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JANUARY 2025 NEWS

America’s Best Cleaners Partners with Retold Recycling in Support of the #NoLandfill Movement to Reduce Textile Waste

America’s Best Cleaners (ABC) announced a new and innovative partnership with Retold Recycling in support of the #NoLandFill movement to reduce textile waste and drive a more sustainable future for fashion. Launched on January 13, 2025, this collaboration will allow Retold to expand its impact by making recycling easier and more accessible through ABC’s wide network of affiliates.

The partnership between Retold and ABC is built on a shared mission: to tackle textile waste and keep it out of landfills. By combining their strengths, the two organizations are working toward a more sustainable future and are empowering consumers to make better, more eco-friendly choices.

Retold co-founder and CEO Amelia Trumble shared, “At Retold Recycling, our mission and vision for the future is #nolandfill. This is why we are so thrilled to partner with America’s Best Cleaners to be our launch partner selling Retold’s “3 Bags in a Box” in participating member’s dry cleanering stores. The nucleus for this collaboration came directly from Mark Cuban from our episode of Shark Tank when he decreed that Retold bags should be sold in dry cleaners nationwide! Thank you to ABC and your members for this step-change in educating consumers on the importance of recycling textiles and partnering with us to provide a convenient solution to divert clothing and textiles from landfills.”

As part of the collaboration, Retold is launching a new product—“Three Bags in a Box”—which contains three compostable Retold bags, neatly packaged in a giftable box. This product offers eco-conscious consumers a convenient way to recycle their textiles while also serving as a sustainable gifting option. ABC affiliates will offer Retold Recycling’s “Three Bags in a Box” product directly to their customers, increasing the availability and convenience of textile recycling.

Retold accepts a wide range of textiles, including clothing, shoes, accessories, and household items like towels and bedding. All their recycling processes occur within the United States, ensuring transparency and control over the ethical handling of materials.

America’s Best Cleaners Executive Director Chris White says, “Our partnership with Retold Recycling is an exciting opportunity for America’s Best Cleaners affiliates to take a bold step toward a truly circular textile economy. By working together and championing the #nolandfill commitment, we’re creating innovative solutions to extend the lifecycle of garments and reduce environmental impact. This collaboration underscores our dedication to sustainability and positions our affiliates as leaders in driving meaningful change in the textile care industry.”

About America’s Best Cleaners:
America’s Best Cleaners is a certification agency and an industry-leading team of consultants who assist owners, managers, and team members to realize their full potential while striving for continued personal and professional success. For more information on America’s Best Cleaners and its Affiliates, visit the webpage.

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DECEMBER 2024 NEWS

DLI School Offers 10 Complete Courses for 2025

Virtual Stain Removal Now Available in Spanish
Leadership & Customer Service Virtual Courses Added

In 2025, the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute will split its virtual stain removal course into two parts, Basic Stain Removal Techniques and Advanced Stain Removal Techniques. Each course is four days long, running online Tuesdays and Thursdays over two-week periods in May, June, and July.

DLI also introduces a new Spanish language Four-Day Basic Stain Removal virtual course this November. DLI plans to expand this course into an in-person offering in the future. “Members asked for a Spanish version of our Stain Removal course,” said Brian Johnson, DLI’s Director of Education and Analysis. “We are pleased to work with Gina Hernandez, a DLI member in California to offer this course.”

DLI members most frequently cited leadership and customer service as areas of concern on a recent survey. To meet this demand, DLI partnered with Jen Whitmarsh of Snappy Drycleaning and The Route Pros to offer two new virtual courses:

• Inspire & Influence: Leadership Virtual Course
• Service Superstars: Customer Service Representative Virtual Course

DLI continues offering its best-in-the-industry in-person courses at its training facility in Laurel, MD. DLI’s school equips managers and staff at all experience levels with the latest results-driven standards, empowering confident and efficient performance.

New Leadership & Customer Service Virtual Courses

DLI introduces two new two-day virtual courses to help managers and staff quickly develop crucial skills. Both courses will be instructed by Jennifer Whitmarsh with Snappy Dry Cleaning & The Route Pros.

