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School Of ‘Sock’: Classes Return in 2018

DLI drycleaning technology courses start soon

LAUREL, Md. — Ninety years young, the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute’s (DLI) School of Drycleaning Technology released plans for seven new resident course sessions in 2018, it reports.

In 2018, DLI’s school will offer three complete General Drycleaning courses (a combination of the Introduction to Drycleaning and Advanced Drycleaning), as follows:

  • Introduction to Drycleaning, Feb. 26-March 2 and Advanced Drycleaning, March 5-16.

  • Introduction to Drycleaning, July 16-20 and Advanced Drycleaning, July 23-Aug. 3.

  • Introduction to Drycleaning, Oct. 15-19 and Advanced Drycleaning, Oct. 22-Nov. 2.

Due to popular demand, an additional stand-alone Introduction to Drycleaning course will be offered in June 4-8.

“The Introduction to Drycleaning course is ideal for individuals who are new to the industry or have accrued less than one year of production experience,” DLI notes.

Some of the topics the Intro class 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);

  • How to press pants, coats and skirts; and,

  • How to use tensioning equipment to improve finishing quality.

The cost for the Introduction to Drycleaning course, it states, is $1,095 for DLI members (or $959 each for two or more from the same plant); and $1,449 for non-members. In all classes offered, DLI Premier members may send two students free each year and DLI Silver and Gold members receive discounts, it indicates.

“The ten-day Advanced Drycleaning course is tailored for those who have finished the introductory course or who have hands-on production experience and knowledge of basic stain removal and finishing techniques,” DLI says.

Topics include:

  • Designing a cleaning plant with the most effective work flow;

  • Pressing laundered shirts;

  • Understanding the differences between solvents including perc, GreenEarth, hydrocarbon and Solvon K4;

  • Getting clean, white laundry;

  • Cleaning and preserving wedding gowns;

  • Current regulations facing the industry;

  • Customer service techniques for cleaners; and,

  • Using bleaches without damaging fabric color.

DLI writes that tuition for the advanced course is $1,549 for members ($1,349 each for two or more from the same plant) and $2,049 for all others.

“Those who opt to take the introductory and advanced class together can enjoy a reduced overall cost of $1,895 for members ($1,595 each for two or more from the same member plant) and $2,795 for non-members,” DLI adds.

All courses are conducted at DLI’s Laurel, Md. facility, and run Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute’s (DLI) courses teach different Intro and Advanced levels of cleaning skill to students like Kara Hackenberg, a recent graduate of both classes, who is employed today as a shirt press operator with Balfurd Cleaners in State College, Pa. (Photo: DLI)

Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].