r/drycleaning

Over the years I've been operating my own laundry business and I have to say that there are just so many issues that only someone in this industry understands.

Some of the issues that are quite common for us include:

Clients' insistence on same-day delivery for everything

The ability to manage staff members' responsibility and training process

Delaying clothes due to machines malfunctioning

Dealing with challenging clients when it comes to stain removal

Proper tracking of orders on a busy day

Increasing costs of chemicals, electricity, and labor

Comparison with huge online laundry platforms among local clients

WhatsApp calling or messaging for order updates

Scaling up the business without losing quality

And what I realized is that every single laundry business faces all those problems but not even talks about them.

Thus, I would like to ask other dry cleaners or laundry business owners:

What issues do you face daily in your laundry business?

What consumes your time the most, causes most stress and impacts your profits?

Hi! Looking for a dry cleaner for my vintage wedding dress, it’s silk & has lace appliqué and pearl beading on the front. Need to take out some yellowing and press it to wear on my wedding day! Just need someone I can trust to handle the fabric and detailing with proper care and has experience. Looking for somewhere in Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Fernando Valley, or really anywhere within LA, OC, or IE counties. Thanks!

My firbimatic machine has 3 base tanks. I just cleaned tank 3... it was filthy. There was a small amount of solvent left at the bottom. It made cleaning really annoying.

I am about to clean tank 2, and looking in the glass, I see it has even more solvent in the bottom. Not enough that it would come flowing out when I open the glass, but more than I want to mop up with rags and sponges.

However, I am afraid of pumping that remaining solvent to the still, because it is mixed in with all of that sludge stuff that I just pulled out of tank 3. Is this a valid concern? Should I just pump it as dry as possible? Will the still be able to handle some sludge? I plan to clean the still after all 3 tanks are cleaned.

I brought in to my neighborhood dry cleaners 15 items recently and when I went to pick the clothes up, I was astounded the cost was $150. It's been awhile since I've used a dry cleaners, and yes, everything is more expensive, but what do you think of these prices: pants $12, jacket $15, button down shirts $7.50 and sweaters $11. Are these numbers in line with what you pay?

I had a fur blanket that I dropped off to a cleaners that advertised that they cleaned furs. After picking up my blanket, it was clear the pelt was ruined. The blanket was purchased 10+ years ago for roughly $3k, but the cleaners is only offering me $400 as compensation. Is this in line with industry standard?

I'm curating my laundry every week routine and I need help. I have a detergent and dryer sheets locked down, but I need help for that goes into the little tray: should I use a fabric softener, a rinse, or neither?

Hey guys, ive been in the industry since 2008. Im a route drivee, no plant or drop store

My growth has pretty much stopped? Not sure what to do on how to get bigger and long time customers

I appreciate your advice

Doing a deep clean on machines, pipes and other various equipment. Does anyone have recommendations for cleaning off built up dust that has been practically cemented by spray starch? Not sure if a rubbing alcohol mix would be best course of action. Trying not to use too much liquid, dusters and vacuum cannot lift sufficiently.