Service Superstars: Customer Service Rep Course – July 29 & 31

Service Superstars is a high-energy virtual course designed to transform customer service professionals into exceptional brand ambassadors. This program focuses on building the skills and mindset needed to create unforgettable customer experiences, foster loyalty, and drive success. Participants will learn effective communication techniques, problem-solving strategies, and tools to handle challenging situations with confidence and grace. Seasoned professionals or industry newcomers will gain knowledge and techniques to exceed expectations, delight customers, and shine in every interaction.

Inspire & Influence: Leadership Course – September 9 & 11

Inspire & Influence is a virtual leadership course designed to empower individuals to become impactful leaders in today’s fast-paced world. This program focuses on mastering the art of inspiration, building trust, creating a dynamic culture, and fostering individual leadership to drive success in any team.

Through interactive sessions, real-world scenarios, and actionable strategies, participants will learn how to effectively communicate a company’s overall vision, motivate others, and create a lasting positive impact. Whitmarsh and DLI designed this course to equip emerging leaders and seasoned professionals with the tools to lead with confidence, authenticity, and purpose.

Mid-West Basic Stain Removal Techniques Hybrid Course

Building on the popularity of DLI’s 2023 and 2024 West Coast Stain Removal Courses, DLI offers a special hybrid edition of its Basic Stain Removal Techniques Course in 2025. The course covers three days of virtual learning and one day of on-site training at Sankosha’s Elk Grove facility in the Chicago area.

Hybrid Basic Stain Removal Techniques

Virtual: February 20, 25 & 27
On-Site: March 5

Virtual Stain Removal Simplification & Spanish Availability

This year DLI expands its Virtual Stain Removal course into two sections: Basic Stain Removal Techniques and Advanced Stain Removal Techniques. With four-days of virtual learning each, these courses help students digest the information more efficiently and focus on fundamentals and more involved stain removal processes.

DLI will offer the Basic Stain Removal Techniques Virtual course twice in English and one session of its new Advanced Stain Removal Techniques Virtual Course in 2025. In addition, DLI presents Basic Stain Removal Techniques in Spanish in 2025. Gina Hernandez with Ortega Cleaners, a DLI Professional Member in San Juan Capistrano, CA will serve as instructor for this course.

Basic Stain Removal Techniques Virtual Course

May 6, 8, 13 & 15 (English)
July 8, 10, 15 & 17 (English)
November 11, 13, 18 & 20 (Spanish)

Advanced Stain Removal Techniques Virtual Course

June 10, 13, 17 & 19

On-Site Courses

DLI continues to offer its signature traditional in-person One-Week Introduction to Drycleaning and Two-Week Advanced Drycleaning courses twice in 2025. These courses are designed to teach students drycleaning principles and procedures that maximize quality and efficiency.

DLI’s On-Site Introduction to Drycleaning and On-Site Advanced Drycleaning courses run consecutively over a three-week period. Students who combine both courses receive a discounted rate.

On-Site One-Week Introduction to Drycleaning Course

DLI’s On-Site Introduction to Drycleaning Course is suited for experienced individuals or those who are new to the industry. It will run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at DLI’s School of Drycleaning Technology in Laurel, MD.

Some of the topics the one-week course explores include:

• sorting loads for drycleaning
• drycleaning science
• fibers and their characteristics
• fabric construction
• cleaning silk, satin and other fabrics
• soil and cleaning theory
• operating a drycleaning machine
• stain removal chemistry and procedures including removing ink, coffee, grease and other stains from clothing
• pressing pants, coats and skirts
• using tensioning equipment to improve finishing quality
• and more.

Tuition for DLI’s One-Week On-Site Introduction to Drycleaning Course is $2,165 for non-members. DLI members receive discounts ranging from 60% off to absolutely free depending on membership level.

On-Site Two-Week Advanced Drycleaning Course

DLI’s On-Site Advanced Drycleaning Course runs immediately after the On-Site Introduction to Drycleaning course.

