How and where to learn more 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.
The forum was founded in 1995 by Dave Spensley, a California drycleaner who is
now retired. Hal Horning, editor of National Clothesline, currently serve 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 or use one of the buttons below. If you are having trouble joining or need
help, e-mail the moderator at fabricare-owner@yahoogroups.com.
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.
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.
The National Cleaners Association has courses throughout the year at its New York School of Drycleaning in New
York City.
DLI and NCA also offer web-based seminars. See their web sites for scheduling.
The Southwest Drycleaners Association sponsors several offerings during the year at Texas Tech University in Lubbock,
Texas.
Other trade associations offer courses and seminars on an irregular basis. Check
the associations’ web sites for information.
Books and DVDs
Drycleaning 101: A basic all-purpose guide to the drycleaning industry. Covers plant layout,
equipment, drycleaning basics, wetcleaning, spotting and many other topics in
15 chapters and 124 pages.
Spotter’s Guide: Stain removal covered from A to Z by stain type. Printed on laminated heavy
gauge paper and spiral bound to so it can lay flat in the work space.
Both books are available through National Clothesline; $31.95 for Drycleaning
101 and $23.95 for the Spotter’s Guide. Phone orders with credit card payment to (215) 830-8467 or download this order form (pdf).
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.
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.
Leather cleaning. Courses, books and DVDs on leather cleaning are available from Tulsa,
Oklahoma-based Royaltone Co.
On-Line catalog: 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.
Publications
In addition to National Clothesline, there are several trade publications for
drycleaners and launderers. These include:
American Drycleaner, based in Chicago, Illinois.
Cleaner & Launder, based in Pasadena, California.
The Korean Cleaners Monthly, published in Korean, based in Englewoods Cliff, New
Jersey. No web site; contact (201) 871-2272.
The Drycleaners Times, published in Korean, based in College Point, New York; no
website. Contact dctimes@gmail.com.
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
Her are few key links of sources for information concerning government
regulations related 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.
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.
The Small Business Environmental Page helps small businesses access environmental and 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.)
US Congress. Tracking a bill in Congress? Thomas Legislative Information on the Net is the place to go.
