National Clothesline

COLVILLE, WA — Colmac’s SkinnyMac is a narrow-body tunnel finisher for drycleaned garments and can also be used for garments processed by gentle wetcleaning methods.

With five models available, the SkinnyMac provides high production steam-air finishing without sacrificing quality.

Shoulder-to-shoulder orientation allows close-up, complete and thorough steaming of the garment for full penetration and relaxation of fabrics. The thermostatically-controlled airflow gently shakes and heats the garments to enhance wrinkle and lint removal.

The unit’s standard autoloader allows the operator to place multiple garments on the powered storage rod, which accurately loads each individual garment onto a conveyor hook for finishing. After finishing, the garments automatically unload to the exit storage rail.

A new instant warm-up feature automatically turns on the steaming system to purge unwanted condensate from the steam jets and prepares the finisher for operation. An automatic shut down feature has been added to conserve energy and prevent unnecessary heat and moisture from escaping into the workspace.

FAIRFIELD, NJ — Remydon is a new type of rice starch available from A&B Ingredients that penetrates textiles more thoroughly throughout the fabric for a like-new satiny touch while stiffening the fabric. Available from A&B Ingredients, Remydon consists of fine particles that permit the particles to penetrate the textile thoroughly.

The company said that one gram of rice starch contains about 60 times more particles than those of corn or wheat. Remydon starch also protects the fabrics from wear, according to the manufacturer.

Realizing that different fabrics and customers require different levels of stiffening, A&B Ingredients has three different usage levels of low, medium and heavy starch.

Remydon rice starch is available exclusively from A&B Ingredients in America.

SPOKANE, WA — Breaking into the wool rug cleaning market can be a struggle for drycleaners. Investment in plant and equipment creates barriers to entry along with the need for finding space to hang oriental rugs while they dry. Consumers may be hesitant to drop off a rug worth several thousands, or tens of thousands, of dollars.

Richard Kirishian launched rugspa.com in 2000 to reach retail rug cleaning customers outside of his regional Pacific Northwest market. He developed a “Free Rug Transport Kit” that includes everything a customer needs to send a rug for cleaning, including a prearranged freight pick up call tag. The customer needs only roll the rug inside a shipping sleeve and make it available for UPS/ FedEx for pick-up.

Now Kirishian has rolled out a private branding program for the drycleaning industry so dealers can privately brand the rugspa. The program includes a support package with free marketing materials to place on cleaners’ service counters and postcards and care-guides to introduce the service to prospective customers.

Participating drycleaners can have their own individual named rugspa web site so customers don’t need to come into the cleaning store to drop off or pick up the rug. Instead they can visit the local drycleaners.rugspa.com and input their rug type and size and pickup information.

Since launching the program, Kirishian said an average of two new dealers per week have signed up and rugs are coming in from all over the country. He said the drycleaners are reporting being able to hold a 45 percent profit margin with no investment or risk.

TULSA, OK — Royaltone’s Soil Go soil release is a concentrated batch additive that eliminates prespotting, harsh brushing and costly reruns on heavily soiled and stained items in drycleaning with no prespotting.

Soil Go removes heavy soil and ring type spots and stains in the drycleaning wheel the first time the garments are cleaned and works with any detergent system in any drycleaning fluid.

Royaltone said the product will not build up, has no undesirable side effects and is color safe and swale free for all cloth garments in drycleaning. Anti-static action suppresses static electric shock and linting.

Soil Go is added to the drycleaning wheel full-strength as a batch additive to remove heavy soil and ring type spots and stains in the wheel on the first run instead of paying for costly labor for prespotting and expensive utilities for rerunning.

Soil Go also helps control moisture for brighter whites, rayons, linens, cottons and heavily soiled trench coats. It can also remove yellow stains. compatible with both charge and injection detergents.

One ounce of Soil Go is added to the cleaning wheel for each ten pounds of heavily soiled and stained clothes cleaned. For best results, it should be added to the start of the drycleaning cycle and run on batch for three to eight minutes before running on filter. Batch cleaning can be accomplished by filling the wheel to a low level and then turning off the pump and cleaning for three to eight minutes with the dump valve closed.