LAUREL, Md. — The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) has recently launched “Find a Service Pro,” a new online maintenance and repair directory. The directory, DLI says, will help drycleaning and laundry business owners and managers find technicians and firms to service the specialized equipment used in professional garment care operations. 

“When your machines stop working, you can't make money,” says Jon Meijer, DLI director of membership. “Members expressed difficulty in finding maintenance and repair technicians to keep their machines running. To address this need, DLI is building the ‘Find a Service Pro’ database. This page on our website lists repair experts who can keep drycleaning and laundry business owners’ equipment running smoothly. Ultimately, this will help cleaners serve their customers better.”

“Unlike many industries where technicians specialize in a single discipline, drycleaning and laundry equipment often requires a combination of skills, including electrical, plumbing, steam, pneumatic, mechanical and equipment-specific knowledge,” DLI says in its announcement. “As a result, cleaners frequently struggle to find service providers who understand the full range of systems used in a drycleaning plant.”

The directory, DLI says, includes but is not limited to cleaning equipment, boilers, presses, stain removal boards, steam piping, pneumatic systems and other equipment essential to plant operations. “By creating a central resource for this critical information,” the organization says in its announcement, “DLI aims to reduce downtime, support cleaning plant operations and help cleaners maintain the equipment they rely on every day.”

The list is available in the Members Only section of DLIonline.org. The directory will continue to expand as DLI identifies additional technicians and service firms. Maintenance and repair professionals who would like to be included may complete the form at DLIonline.org/ServicePros.