No more hangups!
You've probably noticed the wire hangers returned to you from the
cleaners are as prolific as rabbits in springtime. At Clothesline,
this challenge has ALWAYS been on our short list. Most of you return
and we recycle, and will continue this relationship as long as the
hangers hold a shirt. We bend em back, and send em back out. However,
about 3.5 billion of them escape from closets around the country and
end up in landfills. The EcoHanger was created as alternative - it's
made of 100% recycled paper and paid for with direct marketing ads
on the hangers. Together, EcoHangers and Clothesline Cleaners are
raising awareness and solving a problem. So far, EcoHangers have appeared
in New York, San Francisco and other major markets. San Antonio, feel
proud that Clothesline Cleaners was hand selected for this revolutionary
campaign. Once again, San Antonio is making a global environmental
impact, without even being asked. It's not natural to "throw
it away" because as we all know, there's no such place as "away".
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Article #2
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A lipstick smudge. Oily food stains.
It was obvious that the suede jacket bore witness to years of good
times. But with a few swift bursts of spray, Martha Avalos, an employee
with Clothesline Cleaners at 21518 Blanco Road, destroyed all the
evidence. What was the magical substance that so quickly turned stubborn
stains into memories? Just water and air. In fact, Derba Mills the
owner of Clothesline Cleaners, prides herself on using ecologically
friendly methods for her business. "I have a non-toxic environment,
no perc (perchloroethylene). No hydrocarbons," she said. "I'm
guided by a different light." "Different" is the operative
word in describing Mills' wetcleaning operation. Though the rows of
crisp-looking garments wrapped in plastic resemble what you would
see in a traditional dry-cleaning operation, that is where the similarities
end. With the wet-cleaning process, each garment is washed in a computor-contolled
washing machine with more than 99 different settings, for everything
from golf shirts to tablecloths.
While the clothing is submerged in water, its colors and fibers are
protected by a collagen mist. All detergents are bio-degradable, Mills
said. According to a 1999 study by the Environmental Protection Agency
and the Garment and Textile Care Industry, wetcleaning generates no
hazardous waste and no air pollution. It is safe to use for cotton,
wool, silk, leather, even wedding gowns, and leaves no chemical smell.
In this process less water is used with Clothesline's Miele wetclean
machines, and employees require special training and skills, the study
said. But Mills' clients say they come to Clothesline Cleaners because
of the employees. "I go there not so much because of the environmental
cause, but more because the service is great", said Matt Mayes,
who frequents Mills' other location at 248 W Olmos Drive. "If
there has been a tear in my elbow, they have sewn up my shirt. I didn't
even ask them to do that." Mayes also said he brings his work
clothes about once a week because the prices are competetive.
Sara Metersky said she first started going to Clothesline Cleanrs
because it is close to her home but has kept coming back because of
the special treatment she has received. "I had taken a sweater
in, and
(Mills) noticed one of the buttons was missing," Metersky said.
"She took all the buttons off, cleaned the sweater and sewed
the buttons back on so the missing button would not be so conspicuous.
I thought that was geat customer service." Metersky said she
and her husband, who is an avid recycler, are happy about the ecological
benefits as well. "If you can get the same effect, and not (hurt)
the environment, why not do it?" she said.
