More than 18,000 served
The Drycleaning and Laundry Institute’s (formerly IFI) School of Drycleaning Technology has been in existence for over
80 years now.
In that time, more than 18,000 graduates have taken courses at the Institute,
and that number will only grow in 2008 as DLI plans more training opportunities
in the coming year.
According to recent graduates, the training has remained important and
invaluable, so not much has changed in that department for the past eight
decades.
“I found the course to be very informative,” said 2006 graduate Mike Famiano, who completed the Two-week Advanced
Drycleaning course.
“The class helped sharpen the skills I had and also gave me plenty [of] knowledge
in other areas that I had not been familiar with. [DLI
’s] knowledge of so many different aspects of the cleaning industry is a great
benefit to anyone who take your courses.
”
Cleaners interested in attending in 2008 will have no shortage of choices. DLI
will present four sessions of its School of Drycleaning Technology
’s Introduction and Advanced Drycleaning courses, as well as two one-week
offerings that also focus on drycleaning and stain removal.
The one-week introductory course will emphasize the basics. It is designed to
reinforce the principles of drycleaning for owners and employees. It will
cover: fibers and fabrics; principles of drycleaning; workflow, assembly, and
invoicing; drycleaning machines; cleaning and drying cycles; basic stain
removal procedures; and finishing procedures for pants, coats, and skirts.
Course dates are: Jan. 28 to Feb. 1; April 21-25; July 21-25; and Oct. 20-24.
Tuition is $695 per member and $1,049 for non-members.
Those who have completed the one-week introductory course will be primed to
continue on to the two-week advanced drycleaning course, which is optimal for
cleaners with more hands-on experience and knowledge of basic stain removal and
finishing techniques.
The advanced course will emphasize a variety of topics such as: specialty
fabrics and fiber identification; advanced stain removal procedures and
bleaches; finishing blouses, dresses, ties, pleats, pile fabrics, silks, and
rayons; wetcleaning; solvents, detergents, moisture, filtration, and
distillation; and troubleshooting the drycleaning system.
It will also cover regulations and care labeling, plant layout and workflow,
customer service and business management.
Course dates for the advanced course include: Feb. 4 to 15; April 28 to May 9;
July 28 to Aug. 8; and Oct. 27 to Nov. 7.
Tuition is $1,149 for members and $1,649 for non-members.
DLI affiliates who sign up for the introductory and advanced courses
concurrently (a.k.a. the Three-week General Drycleaning course) can save an
extra $349 in tuition fees.
DLI has also planned a pair of in-depth one-week courses on the practical
application of cleaning and stain removal spread throughout the year. The first
will begin on March 10; the second will start on Sept. 15.
The curriculum for the course includes: fibers and fabrics; principles of
drycleaning; solvents; detergents and moisture; filtration and distillation;
drying and vapor recovery; stain removal agents and stain removal tools, and
more.
The cost is $695 for members and $1,049 for non-members.
Those who are looking for tuition assistance may be able to qualify for a
portion of the more $40,000 in scholarships that are available.
Collectively, 15 organizations have made donations so that some students may
receive full or partial tuition for courses at DLI
’s school.
For more information on eligibility requirements for scholarships or questions
about anything related to the School of Drycleaning Technology, contact DLI
Registrar Susan Bale at (800) 638-2627, ext. 1603, or sbale@ifi.org.