The ten-day course is suited for those who have finished the introductory course or who have hands-on production experience and knowledge of basic stain removal and finishing techniques.

Course topics include:

• designing a cleaning plant with the most effective work flow
• pressing laundered shirts
• understanding the differences between solvents including perc, GreenEarth and hydrocarbon
• getting clean, white laundry
• cleaning and preserving wedding gowns
• current regulations facing the industry
• customer service techniques for cleaners
• using bleaches without damaging fabric color
• and more.

Tuition for DLI’s On-Site Advanced Drycleaning Course is $2,665 for non-members. DLI members receive discounts ranging from 67% off to absolutely free depending on membership level.

Spring 2025

387^th One-Week Introduction to Drycleaning Course
March 24 – 28

387^th Two-Week Advanced Drycleaning Course
March 31 – April 11

Fall 2024

388^th On-Site Introduction to Drycleaning Course
October 6 – 10

388^th On-Site Advanced Drycleaning Course
October 13 – 24

On-Site Complete Drycleaning Course

Students taking DLI’s On-Site Introduction to Drycleaning and On-Site Advanced Drycleaning Courses together enjoy a reduced tuition rate of $2,965 per student for non-members. DLI members receive discounts ranging from 20% off to free depending on membership level.

Complete Course information is available at DLIonline.org/Education

For more information or to register for any of DLI’s courses, contact DLI at (800) 638-2627 or visit www.DLIonline.org.

Thinking of attending? The Tom Kimmel Canadian Scholarship applies to any DLI class. Check the details on our Scholarship Page.

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EPA bans Perc, TCE in final ruling

WASHINGTON – Today, Dec. 9, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the latest risk management rules for trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) under the bipartisan 2016 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) amendments, marking another major milestone for chemical safety after decades of inadequate protections and serious delays. These protections align with President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot, a whole-of-government approach to end cancer as we know it.

TCE is an extremely toxic chemical known to cause liver cancer, kidney cancer, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. TCE also causes damage to the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, immune system, reproductive organs, and fetal heart defects. These risks are present even at very small concentrations. Under today’s rule, all uses of TCE will be banned over time (with the vast majority of identified risks eliminated within one year), and safer alternatives are readily available for the majority of uses.

PCE is known to cause liver, kidney, brain and testicular cancer, as well as damage to the kidney, liver and immune system, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. Today’s final rule will better protect people from these risks by banning manufacture, processing and distribution in commerce of PCE for all consumer uses and many commercial uses, while allowing some workplace uses to continue only where robust workplace controls can be implemented.

“It’s simply unacceptable to continue to allow cancer-causing chemicals to be used for things like glue, dry cleaning or stain removers when safer alternatives exist,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “These rules are grounded in the best-available science that demonstrates the harmful impacts of PCE and TCE. EPA continues to deliver on actions that protect people, including workers and children, under the nation’s premier bipartisan chemical safety law.”

PCE and TCE are both nonflammable chlorinated solvents that are volatile organic compounds. PCE can biodegrade into TCE, and PCE may contain trace amounts of TCE as an impurity or a contaminant. The chemicals can often serve as alternatives for each other. For several uses of TCE that will be totally prohibited, there is an analogous use of PCE that can continue safely in perpetuity under workplace controls. Some examples of uses that will be prohibited under the TCE rule, but will continue under the PCE rule include: industrial and commercial use as an energized electrical cleaner, in laboratory use for asphalt testing and recovery, use to make refrigerants and other chemicals, and for vapor degreasing. 

“Over 40 years ago, a mother named Anne Anderson from Woburn, Massachusetts, approached me and started a crusade to keep any more children like Jimmy Anderson, her son, from dying from cancer caused by toxic chemicals. Anne’s work directly led to this announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency that I am overjoyed to celebrate today alongside her and every community that stands to benefit—a finalized ban on trichloroethylene and most uses of perchloroethylene, two chemicals that cause cancer, affect reproductive systems, are neurotoxic, and compromise immune systems,” said Senator Ed Markey (D-MA). “Despite their dangers, these chemicals could still be found in industries like dry cleaning, automotive repair and manufacturing. With no doubt that these chemicals are deadly, there is no doubt that this final rule will save lives—especially our children’s lives—around the country.”

