Cleaner’s Supply has completed its second annual State of the Dry Cleaning Industry Report, a comprehensive market research study dedicated to the drycleaning industry. This year’s survey, independently conducted by Drive Research, gathered insights from 894 drycleaning business owners across the U.S.
This August, Clean 2025 will be coming to Orlando, FL. For four full days – from Aug. 23 to 26 – the Orange County Convention Center will host all of the latest drycleaning and laundry technology, equipment and services available on the market.
Starting on April 1, the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute (DLI) will begin accepting its annual Hall of Fame nominations — which are open to all drycleaning industry individuals. Drycleaning association membership is not required to nominate or be a candidate. The final deadline for submissions is May 15
The Drycleaning and Laundry Institute (DLI) is launching a grassroots social media initiative aimed at amplifying the voice of professional garment care businesses. This campaign, inspired by the iconic “Got Milk?” strategy, invites all drycleaners to join in educating consumers and promoting the value of professional garment care through engaging social media posts designed to resonate with customers and build industry awareness.
Let’s face it. It’s difficult to find managers in this business. Let me be more specific. It’s difficult to find qualified managers in this business. This is an inconvenient truth because I believe the most valuable investment that you can make — the one with the most significant Return on Investment — is a qualified manager. I see clear patterns.
In a world saturated with advertising, it’s easy to tune out the constant barrage of buy this and try that. At Sudsies, we believe in a different approach.
Last month, I explained the basic processes of the most common type of distillation system found in drycleaning machinery. In this issue, I’ll describe the components associated with the distillation process in detail.
Dye bleeding is a fairly common occurrence plaguing drycleaners. Dye bleeding can occur in drycleaning, wetcleaning or spotting.
It is important to pinpoint the source of the bleeding so proper remedies can be applied.
If you find yourself in a position where your customers always insist on speaking with you directly, it is time to consider shifting your business structure. Doing so can improve the value and efficiency of your business.
After examining the results of the 2025 State of the Drycleaning Industry Report (see page 6), there are certainly a few reasons to be optimistic about the future of the garment care industry.
The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) programs will bring cleaning professionals together to share and grow, including “Double Your Profit in the Next 12 Months” with Dave Coyle of Maverick Drycleaners on April 16 at 1 p.m. EST. The program will help cleaning business owners identify opportunities to capitalize in the near future.
Just two weeks shy of his 90th birthday – and less than two months after retiring from a 73-year career in drycleaning, Thomas “Tom” Anderson of Mequon, WI, passed away peacefully in his home. Born in Iron Mountain, MI, on March 12, 1934, Tom moved to Milwaukee in 1942.
Members of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists (AWGS) met recently in Fort Worth, Texas. In addition to the traditional tour of the host member’s plant, Kite’s Cleaners and Pinstripes, owned and managed by Nathan Kite, guest speakers included designer Callie Tein of Luna d’Miel Bridal, Emily Foster of Emily Foster Creative, Tracy Aaron of Wedding and Party Network, Kayla Fogarty of TheKnotWW.com, and Michael Tungesvick of Sankosha-USA.
Puritan Cleaners has again been selected as one of America’s Best Cleaners, marking its 18th consecutive year achieving certification. The recognition follows a comprehensive evaluation by Chris White, executive director of America’s Best Cleaners, who assessed the company’s garment care quality, stain removal expertise, customer service, and business practices through rigorous testing, inspection and secret shopping visits.
Tide Services, a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble, is expanding its footprint in Chicago with a new Lakeview location. Located at 2934 North Ashland Ave. next to Jewel-Osco, the laundromat is now open. The fourth Tide Laundromat in Chicago, this location is part of an ambitious expansion led by US Laundry LLC, which signed a 51-unit franchise deal in late 2024.
On Feb. 20, Ronald Gene Herson, founder and owner of Herson Supply of Gaithersberg, MD, passed away at the age of 72. Born on April 30, 1952, Ron would go on to live a life of purpose, love and ambition.
Jim Cripe — a longtime industry leader and owner of Valet Cleaners and Laundry —passed away on Feb. 27, 2025 at the age of 81. Born in South Bend, IN, on Aug. 2, 1943, Jim later made Louisiana his home and eventually graduated from Northwest Louisiana University in 1965.
America’s Best Cleaners and The Route Pros have teamed up to offer their members a “Spark & Start” retail and routes workshop on May 16 and 17 in Richmond, VA. The event will take place at Puritan Cleaners, located at 441 Southlake Blvd.
Huntington Cleaners, which operate multiple retail drycleaning locations and an insurance restoration service franchise, CRDN of Michigan and Northwest Ohio, has promoted Jennifer Budzinski to vice president of operations. Budzinski has spent her 33-year career, starting in 1991, with Huntington Cleaners. She joined Huntington Cleaners as a front counter associate when she was just 15 years old.
ZIPS Cleaners recently announced that Abisoye “Abi” Ajibade and Mikhel Adun have signed a development agreement to open five locations in southwestern Houston and its surrounding suburbs. Operating as Garment Care Partners LLC, the husband-and-wife team plan to bring the garment care franchise as well as its high-end sibling, Mulberrys Garment Care, to the area beginning later this year, and to have all five locations open within three years.
America’s Best Cleaners (ABC) Executive Director Chris White will speak at the 2025 Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA) Management and Educational Conference held on April 27-30, 2025 at the Ritz Carlton Tiburón in Naples, FL.
Girbau North America recently welcomed Aly Auchtung of Oshkosh, WI, as sales solutions associate. In her new role, Auchtung will nurture new construction leads and support special sales projects
Mulberrys Garment Care opened its 7th franchise site in Minnesota in Eden Prairie, MN. The new site, the chain’s 15th overall, will offer Mulberrys’ full menu of high-end, high-touch drycleaning and laundry services.
America’s Best Cleaners (ABC) recently partnered with Retold Recycling in support of the #NoLandFill movement to reduce textile waste and drive a more sustainable future for fashion.
Kelly’s dry Cleaners of Farmington, NM, recently joined the ranks of the Certified Restoration drycleaning Network (CRDN) seeking to solidify its position as an industry leader.
Bill was born in Southbridge, MA, and raised in East Hampton and Middletown, CT. After high school, he joined the Navy and served for 4 years before joining the family’s cleaning business in 1966.
Steve Pedelty started his “hanger” career with Cleaners Hanger Company (CHC) in 1982, covering the Southeast US. After six years of living in Charlotte, NC but mainly traveling south, CHC asked him to move to Atlanta
Clean Brands, LLC, has announced the opening of the first Lapels Cleaners location in the state of Louisiana: Lapels Cleaners of Houma.
The company is owned and operated by the Lausen family, namely Michael and Kelli.
America’s Best Cleaners’ (ABC) affiliate Fox Cleaners partnered with Dress for Success Tulsa for a successful EmpowerWear program to collect gently worn professional and business casual attire for women from Oct. 1-31, 2024.
Nearly 15,000 cleaners and their suppliers throughout the United States and around the world read Clothesline
