The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute—the international trade association of drycleaners & launderers—promotes the professional and environmentally safe operation of drycleaning establishments by formally recognizing individuals who fulfill a predetermined set of requirements. Successful candidates earn the right to use the title Certified Professional Drycleaner, Certified Professional Wetcleaner, Certified Environmental Drycleaner, and Certified Garment Care Professional.
What is a certified drycleaner?
To become certified, an individual must pass a stringent examination. The drycleaner is tested on various topics including drycleaning and wetcleaning processes, stain removal, pressing procedures, fibers, fabrics, customer service, environmental regulations, proper waste handling, occupational safety and health, safe operations of drycleaning equipment, and other Federal regulatory requirements. All certifications must be renewed every three years.
Why DLI Believes In Certification
DLI’s certification program is designed to benefit cleaners, their customers, and their communities. This program focuses on drycleaners’ awareness of various professional issues including business management, customer service and environmental laws and regulations as they pertain to the drycleaning industry. Like many businesses today, the drycleaning industry is working hard to continually enhance the public’s image of the drycleaning industry. This, of course, requires cleaners to fully understand the criteria needed to provide professional, safe, quality service to the public. One method of testing an individual’s overall knowledge and experience regarding the professional and safe operation of a cleaning establishment is through certification by passing a standard examination.
What Does Environmental Certification Mean To The Consumer?
DLI believes certification benefits everyone. Most importantly, we believe that certification helps to enhance the image of the drycleaning industry. Individuals who pass the certification examination must have demonstrated a level of knowledge and expertise in critical area regarding the fabric care cleaning industry. Certified cleaners must also adhere to a set of professional standards developed by drycleaners that recognize certain responsibilities basic to the ethical conduct of their business.
The drycleaner who has earned the certification designation has made a commitment to the consumer by keeping abreast of the constantly changing technology, rules and regulations. We believe that one of the primary keys to promoting a professional and safe drycleaning operation is to first understand what professional, safe operation is. Certification helps to legitimize this process by professionally testing one’s knowledge and skills. Certification is also a method used by many organizations to help maintain and increase consumer confidence in an industry. Since the drycleaning industry’s continued success depends upon the trust of the public it serves, certification becomes extremely important.
What Can You Expect From A Certified Environmental Drycleaner?
- Proven knowledge regarding business management, customer service, fabrics, stain removal, environmental regulations, proper waste handling, occupational safety and health, the safe operation of drycleaning equipment, and other Federal regulatory requirements.
- Adherence to the “Professional Standards of Certified Drycleaners”.
- An awareness of the professional and safe operation of drycleaning establishments.