Content about Special Features

WASHINGTON — When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted the final health assessment for tetrachloroethylene—also known as perchloroethylene, or perc—to its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database in February, it deemed the chemical to be a “likely human carcinogen.”

The assessment replaces the 1988 IRIS assessment for perc and for the first time includes a hazard characterization for cancer effects. The assessment underwent several levels of rigorous, independent peer review including: agency review, interagency review, public comment, and external peer review by the National Research Council, according to the EPA, and all major review comments were addressed.

The Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance says 70% of U.S. commercial dry cleaners use perc; EPA estimates the total number to be 27,000. So what does this development mean for the future of the industry’s preferred solvent?

TULSA, Okla. — Abundant landscaping surrounds the upscale, contemporary exterior of Yale’s new neighborhood drycleaning plant. A dry stacked stone tower standing 33 feet anchors the front. The building is finished with a massive L-shaped canopy, providing covered upfront parking and a double-lane carhop.

A bright, clean call office adorned with a brushed stainless steel wall and the blue-neon words “Convenience,” “Speed” and “Dependability” greets customers. The entire building has ceramic tile flooring, as well as energy-saving light fixtures.

Renzacci hydrocarbon drycleaning machines with Hoyt reclaimers ensure high-volume production. Workstations and equipment are arranged to eliminate unnecessary movement.

Other equipment includes a 48hp Parker boiler and hot water heater, Milnor washer-extractors, and finishing equipment from Forenta, Fuji Star and Unipress.

LONG GROVE, Ill. — Family-owned Zengeler Cleaners chose to build its new state-of-the-art plant, measuring 3,000 square feet, in a new retail development northwest of Chicago. President Tom Zengeler was drawn to the area by favorable demographics and the high-end nature of the shopping center.

A Union dry cleaning machine and Chiller Mfg. chiller, plus a Forenta spotting board, are in place in the cleaning room, which is sized for two cleaning machines and two chillers. Finishing includes a pants station and two utility stations, all featuring Unipress and Forenta machines.

The wash line features UniMac washers and a dryer, and the shirt laundry utilizes Unipress and Forenta equipment. Boiler room equipment is by Fulton, NATCO, Rema and Ingersoll Rand.

The plant is fully automated through SPOT software and Metalprogetti’s 24-hour kiosk service, assembly conveyor, automatic bagger and storage conveyor.

SAN DIEGO — Margaret’s Cleaners’ 22,000-square-foot plant, formerly an upholstery fabric outlet, was designed from the ground up for servicing couture garments and accessories. Work on the two-story structure began in summer 2009 and continues today.

“That’s who we are,” says Chuck Horst, president of the family-owned company and the plant’s designer. “We’re always making changes. I have two departments in a temporary home as we’re still getting the remainder of those departments set up. … The plant is 95% complete.”

Margaret’s services more than 150 fine retailers. It offers delivery throughout Southern California plus Las Vegas, and nationwide through CleanByMail.

THEY DO

Two professional photo studios are available to keep up with photography demands. One studio is used to document wedding gowns and other garments, before and after cleaning and restoration. The other is used exclusively for Margaret’s luxury wardrobe storage and archive service called Garde Robe.

CHICAGO — Runways in the world’s fashion capitals came alive for 2011’s fall season, as if to herald an end to recessionary reserve and embrace edgy elegance again.

Ultra-bright colors, extreme ruffles and riotous patterns starred in over-the-top productions featuring post-apocalyptic landscapes, manacled models and psychedelic toadstools. Only minutes elapsed between many of the designer duds’ debuts and the time they hit the streets, knocked off for the mass market under many more-affordable labels.

Some of the season’s styles—the classically tailored mid-century modern and menswear-inspired looks, for example—shouldn’t present professional dry cleaners with problems if they remember to read their care labels and steady their skill sets. But others may have the most seasoned operators at a loss for a cleaning strategy, or at risk for a claim.

And as the following four trends move from the runway to the mall, they have the potential to present the biggest challenges.

CHICAGO — Runways in the world’s fashion capitals came alive for 2011’s fall season, as if to herald an end to recessionary reserve and embrace edgy elegance again.

Ultra-bright colors, extreme ruffles and riotous patterns starred in over-the-top productions featuring post-apocalyptic landscapes, manacled models and psychedelic toadstools. Only minutes elapsed between many of the designer duds’ debuts and the time they hit the streets, knocked off for the mass market under many more-affordable labels.

Some of the season’s styles—the classically tailored mid-century modern and menswear-inspired looks, for example—shouldn’t present professional dry cleaners with problems if they remember to read their care labels and steady their skill sets. But others may have the most seasoned operators at a loss for a cleaning strategy, or at risk for a claim.

And as the following four trends move from the runway to the mall, they have the potential to present the biggest challenges.

CHICAGO — When promoting your business’ “green” practices, be mindful that the FTC Act gives the Federal Trade Commission the power to bring law enforcement actions against false or misleading marketing claims, including environmental or “green” marketing claims.

The FTC has issued the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (“Green Guides”) to prevent the false or misleading use of environmental terms in product or service advertising and marketing and to reduce consumer confusion.

From the FTC website, here is the Commission’s staff’s view of the law’s requirements:

Substantiation — All marketers making express or implied claims about the attributes of their product, package or service must have substantiation—a reasonable basis for their claims. When it comes to environmental claims, competent and reliable scientific evidence may be required.

CHICAGO — By any definition, Joe was a “success,” and so was his business, Success Co. Although Joe was a planner, after he died, his estate plan and business succession plan turned into an economic and tax tragedy—for son Sam, wife Mary and the rest of the family.

LAS VEGAS — Here are just a few of the options open to those hitting Glitter Gulch for Clean ’11 in June. It’s impossible to list everything, but this should give showgoers a taste of what lies beyond the show floor that can help blend business and pleasure.

CHICAGO — The Merit Awards in the 50th Annual Plant Design Awards went to six drycleaners from every corner of the country. The second and final part of this story details three of those winners: J. Carl Cleaners, Sunset Cleaners and Weldon Cleaners.

J. Carl Cleaners, Carrollton, Ga.

CHICAGO — The runners-up in the 50th Annual Plant Design Awards were a repurposed Sears Hardware store and an innovative “green” design that incorporates natural light.

Outstanding Reconstruction
Siena Dry Cleaners, Giddings, Texas

Michael and Amy Pryzborski’s new plant was once a Sears Hardware store, but the casual observer would never know it. Located on a major highway in an Austin suburb, the location was ideal, but the building needed an overhaul.