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Clean clothes, clean environment
In keeping with Reston's commitment to the environment, a longtime resident's new laundry business is using organic and biodegradable chemicals.
Enviro Cleaners is Ehab Malaty's third laundry business. He still owns the first, Prime Cleaners in Falls Church, which opened in 1989. Malaty sold his second location, Prime Cleaners in Reston Town Center, a couple of years ago.
Enviro Cleaners, which opened almost a month ago, is different in name, size and concept.
Typically, the county does not allow laundries to be larger than 3,000 square feet. Since Enviro Care is in a zoned industrial area, Malaty was able to build a facility that is an impressive 5,200 square feet with brand-new equipment. The facility is near Plaza America at 11519 Sunset Hills Road.
But the most important change in his business plan, which Malaty believes Reston will embrace, is Enviro Cleaners' method of cleaning, which eschews the industry's standard chemicals for ones that are biodegradable and, according to him, safer for both the consumer and his employees.
The standard dry cleaning chemical used – perchloroethylene, or perc – has not yet been banned by any governmental body, although Malaty said he believes that will likely happen in the future.
“Perc is really quite bad, it's not a friendly chemical,” he said. “It's been known for quite some time, but most people won't switch until the government mandates it.”
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, perc “may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen.”
At Enviro Cleaners, dry cleaning is instead done with hydrocarbon solvents, which are biodegradable. The switch in chemicals means a slightly higher expense for Malaty, but the advantage isn't solely for its “green” label.
“It's going to smell better, feel better, and there's no harm to the environment,” he said.
That higher cost won't translate to prices. Malaty offers a flat fee of $1.99 for any garment. Enviro Cleaners also offers a pickup and delivery service and employs a seamstress on site.
Malaty said the push for "green" laundry processes came primarily from larger hotel chains, especially Marriott, a company that has encouraged its vendors to find environmentally friendly business practices.
Malaty, 54, said he is happy to have a flagship business in Reston, where he has lived with his family for more than 30 years. His son and daughter attended South Lakes High School.
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