Having clothes dry cleaned is something many of us regularly do, but this can be hazardous to our health.
The same dangerous chemical found in carpet cleaners, perchloroethylene, also is used in the dry-cleaning process. This stain remover has been shown to be a human carcinogen and can damage the nervous system and liver.
Once you remove the plastic bag covering your freshly cleaned clothes, the perchloroethylene is released into your home. However, there are ways to help minimize the chemical’s harmful effects. The best solution is to remove the plastic bag and let the clothes air out on your porch or some other well-ventilated area for an hour or more before you put them away in your closet. For more information on fighting cancer, read my special report "Prevent Cancer Before It's Too Late ''
This brings us to another hazard: closets. The closets, themselves, are not dangerous, but the mothballs many people put in them to repel moths are.
Mothballs are made of almost pure paradichlorobenzene, a very powerful carcinogen. A number of studies have linked leukemia and lymphoma to children living in houses with mothballs. And the chemical is so volatile that it will circulate throughout the house.
A much better way to control moths is by storing clothes in cedar. If you do not have a cedar closet, buy a cedar chest or store clothes in sealed bags with cedar blocks or balls. Cleaning clothes before sealing them will kill any moth eggs present.
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