How and where to learn more
about drycleaning
about drycleaning
Fabricare Forum
The Fabricare Forum is an e-mail discussion group hosted on Yahoogroups. Current
membership numbers about 1,500 and includes cleaners and allied trades people from
around the world. Membership is free and open to anyone involved in the fabric care
industry.
membership numbers about 1,500 and includes cleaners and allied trades people from
around the world. Membership is free and open to anyone involved in the fabric care
industry.
The forum was founded in 1995 by Dave Spensley, a California drycleaner who is
now
retired. Hal Horning, editor of National Clothesline, currently serves as moderator of the
group. The list generates 800 to 1,200 e-mail messages a month. Participants have
several options for receiving messages: individual e-mails; a digest format; or via the
Fabricare Forum web site.
retired. Hal Horning, editor of National Clothesline, currently serves as moderator of the
group. The list generates 800 to 1,200 e-mail messages a month. Participants have
several options for receiving messages: individual e-mails; a digest format; or via the
Fabricare Forum web site.
To join the group, send an e-mail to fabricare-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. If you are
having trouble joining or need help, e-mail the moderator at fabricare-
owner@yahoogroups.com.
having trouble joining or need help, e-mail the moderator at fabricare-
owner@yahoogroups.com.
Consultants
Everett Childers has been a plant owner, educator, consultant, department head and
instructor at Oklahoma State University during his career in the industry. He is the
author of The Master Drycleaners Notebook (see below) and has an informative web
site.
instructor at Oklahoma State University during his career in the industry. He is the
author of The Master Drycleaners Notebook (see below) and has an informative web
site.
Don Desrosiers provides services to shirt launderers and drycleaners as a workflow
engineer and management consultant. Has been in the drycleaning and shirt laundering
business since 1978. Many of his National Clothesline articles along with information
about his products and services can be found on his Tailwind Systems web site.
engineer and management consultant. Has been in the drycleaning and shirt laundering
business since 1978. Many of his National Clothesline articles along with information
about his products and services can be found on his Tailwind Systems web site.
Richard Ehrenreich is a former drycleaner and the third-generation of his family in
our industry. Contact him for your business sale, merger or acquisition activity or for
succession, partnership conflict, litigation support or expert witness consulting, as well
as appraisals, valuations or evaluations. Check out his credentials and references in
LinkedIn.
our industry. Contact him for your business sale, merger or acquisition activity or for
succession, partnership conflict, litigation support or expert witness consulting, as well
as appraisals, valuations or evaluations. Check out his credentials and references in
LinkedIn.
Dan Eisen, the former chief garment analyst for the National Cleaners Association,
offers independent garment analysis and provides consulting services to the industry on
drycleaning and wetcleaning. His book, “Professional Guide to Restoration on Fabrics,
Suedes and Leather,” is the only restoration manual that deals with restoring color and
camouflaging discolorations. He can be reached by phone at (772) 340-0909 or (772)
579-5044 or through his website, www.garmentanalysis.com.
offers independent garment analysis and provides consulting services to the industry on
drycleaning and wetcleaning. His book, “Professional Guide to Restoration on Fabrics,
Suedes and Leather,” is the only restoration manual that deals with restoring color and
camouflaging discolorations. He can be reached by phone at (772) 340-0909 or (772)
579-5044 or through his website, www.garmentanalysis.com.
Sandra Haralson strives to provide down-to-earth assistance and training to startups
and established operations alike. To learn more, visit the Sandra Haralson Drycleaning
Consulting web site.
and established operations alike. To learn more, visit the Sandra Haralson Drycleaning
Consulting web site.
James Peuster offers on-site training in all aspects of routes. He views management,
marketing and maintenance as key components in developing million-dollar routes. Visit
his Route Pro web site for more information.
marketing and maintenance as key components in developing million-dollar routes. Visit
his Route Pro web site for more information.
Bill Stork joined the family business in 1965 after finishing college and working as an
industrial engineer. He later worked in equipment sales, installation, technical
assistance, sales management and plant design. He applies his 40 years of experience
to help with planning, layout, construction and training through his company, Dry Clean
Design.
industrial engineer. He later worked in equipment sales, installation, technical
assistance, sales management and plant design. He applies his 40 years of experience
to help with planning, layout, construction and training through his company, Dry Clean
Design.
Jane Zellers is consultant, lecturer and former owner of drycleaning establishments
who comes from a three-generation drycleaning family. She has been involved in the
laundry and drycleaning industry all of her life. She offers her services through JCZ
Consulting.
who comes from a three-generation drycleaning family. She has been involved in the
laundry and drycleaning industry all of her life. She offers her services through JCZ
Consulting.
Courses and Seminars
A variety of courses are offered through several industry trade associations. To
see
current offerings, visit the association’s web sites. Courses and seminars are also listed
in National Clothesline’s Dateline section.
current offerings, visit the association’s web sites. Courses and seminars are also listed
in National Clothesline’s Dateline section.
The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute has scheduled courses at its School of Drycleaning
Technology in Laurel, Maryland. DLI also offers compliance tools, educational videos,
self-study courses and other useful materials through its products and services catalog.
