By now most Americans are aware of the Pacific Ocean's Great Garbage Patch, a Texas-sized clump of man-made trash floating in the middle of the ocean. But recently scientists discovered that home washing is a "major source" of "microplastic" pollution in the oceans.

Scientists have found pinhead-sized and smaller pieces of polyester and acrylic on shorelines and are tracing them back to home washing machines, according to an American Chemical Society report on a study in its Environmental Science & Technology publication.

In the study, a team of researchers combed 18 coasts looking for microplastics and found it in excess in densely populated areas. Testing showed the probable source to be wastewater from home washing machines. The team noted that 1,900 fibers can wash off a single garment. Worse, the team reported that the debris can contain hazardous ingredients that can be ingested by fish, then later, by humans who eat the fish.

In drycleaning, all microfibers are collected in the system's lint trap and none of the waste is allowed to flow outside of the plant. The report concludes, "Designers of clothing and washing machines should consider the need to reduce the release of fibers into wastewater and research is needed to develop methods for removing microplastic from sewage." Labeling all synthetic garments "dryclean only" could help save the day.

Here's a pix of Arrow's newest plant, just opened a couple of months ago. The address is 1330 Washington Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66102. It's about 22,000 sq. ft. and is designed to do all the processing for Arrow Fire & Water Restoration - www.arrow-fire.com - Blanc Plume Fine French Laundry - www.BlancPlume.com and Arrow Drapery -www.ArrowDrapery.com

As some of you already know, Arrow is opening another plant to provide additional capacity for our growing business.
Remodeling of the building located at 1333 Washington Blvd., in central Kansas City, KS has been been underway for the last four months.
Arrow's divisions that will be located in the new facility are:

• Fire and Water Damage Restoration and Cleaning
• Blanc Plume Fine French Laundry
• ...and, Arrow Drapery and Window Treatment Cleaning

The new plant has over 28,000 square feet of processing and administrative areas. Much new equipment has been acquired to handle Arrow's growth in clientele and volume.
As soon as the move-in is complete, we will post some photographs of the facility. Also, within a couple of weeks you'll be able to visit and take a tour.

Arrow Fabricare prides itself on producing the finest quality in shirt cleaning and pressing. Whenever you have your dress shirts laundered at Arrow you can expect:

• The interior collar to be scrubbed and clean.
• You will find it also smoothly pressed with no wrinkles 
• Your collar stays will be replaced
• You will find no stray threads or cracked buttons
• The front placket will be smoothly pressed along with having smooth cuffs with no ripples
• The shoulders won't have any puckering
• The body will be crisp and wrinkle and mark free
• Buttons will be replaced
• The sleeve placket will be crisply ironed and wrinkle-free.

If you are having your shirts done somewhere other than Arrow, check the results using the regular/everyday standards of Arrow Fabricare shown above. Our slogan is "ArrowCares™". And it shows in how we launder your shirts. Give us a try.

The 70 million people with asthma and allergies in the United States may find a new bedding certification program helpful.
The asthma and allergy friendly certification program, administered by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America in partnership with the international research organization Allergy Standards Limited, has been introducing scientific standards for bedding and other types of products. Medical experts advise that reducing exposure to allergens and irritants, such as dust mites, pet dander and formaldehyde should be a critical part of a patient's asthma and allergy management plan, the foundation says. Only bedding items that pass the rigorous scientific testing protocols and meet the strict standards adopted by Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America are certified asthma and allergy friendly.

The standards are designed to ensure that products don't contain harmful chemicals, can withstand routine machine wash and dry instructions, and under normal use and care, won't allow household allergens to accumulate at high levels.

Click here for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation web pages that will help you find certified products, get information about certification standards, asthma and allergy information and allergen reduction tips and tools. And, of course, be sure to send your special laundry to Blanc Plume.