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“Dry Clean Only” (Don’t Believe Everything You Read)
As I was doing my laundry yesterday, most of which I line-dried, I thought about the fact that I have not been to the dry cleaner in nearly a decade. This is one of the small things I have chosen in order to be a little kinder to the environment.
Some of my clothes, especially things I bought several years ago, say “dry clean only.” This includes knits made of wool, tencel, modal, or rayon (all of which are natural fibers) and linen and silk unconstructed clothing. All of these do fine with hand washing (or on the gentle cycle in the washing machine) and being hung up to dry (this also applies to cotton, button-down shirts). Of course, if it doesn’t say to dry clean then you definitely don’t need to dry clean.
Always believed the label? How was clothing made of natural fibers cleaned before there was such a thing as a dry cleaner? Think they look better or it is easier to get them dry cleaned? Think about the solvents, the plastic, the energy for the cleaning method, and whether you drive to the dry cleaners. Then make a decision.
Most things do not need to be cleaned by use of poisonous solvents (just because a solvent is “organic” or “natural” doesn’t mean it is good for the environment) and then wrapped in non-recyclable plastic to take home (many dry cleaners will take back the hangers, but will say they need to use the plastic wrap because their premises are too dusty for your clothes to stay clean outside the plastic wrapper).
So look for clothes that say “gentle wash, line dry” instead of “dry clean only.” If it says “dry clean only” think about whether it really applies. It will not apply for a wool sweater, most knits, or unlined clothes. A business suit — yes, it won’t keep its shape unless you dry clean. Do you really need to wear a business suit? Will a choice not to wear a suit impact whether some people think you are truly “professional”? Possibly. If you decide you need to wear a suit regularly, how many times can you wear it before taking it to the dry cleaners?
PS. Don’t experiment with things that are new and expensive. Try it on older clothes and discover whether you need to believe everything you read.
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More Spam Poetry (how practice leads us to the expansive light of Consciousness)
Hello Guru, what entice you to post an article. This article was extremely interesting, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this subject last Thursday.
isn’t crucial, at the least possibly not from the outset, in addition to awareness
Everything is very open
I think it’s essential for other to do this. I’m sure it will guide them in doing the right thing.
I heard about that last week. I just want to check if this thing is real. It’s just like with the politics in our world
not a problem. not as long stride when the untrained man or women will try
It is lovely worth sufficient for me.
It goes without saying I will be back again tomorrow,
Urban Forest Bathing
Honoring being a child of the earth this morning on my way to an afternoon volunteering at the Lantern Bookshop.

Ganesha (Deity of the Marines?)
A senior colleague and I spent several hours today working together on a very challenging aspect of a long-term project. When we were wrapping up for the day, I showed him a murti of Ganesha that another co-worker had brought me from the Norton Simon Museum when she had gone on a business trip to Pasadena, where our Los Angeles office is located.
I said that I do not believe in the Hindu deities as gods, but find them helpful for contemplation as archetypes (in the Jungian sense). I said that being on this project has taught me much about yoga and about Ganesha.
“Ganesha,” I explained, “is not so much the remover of obstacles, but the one who places obstacles in your way to teach you the wisdom to grow and find a more enlightened path from having confronted the obstacles.” “Oh,” said my colleague, “like the Marines: adapt, improvise, and overcome.” “Well, sort of,” I replied, enjoying that we found a way to share laughter after our difficult afternoon.