“The Camp Lejeune contaminated drinking water issue has dragged on over the better part of forty years ever since TCE, PCE and other organic solvents were first documented in the base’s drinking water supply in October 1980,” said Jerry M. Ensminger, Retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant. “My daughter, Janey, was conceived aboard Camp Lejeune during the drinking water contamination and died of leukemia in 1985, at the age of nine. I first began my fight for justice in 1997, and was later joined by Mike Partain in 2007, who was also conceived aboard the base and diagnosed with male breast cancer at the age of 39. Mike and I welcome this ban on TCE by the EPA and this is proof that our fight for justice at Camp Lejeune was not in vain.” 

Trichloroethylene

TCE is used as a solvent in consumer and commercial products such as cleaning and furniture care products, degreasers, brake cleaners, sealants, lubricants, adhesives, paints and coatings, arts and crafts spray coatings, and is also used in the manufacture of some refrigerants. Safer alternatives are readily available for the majority of these uses.

EPA is finalizing its prohibition on all uses of TCE, most of which will be prohibited within one year, including TCE manufacture and processing for most commercial and all consumer products. This will protect most people who are likely to be exposed to TCE from uses covered by TSCA, including all consumers and workers in many sectors and many communities.

A limited number of uses in the workplace will be phased out over a longer period. Those uses will only continue with required stringent worker protections in place. All TCE uses with longer phaseout timeframes will have worker safety requirements, such as a Workplace Chemical Protection Plan that includes an inhalation exposure limit. The final rule sets a different inhalation exposure limit for airborne TCE than was proposed. This change was made in response to public comments to ensure the limit is feasible to implement and monitor while still reducing risk. EPA estimates that the new inhalation exposure limit would reduce long-term workplace exposure by 97%.

Many of the TCE uses that are continuing for longer than one year occur in highly industrialized settings that can adopt EPA’s new stringent worker protections, such as uses of TCE to clean parts used in aircraft and medical devices, to manufacture battery separators, to manufacture refrigerants, as well as in other transportation, security and defense systems.

For the use of TCE in manufacturing refrigerants, the longer timeframe supports fighting climate change by complementing efforts to phase down climate-damaging hydrofluorocarbons under the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing Act.

All of these uses ultimately will be prohibited, but some of the exemptions associated with longer timeframes are necessary to avoid impacts to national security or critical infrastructure. In addition, some of the timeframes have been adjusted from the proposed rule based on public comment to allow reasonable time for transitioning to alternatives.

Further, to support cleanup activities at sites of past TCE contamination (e.g., Superfund sites), EPA is allowing essential laboratory use and proper disposal of TCE wastewater to continue for 50 years provided worker protections are in place, including the inhalation exposure limit set by today’s rule.

Learn more about the TCE rule.

Perchloroethylene

PCE is a solvent that is widely used for consumer uses such as brake cleaners and adhesives, in commercial applications such as dry cleaning, and in many industrial settings. Safer alternatives are readily available for the majority of these uses.

EPA is finalizing a 10-year phaseout for the use of PCE in dry cleaning to eliminate the risk to people who work or spend considerable time at dry cleaning facilities. Use of PCE in newly acquired dry-cleaning machines will be prohibited after six months. Compliance dates for machines that are already owned will vary depending on the type of the dry-cleaning machine used, with older types of machines being phased out sooner than newer ones. Many dry cleaners have already begun this transition. This timeline is unchanged from the proposed rule.

EPA’s final risk management rule requires companies to rapidly phase down manufacturing, processing and distribution of PCE for all consumer use and many uses at industrial and commercial workplaces, most of which will be fully phased out in less than three years. For most of the uses of PCE that EPA is prohibiting, EPA’s analysis found that alternative products with similar costs and efficacy to PCE are reasonably available.

