reduce our own carbon footprint and also the footprint of our affiliates. We achieve this by converting more of them to our optimized GreenEarth® system.  And the team’s individual objectives range from reducing travel related carbon, to reducing use of disposable plastic, to community litter picking. We also ensure that we share the latest in sustainability related news and initiatives with our many GreenEarth Cleaning affiliates, helping them navigate their way through that content, so that they can continue to make a significant difference. The GreenEarth® Cleaning system consists of 3 main product components in addition to our proprietary pure liquid silicone.  They are: 1)      Activated Clay 2)      Prime pre-spotter 3)      Sustain Detergent When using this system, we no longer use (or need to dispose of) cartridges or all-carbon filters. The amount of detergent used can be reduced, as well as reducing utility usage and associated costs by up to 60%.  And a result of bypassing the distillation part of the process, cycle times are reduced, and productivity is increased. To celebrate Earth Day 2022, we combined sustainability and giving back to society. Alongside many of our USA affiliates, GreenEarth Cleaning organized a clothes drive, something that we have done for several years.  Many of the stores collected clothes from customers to benefit charities.  The GreenEarth team in Kansas City, hosted a clothes drive at the Bierstation, and over 1,000 lbs of unwanted clothes were collected, preventing them from going to landfill and at the same time, benefiting the charity Big Brother Big Sister, which is a non-profit organization whose mission is to “create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships, that ignite the power and promise of youth”. Adult volunteers are matched with children from age 5 to young adulthood. We’d love to hear your Earth Day stories – share them with us at info@greenearthcleaning.com

As the weather warms and flowers bloom, it’s a fantastic time to clean and freshen up your home for spring. If your sights are set on green living this year, here are some great tips on how to clean sustainably.  During the winter, clothes start to pile up and overburden you with clutter and there is nothing worse than clutter to make a space feel messy. Clutter can be a source of stress but there are ways to manage it. If you are looking to cut down on landfill waste, consider donating your items to your local Salvation Army or nearest clothing drive. For items you want to keep like new, we have many affiliates who can help you clean them properly, without harsh or harmful chemicals. If you have a trusted dry cleaner in your area, you may know that they offer dry cleaning services that will help gently remove any dust or grime that may have accumulated over the winter season. If your local cleaner uses the GreenEarth Cleaning process, then you are really in luck. With the GreenEarth process, you can expect a friendly clean that is fresh and crisp, and you can trust that the process is sustainable.  The GreenEarth Cleaning process is made up of one basic ingredient, pure liquid silicone. This ingredient is non-toxic and non-hazardous. You can find liquid silicone in many of your daily use items, including cosmetics and body lotions. Since it is unlike traditional solvents, it can be used on delicate fabrics without causing damage, with its gentle but effective clean. Since it is non-toxic, it can clear away oils and dirt, making your items feel softer. Your items will be returned to you looking brighter than ever. When bringing your items in to be cleaned for spring to any GreenEarth cleaner, you can also expect your items returned to you with satisfaction guaranteed. You will be amazed at what our process can do to not only clean your clothes the right way but to renew them just in time so you can enjoy sunny spring days, worry-free. With our Affiliates, you can expect nothing less. So, the next time you are looking for a trusted local dry cleaner, check our store locator! Meanwhile, if you are feeling overwhelmed with your spring cleaning, here are some great sustainable tips to start with: Organize, organize, organize! If you feel like you are drowning in clothes, try to sort out each item by color, fabric, or season. When you do this, you can figure out which items to store, and which items you plan to use the most this season. When storing your winter items, do your best to keep them in a cool and dry environment. You may also want to consider buying a few easy-to-access storage bins to place under your bed or on the shelf in order to minimize dust accumulation.  Fold your clothes neatly, that way, when you go to pull them out again they will not be wrinkled or bunched up which will reduce the amount of effort you will need to put into unpacking these items for next season. Consider donating clothes rather than throwing them away. Bring your items to a local clothes drive, sell them on social media, or drop them off at Salvation Army. This will lessen the burden of having too many clothes while also helping to minimize landfill waste and perhaps help others in need as well.