Technology in Laurel, Maryland. DLI also offers compliance tools, educational videos,
self-study courses and other useful materials through its products and services catalog.
The National Cleaners Association has courses throughout the year at its New York
School of Drycleaning in New York City.
School of Drycleaning in New York City.
Other trade associations offer courses and seminars on an irregular basis. Check
the
associations’ web sites for information.
associations’ web sites for information.
Books and DVDs
Books by Dan Eisen: Dan Eisen, long-time National Clothesline columnist and former chief
garment analyst of the Natrional Cleaners Association, has distilled his decades of
experience into two books, "The Art of Spotting" and "The Art of Wet Cleaning;" He
recently released a manual that covers techniques for restoration geared specifically to
drycleaners. The manual, including including full telephone assistance plus handling and
shipping, sells for $105. For ordering or more information, contact Eisen at 274 NW
Toscane Trail, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34986; phone (772) 340-0909; cell (772) 579-
5044; or by e-mail, cleandan@comcast.net.
garment analyst of the Natrional Cleaners Association, has distilled his decades of
experience into two books, "The Art of Spotting" and "The Art of Wet Cleaning;" He
recently released a manual that covers techniques for restoration geared specifically to
drycleaners. The manual, including including full telephone assistance plus handling and
shipping, sells for $105. For ordering or more information, contact Eisen at 274 NW
Toscane Trail, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34986; phone (772) 340-0909; cell (772) 579-
5044; or by e-mail, cleandan@comcast.net.
Master Drycleaners Notebook: Industry educator and consultant Everett Childers
produced the first edition of his Master Drycleaners Notebook more than 20 years ago
and has continued to revise and update it over the years. Now in its fifth edition, the
book has been translated into Spanish and includes chapters on fibers and fabrics,
drycleaning technology, stain removal chemicals and procedures, wetcleaning,
bleaching and finishing. The strengths and weaknesses of various cleaning solvents are
discussed along with tips for maximizing their cleaning performance.
produced the first edition of his Master Drycleaners Notebook more than 20 years ago
and has continued to revise and update it over the years. Now in its fifth edition, the
book has been translated into Spanish and includes chapters on fibers and fabrics,
drycleaning technology, stain removal chemicals and procedures, wetcleaning,
bleaching and finishing. The strengths and weaknesses of various cleaning solvents are
discussed along with tips for maximizing their cleaning performance.
Cleaners Supply offers a variety of books and video training aids by such noted industry
experts as Don Desrosiers, Sid Tuchman, James Peuster, Stan Caplan, Ann Hargrove
and Steve Boorstein. Visit their web site for details.
experts as Don Desrosiers, Sid Tuchman, James Peuster, Stan Caplan, Ann Hargrove
and Steve Boorstein. Visit their web site for details.
Publications
In addition to National Clothesline, there are several trade publications for
drycleaners and
launderers. These include:
launderers. These include:
American Drycleaner, based in Chicago, Illinois.
Cleaner & Launderer, based in Pasadena, California.
The Korean Cleaners Monthly, published in Korean, based in Englewoods Cliff, New Jersey.
Fabricare Canada, based in Canada.
Laundry and Cleaning News, based in the United Kingdom.
Laundry & Cleaning Today, based in the United Kingdom.
National Drycleaner and Launderer, based in Australia.
Government Information
Here are few key links to sources for information concerning government
regulations related
to the drycleaning industry.
to the drycleaning industry.
The Federal Trade Commission is responsible for developing and enforcing the Care Label
Rule. The FTC also maintains a database of garment makers to assist in looking up the
Registered Identification Number (RN) of any garmnent.
Rule. The FTC also maintains a database of garment makers to assist in looking up the
Registered Identification Number (RN) of any garmnent.
The Environmental Protection Agency enforces the Clean Air Act among other regulations
that affect drycleaners. The EPA has published compliance information for drycleaners.
EPA sponsored the Design for the Environment Garment and Textile Care Program and
published a document of its findings in 1998. EPA also funds the State Coalition for the
Remediation of Drycleaners (SCRD) tracks clean-up legislation and programs
throughout the United States.
that affect drycleaners. The EPA has published compliance information for drycleaners.
EPA sponsored the Design for the Environment Garment and Textile Care Program and
published a document of its findings in 1998. EPA also funds the State Coalition for the
Remediation of Drycleaners (SCRD) tracks clean-up legislation and programs
throughout the United States.
The Small Business Environmental Page helps small businesses access environmental and
pollution compliance information.
pollution compliance information.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Who has been inspected? What violations
were found? What penalties were issued? You can look it up on this page at OSHA’s web
site. (Use SIC Code 7216 to look up drycleaning plant inspections.)
were found? What penalties were issued? You can look it up on this page at OSHA’s web
site. (Use SIC Code 7216 to look up drycleaning plant inspections.)
US Congress. Tracking a bill in Congress? Thomas Legislative Information on the Net is the
place to go.
place to go.
OCTOBER 2020
