The ABC’s of wetcleaning
America’s Best Cleaners organized a seminar to bring affiliates
up to date on advanced wetcleaning techniques at the Edison
Customer Technology Application Center in Irwindale, CA. Miele
International and Kreussler USA sponsored the seminar.
Rich Fitzpatrick of Kreussler said this
was the largest national wetcleaning seminar specifically for
drycleaners.
The latest water-based garment cleaning
technology was described as an energy-efficient and
environmentally compliant alternative to the chemical-based
drycleaning, differing from conventional washing in several
aspects, including the amount and temperature of water used,
the amount of mechanical action, chemistry, and the time spent
absorbing water.
America’s Best Cleaners is a
national organization that strives to locate and recognize top
drycleaning establishments in major metropolitan areas in the
United States. Currently, 27 cleaners have been selected in
2005, with another five internationally. Selection is
contingent upon adherence to strict criteria. ABC
certification is valid for one year, whereby the cleaners are
re-tested annually for compliance with standards, including
quality and customer service.
Criteria for selection are now based on
standards to be determined in conjunction with the Hohenstein
Institutes of Germany, which has relationships with
organizations from Chanel to the Taiwanese Textile Research
Institute, and is accredited under ISO 17025.
Prospective cleaners are site-inspected
by certified ABC representatives to determine if minimum
requirements of cleanliness, machinery equipment, stain removal
and finishing quality are met. Certification also includes
monthly fabric tests to evaluate chemical usage.
“This seminar is the second step in
a series of quarterly workshops, implementing the knowledge
necessary for certification,” said Chris White, technical
director of ABC. “We will be continuing educational
services like this to our affiliates to ensure our selections
maintain the highest standards in the industry.”
