Video: What does organic dry-cleaning really mean?

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AUBURN, Wash. – It seems the "organic" label has crept into just about every corner of our lives these days.

It's on food, personal care products and even at a dry-cleaner near you.

But what does organic dry-cleaning really mean?

Dry-cleaning at the Regency facility in Auburn may not look any different to you, but it's part of a growing number of very diverse greener cleaners.

"There are ones that have reduced the 'perc' or perchloroethylene, which is usually the nasty stuff that has been used for years," said Tom Watson, King County EcoConsumer.

Regency has replaced its 'perc' with a less toxic solvent. But is that enough to make it "organic.?"

We asked the Federal Trade Commission for a ruling.

"The FTC doesn't have any specific rules or regulations that apply," said James Kohm, Federal Trade Commission.

So organic can mean different things at different dry-cleaners. In fact, the association representing thousands of dry-cleaners doesn't like any of its members to use the term "organic."

"The cleaners that are touting organic cleaning are giving the consumer a false sense of security. They think it's warm and fuzzy and the process is like peaches," said Wayne Edelman, National Cleaners Association.

The industry suggests you ask about the solvents a dry cleaner uses. If they use less 'perc' or if they use liquid CO2 or if they use wet-cleaning methods, that's good.

But you should also ask about their equipment because even though the workers are all doing their part and they're using greener chemicals to clean the clothes, none of that matters if the machinery isn't working right.

Modern equipment has tightly sealed chambers for the dry-cleaning solvents and features that sterilize them after use.

Regency has that newer equipment and keeps it on a strict maintenance schedule.

That's another clue to finding an eco-friendlier cleaner. Try to get a look at the machines hidden way back behind the revolving wheel of shirts.