With 2022 finally in full swing, it’s a fantastic time to start thinking about the tone we will be setting for this new year, specifically when it comes to sustainable fashion! The pandemic gave many of us a chance to examine our relationship with fast fashion, providing an opportunity to ‘reset’ and rethink how we value newness, comfort, and quality. This past year, we have noticed more influencers and designers who promote longer-lasting garments, instead of buying more new pieces. This is a trend that not only benefits our environment, but it also sets a new tone and expectation for the fashion industry. Secondhand clothing also looks to make big waves this year. As people hunt for their favorite labels at bargain prices on sites like Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, and Depop. Giving clothes a new lease on life by up-cycling and promoting a more sustainable, yet trendy, way to shop your favorite style. A few studies by Mashable show that the 90s are back. Loose denim, vintage suits, and bucket hats are coming back strong. With celebrities sporting more vintage sustainable fashion, it is quickly becoming the latest trend for the masses. Every brand has a unique approach to sustainable fashion, for instance, ReCircled allows for clothing and accessories to be put back to use.  Rather than going to a landfill or shredded for scrap, the ReCircled process keeps these items at their highest value, which is a core value of sustainability. Another brand that goes above and beyond with sustainability is Sorona which manufactures ethically sourced materials. Apparel made with Sorona Fabric enables people to look good and feel good while doing good for our planet. Sustainable fashion is crucial, especially now. Our team at Cameo By Copeland wants to emphasize that we love longevity in fashion and we are proud that we use the environmentally non-toxic GreenEarth® dry cleaning process because not only is it safe for the environment, it’s gentler on fabrics as well so your clothes look newer longer. By replacing petrochemicals with pure liquid silicone, GreenEarth delivers an impeccable clean without exposing your clothes or the environment to harmful chemicals. So while you’re thrifting, or buying reused clothing, it’s important to get them cleaned professionally. We can ensure that our team will make your sustainable clothing look brand new and more comfortable than ever! Take your new wardrobe to Cameo By Copeland today, and let us get you ready for 2022 in a sustainable way!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so naturally, couples everywhere are planning their perfect date night. Imagine yourself getting ready and putting on that perfect outfit, knowing you look and feel beautiful, so you can start your evening stress-free! Your local GreenEarth cleaner is there to help. If you have a dress in the closet you have saved for that special night, and you might notice it doesn’t fit quite right anymore, their expert tailors will find you that perfect fit. With all the time and money spent on Valentine’s Day, see if your local GreenEarth cleaner offers pickup and delivery. It’s just one more way they can make your life easier. It works on your time and will make your perfect night less stressful. GreenEarth cleaners are the best in the business and take incredible care in keeping your fine garments including dress shirts, bespoke and designer suits, gowns—even bridal finery, looking new yet scrupulously cleaned. Romance and dry cleaning go more hand in hand than you probably thought, right? Rather than handbag or shoe cleaning, restorations, or even fur upkeep, our Affiliates excel in creating the cleanest clothing possible, all while maintaining their commitment to the environemtn. First, it has very low surface tension and is very light in weight. Surface tension is what causes water to “bead up” on fabric. GreenEarth’s low surface tension allows it to more effectively penetrate the fabric fibers and lubricate away the dirt particles. Silicone cleans and rinses more gently, reducing wear and tear on fabrics. Second, liquid silicone is chemically inert, meaning it does not chemically react with textile fabric or dyes during the cleaning process. This minimizes abrasion to and/or swelling of fabric fibers, eliminates traditional issues with dye removal and dye bleed, helps maintain the soft hand of garments, and prevents shrinkage. A wider variety of clothes can be safely cleaned with GreenEarth. What used to be “problem” items is no problem at all. Liquid silicone is odorless, so there is no lingering chemical “dry cleaned” smell on your clothes. GreenEarth cleaning kills most viruses and microbes that survive on garments, bedding, and upholstery. Lastly, we want to wish everyone an amazing holiday and hope that you have the most magical night possible, whomever it is spent with.