Laundry Facilities & Dry Cleaning Services Industry Trends

Technology

Larger laundromat operators use computer-tracking to monitor and control cash shrinkage, detect theft, and monitor machine use and performance. Some new cleaners are focusing on new cleaning technologies, like environmentally sensitive equipment, and some are concentrating on technology that improves logistics and efficiency. Laundromat operators are installing machines that accept bank and university debit cards and "smart" cards, to reduce vandalism, improve security, store data, and allow modest price increases. Streamlined truck routes are calculated using special logistics software.

Declining Perc Use

The International Fabricare Institute (IFI) reports that the industry has reduced its consumption of perc by around 70 percent over the last 10 years. Factors contributing to the reduction include more efficient equipment, improved work practices, and alternative dry cleaning technologies.

State Cleanup Programs

Several states have tried to address the problem of dry cleaning site contamination through a state-mandated dry cleaning site remediation program. In these programs, dry cleaners agree to pay into a cleanup fund and, in some cases, employ certain equipment and operational requirements in exchange for receiving relief if an environmental cleanup of their site is needed. In Florida, cleaners pay a surcharge of $5 per gallon on perc and a 2 percent gross receipts tax. The average payment per Florida cleaner to the fund is $5,138, according to the State Coalition for Dry Cleaner Remediation.

Environmentally Friendly Techniques

About 6,000 dry cleaning establishments today use alternatives to perc dry cleaning, such as petroleum-based solvents, liquid carbon dioxide, and water-based cleaning. The industry's main concern is that the machines for these methods are very expensive, costing from about $28,000 for a professional wet cleaning machine to about $125,000 for a carbon-dioxide cleaning machine.

Internet Laundry Services

To date, traditional dry cleaners have remained unfazed by Internet laundry services, saying that customers want personalized service from a shop they know and trust. As Internet laundry services become more accountable and more convenient, the potential for market share seems certain.