It has been 20 years since the Clean Show has been hosted in Orlando, FL, but that drought will end soon as the textile care industry’s biggest trade show will head to the Orange County Convention Center from Aug. 23 to 26. The last time the event was held there in 2005, approximately 14,000 attendees visited 511 exhibiting companies.
The Drycleaning and Laundry Institute (DLI) will be accepting its annual Hall of Fame nominations for this year’s class until May 15. The process is open to all drycleaning industry individuals. Drycleaning association membership is not required to nominate or be a candidate.
This summer, the Southwest Drycleaners Association (SDA) will be heading to Denver, CO, to host its board meeting and present a two-day program by Jim Peuster of The Route Pros. He will divulge “The Top 25 Lessons Learned from 25 Years of Route Consulting.”
One of the unfortunate facts of business ownership is that burglary and theft prevention have to be on the brain. This is especially true within businesses that handle any amount of cash. Drycleaners and laundromats are essential businesses that often operate with long hours, minimal staffing, and cash on hand — all of which make them potential targets for robbery and burglary
Some industry analysts will tell you that you should be aiming for 25 shirts processed for each and every shirt department labor hour. This is commonly called pieces per operator hour and generally referred to by the acronym PPOH. I adopted this method years ago because this is the best way for me to get a snapshot of someone’s plant.
The Drycleaning and Laundry Institute has always been a great source of information for our industry. DLI offers professional advice in technical, educational, and legislative material drycleaners can use to make informed decisions.
Walk into any drycleaning plant that’s been around for a while and you’ll find something broken: a cart with one wheel barely hanging on; a press pad worn past its prime; a layout that hasn’t made sense in a decade; a wall in the back that was supposed to get repainted three years ago that no one really notices anymore.
LThis month, we will explore solvent flow, valves, and some of the problems associated with them in the drycleaning process. To begin with, what is solvent flow, and what is solvent? In the drycleaning sense, a solvent is a liquid that is moved or flushed through the garments to remove dirt and debris.
Blended fabrics are widely used because usually the blend enhances the serviceability of the fabric. A proper blend of cotton and polyester has the look of cotton, but the wrinkle resistance of polyester. Nylon blended with wool also gives the wool wrinkle resistance.
A strategy consultancy firm named Kepios regularly publishes reports on worldwide online population behaviors. At the start of this year, they reported that 5.56 billion people around the world use the Internet, which is 67.9% of the worldwide population.
The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) and its regional partner associations will be offering several webinars and networking events this May, including a presentation by Jen Whitmarsh of The Route Pros and Snappy Drycleaning. The webinar, which will run at 1 p.m. EST on May 28 is called “The Front Line Advantage: Elevating Everyday Service.”
The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) recently announced the newly formed Heartland Fabricare Association (HFA) following the merger of the Illinois Professional Drycleaners Association (IPDA), the Mid-West Drycleaning & Laundry Association (MWDLA), and the Wisconsin Fabricare Association (WFI), along with cleaners from Minnesota, into a single, unified organization.
ZIPS Cleaners recently announced that Leda Peterson and Diego Osorio, a mother-in-law/son-in-law team each with ongoing ties to the chain, have signed a new franchise agreement to open in Lancaster, PA. Operating as KATLEX LLC, the franchisees expect to open later this year
Tide Services recently signed a 50-unit franchise agreement with CMG Companies, one of the nation’s top multi-unit franchise operators. As one of the largest franchise commitments in the out-of-home laundry sector — alongside another major Tide deal announced last year — this agreement significantly accelerates Tide Laundromat’s expansion in the Southwest U.S.
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.
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.
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