The rule also finalizes stringent, achievable controls for continuing uses under a Workplace Chemical Protection Program.  These rules generally occur in highly sophisticated workplaces that may be important to national security, aviation and other critical infrastructure, as well as uses that complement the agency’s efforts to combat the climate crisis. These uses include:

• Use in the production of other chemicals, including refrigerant chemicals that may complement efforts to phase down climate-damaging hydrofluorocarbons under the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing Act.
• Use in petrochemical manufacturing.
• Use in agricultural chemical manufacturing (originally proposed to be prohibited).
• Use for cold cleaning of tanker vessels (originally proposed to be prohibited).
• Use as maskant for chemical milling.
• Use as a vapor degreasing solvent.
• Use in adhesives and sealants.
• Use in energized electrical cleaning (originally proposed to be prohibited).
• Processing into formulation, mixture or reaction products.
• Import, recycling, disposal, processing by repackaging and domestic manufacturing of PCE.

In response to public comments on the proposed rule, most workplaces now have 30 months instead of 12 months to fully implement the Workplace Chemical Protection Program. EPA also revised several other aspects from the proposal to strengthen and clarify aspects of the Workplace Chemical Protection Program, including monitoring requirements. EPA also ensured the employees’ designated representatives, such as labor union representatives, have access to occupational exposure monitoring and records.
Learn more about the PCE rule.

Additional Information

As a follow-up to consultations with small businesses, EPA plans to release compliance guidance for the use of PCE in dry cleaning and energized electrical cleaning in the coming months, as well as for the TCE rule. President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget requested funding to support small business efforts to transition to TSCA-compliant practices and mitigate economic impacts. If implemented, these grants could be used to support small businesses like dry cleaners in their transition away from PCE.

EPA will host a public webinar to explain what is in the PCE final rule and how it will be implemented on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. EST. Registration is available on the Final Regulation of Perchloroethylene under TSCA webinar page.

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ABS Laundry Business Solutions Announces Leadership Transition

ABS Laundry Business Solutions, a part of Vitec Software Group, has announced a change in its leadership. Gerard van de Donk, the current Chief Executive Officer, will step down from his role effective January 1, 2025. Marien van Bezooijen has been appointed as the new CEO.

Gerard van de Donk, who became part of ABS in 1991, has played a pivotal role in guiding the company’s growth and accomplishing significant milestones over the years.

“It has been an honor to work with such a dedicated team and to see the company evolve. I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished,” says van de Donk. “This transition is part of a thoughtful and deliberate succession plan. I am confident that Marien van Bezooijen, with his extensive experience and vision, will guide ABS to continued success.”

Van Bezooijen, who serves as the Chief Commercial Officer at ABS, brings a wealth of expertise and a strong background developed through years of dedication within the industry and organization. He has been recognized for his alignment with the company’s values and long-term goals. Van Bezooijen is committed to advancing the work of delivering high standards of service and innovation that ABS is known for.

“We have a talented Management Team and dedicated employees, and I am thrilled to lead ABS as we work closely together to achieve our objectives.” says van Bezooijen. “Together, we will continue to innovate, embrace change to remain competitive and uphold the high level of quality that our customers expect. I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by Gerard and driving the company towards new heights.”

Gerard van de Donk will remain with the company as a Senior Advisor to ensure a smooth transition. He expresses his commitment to supporting the company’s mission and future endeavors.

“I look forward to watching ABS grow under Marien’s leadership,” he concludes.

About ABS

ABS Laundry Business Solutions, founded in 1987, specializes in providing innovative software solutions for the textile care and laundry industry. With over 750 installations worldwide and a dedicated team of 175 employees strategically located to provide local support, ABS delivers advanced technology, including its ABSSolute ERP software, to streamline laundry operations, boost efficiency, and enhance service quality. Serving a global client base, ABS offers tailored solutions for businesses of all sizes, from owner operated laundries to multinational organizations. As part of the Vitec Software Group, ABS benefits from the resources and expertise of the larger organization, ensuring continued industry leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.abslbs.com.

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