By the time most people reach adulthood, they’ve taken clothes to the dry cleaners at least once in their life. If you’ve spent any time in Anchorage, AK, for example, you may have been to Mayfield’s Quality Cleaners for their dry cleaning or pickup and delivery services. Mayfield’s has been family owned and operated since 1994, but the colorful background of dry cleaning goes back much further into history.

Early Dry Cleaners

Long before the technology of the 21^st century came into play, dry cleaners and laundry services were common. The first use of an organic solvent in cleaning came as early as 1690 when spirits of turpentine were used to remove fat and oil stains. By 1879, the first dry cleaning plants were already operating in the United States. The first power machinery for dry cleaning was invented about a decade before that, in Scotland. In 1898, carbon tetrachloride was first imported from Germany, quickly becoming the most used dry cleaning solvent.

By the start of the 1900s, dry cleaning was beginning to be refined, but issues were still being faced. In the early 1900s, white gasoline was being used as the primary solvent for removing stains. While raw white gasoline was an effective cleaning agent, it also caused fires and explosion hazards. Many insurance companies refused to offer policies for dry cleaners because of these risks, which led to the introduction of perchloroethylene (PCE) as a solvent in the 1930s.

Regulation in the Late 1900s

The 1970s brought difficulties for the dry cleaning industry as the Safe Drinking Water Act was implemented, regulating dry cleaning solvent waste. The Resource Conservation Recovery Act followed in 1980, placing further regulation on the transfer and disposal of hazardous waste. Five years later, the EPA listed PCE as a potentially toxic air pollutant.

Throughout the ‘90s, efforts were made to create programs for dry cleaning solvent cleanup and safe disposal around the United States. In 1999, the State Coalition for Remediation of Dry Cleaners was formed to aid in the establishment of dry cleaning solvent cleanup programs.

Dry Cleaners in the 21^st Century

In 2000, many successful lawsuits began the process of phasing out PCE on a strict timeline. 2008 was the deadline to remove all PCE transfer machines in the U.S., and the deadline for all PCE dry cleaning machines in co-residential facilities is currently set for 2020.

Today, Mayfield’s Quality Cleaners uses the latest technology and most advanced equipment to provide their customers with the best quality dry cleaning and laundry services. From military and medical uniforms to wedding gowns and household fabrics, Mayfield’s has the skills and facilities to cater to any specific need. To arrange for pickup and delivery services or to drop off your clothes, call (907) 277-4620. For more details and a full list of prices, visit their website.