moths and drycleaning

[Jerry Shiner <keepsafe@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have had the misfortune to work with perchloroethyelene, the most common 
dry cleaning solvent now in use. It is quite amazing in its aggressive 
ability to "cut" and remove oils. I believe it also hydrophilic, even when 
not "charged" with a soap solution before use, although I can't make a 
measured comparison . A quick, light contact with perch will definitely 
"dry" the skin of the hands.  Perc is also suspected of being a carcinogen, 
although that's a very convoluted (and emotionally twisted) way to kill a moth.

I'd be fairly certain that perc alone would kill moth eggs, but I'm not as 
certain of petroleum solvents (Stoddart Solvent, "varsol", Exxon 2000, 
etc.) or any of the newer more modern solvents (supercritical CO2, rynex, 
etc.). As David points out, the heat and agitation of the drying process 
might also provide an effective kill, but garments cleaned in non perc 
solvents need not be dried with heat, though they usually are to reclaim 
the solvent. All garments cleaned in perc must be cleaned and dried in a 
sealed machine by law.

js



At 07:26 PM 08/01/01 -0800, you wrote:

> I believe that drycleaning is effective in moth eradication - partially
> because of the agitation of the tumbler - but mostly because of the high
> heat of drying (which is normally 140-150 degrees F. or 60-65.5 C.).
>
> Yours,
>
>
> David Walker
>
> Talisman Restoration, Inc
> 719 Swift St. #5
> Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA
> phone:  (831) 425-7847
> fax:    (831) 425-7829
> email:  talisman@xxxxxxxxxx

Jerry Shiner
Keepsafe Systems
Micro-climate and Oxygen-free storage for Professional Conservators
www.gowncare.com   toll-free 800 683-4696  fax: (416) 703-5991