Our Team

The People Behind the Process

Greenwashing is rampant in garment care. Every corner shop slaps a green leaf sticker on their window and calls themselves organic. We built this platform to cut through that noise. We know the difference between a true liquid CO2 cleaning process and a shop just swapping one toxic hydrocarbon for another. We test the methods. We read the chemical safety sheets. We demand better.

This site exists for a single reason. We want to give you the exact, unfiltered truth about eco-friendly dry cleaning in Florida.

You will not find generic laundry tips here. You will find operational reality. We know the exact temperature required to steam silk without ruining the drape. We know the heavy chemical smell of old-school solvents, and we know exactly how to avoid them. Our team consists of sustainability auditors, wet-cleaning technicians, and machinery specialists who actually do the work.

Patricia Darez, Managing Director

Patricia Darez is the Managing Director and co-founder of 350renew. She spent her early career auditing industrial operations for environmental compliance. She saw firsthand the damage traditional perchloroethylene causes to local groundwater and operator health. That friction sparked a complete pivot into sustainable garment care.

Through 350renew, Patricia focuses on transitioning heavy-polluting local industries into zero-toxic operations. She brings that exact operational rigor to this site. She refuses to accept the industry standard of hiding toxic chemicals behind clever marketing terms. If a cleaning solvent requires a hazardous waste manifest for disposal, Patricia will not let us call it eco-friendly.

She oversees all technical guides on solvent safety, equipment transitions, and environmental impact. You can view her professional background on her LinkedIn profile.

Mateo Vargas, Lead Wet-Cleaning Technician

Mateo spent twelve years working a spotting board in a traditional dry cleaning plant. He breathed in perc every single shift. When his health started taking a hit, he walked out and never looked back. Today, he is our resident expert on professional wet cleaning.

Mateo knows the physical reality of fabric care. He understands how to lift a set-in red wine stain from a wool blend using biodegradable detergents and precise tensioning equipment. He writes our practical guides on stain removal, fabric preservation, and what actually happens to your clothes behind the counter.

Elena Rostova, Environmental Compliance Specialist

Elena tracks the regulatory side of garment care. Florida local councils constantly update their water treatment standards and solvent restrictions. Elena reads the safety data sheets so you do not have to.

She investigates the claims made by chemical manufacturers. When a new “earth-friendly” solvent hits the market, Elena breaks down its chemical composition. She exposes the loopholes that allow toxic petroleum-based solvents to be labeled as organic.

David MacAulay, Systems & Machinery Specialist

You cannot run a zero-toxic dry cleaner with outdated equipment. David keeps the high-pressure liquid CO2 machines and computer-controlled wet cleaning washers running. He understands the mechanical friction of upgrading a shop.

David contributes to our content by explaining the hardware. He helps readers understand why true eco-friendly cleaning costs what it does. He breaks down the massive investment required to install closed-loop CO2 systems and why that matters for your clothes.

Our Editorial Standards

We hold a strict line on what we publish. The garment care industry relies heavily on consumer ignorance. We actively dismantle that ignorance.

Every piece of advice, every solvent review, and every local shop recommendation goes through a brutal vetting process. We do not accept sponsorships from chemical manufacturers. We do not take payment to rank local dry cleaners. If we recommend a specific wet-cleaning method, we have tested it on actual garments.

We call out bad practices by name. We name the toxic chemicals. We explain the exact risks.

• No Greenwashing: We reject the term “organic” when applied to petroleum solvents. We only endorse liquid CO2, professional wet cleaning, and genuinely non-toxic alternatives.
• Operational Accuracy: Our guides reflect the reality of the shop floor. We explain the exact steps a cleaner must take to protect your garments.
• Direct Accountability: Every article is reviewed by at least two team members. One checks the chemical science. The other checks the practical application.

Get in Touch

We want to hear about your experiences with local cleaners. If you have found a shop doing things right, tell us. If you have had a favorite coat ruined by a shop cutting corners, we want to know about that too.

Reach out to our team directly through our contact page. Patricia or Mateo reviews every message. We typically respond within two business days. We are always looking to expand our directory of verified zero-toxic cleaners across Florida, and reader reports are our best source of ground-level truth.