NAPLES, FLORIDA, February 6, 2006 – At an annual awards ceremony recognizing the best dry cleaners in the country, Rey’s Cleaners of Miami, Florida was selected as one of America’s Best Cleaners for 2005.
America’s Best Cleaners (ABC) is a national organization that strives to locate and recognize the best dry-cleaning establishments in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. Only 27 cleaners were selected in 2005.
Selection is contingent upon adherence to strict criteria. The certification is valid for one year, whereby the cleaners are re-tested annually for compliance with standards, including quality and customer service. ABC has recently expanded into World’s Best Cleaners (WBC), which acts as both liaison and expert for third party interests, from the high-end garment industry to the Wall Street Journal.
“We are deeply honored to be recognized as one of America’s Best Cleaners,” said Angel Suarez of Rey’s Cleaners. “We’ve always strived to be at the forefront of our industry, continuously learning and reinventing the process, and so we’re very proud that our work ethic has been validated by the industry.”
Criteria for selection are now based on standards determined in conjunction with the Hohenstein Institutes, which has partnerships from Hugo Boss to the Taiwanese Textile Research Institute, and is accredited under ISO 17025. Prospective selections are site-inspected by certified WBC representatives to determine if minimum requirements of cleanliness, machinery equipment, stain removal and finishing quality are met. Coupled with monthly fabric tests to evaluate chemical usage, it is the most stringent certification in the dry cleaning industry.
Founder and Executive Director of America’s Best Cleaners Ed D’Elicio commended Rey’s Cleaners on its state-of-the-art facility, and stressed the importance of such attributes in the selection process, an essential component in sustaining ABC’s relationship with the fashion and garment industry, which has taken notice of the accreditation organization’s ability to act as a liaison between high-end clothiers, cleaners and clients.
“The analogy to the automobile industry is not altogether inappropriate,” said D’Elicio. “Just as Mercedes recommends that authorized dealerships service their products, the manufacturers of $3000 suits want to offer their clients the same level of security and convenience when it comes to care and maintenance. Our recognition provides that security, and our international network provides that convenience.”