Trends driving the dry-cleaning service industry

According to the Global Market Report 2022, the global dry cleaning and laundry services market is expected to grow from $104.23 billion in 2021 to $111.93 billion by 2022. The market is expected to reach $141.50 billion in 2026 at a CAGR  (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 6.0%.

Among other things, the report pointed out that the revival of the hospitality industry after the pandemic will have a positive effect on the market for dry cleaning and laundry services. The ever-increasing demands of tourists encourage hotels to introduce new business models where the rooms are available for multiple bookings on a single day. This in turn is expected to increase the number of times linen is changed in a hotel room on a daily basis, increasing the amount of linen to be washed after every change. This is expected to drive the demand for dry-cleaning and textile management services in the hospitality industry, where hotels prefer using professionals to optimize operations time and keep quality services.

Why leave it to professionals?

There are many facilities where you can handle your own laundry, for example in hotels, restaurants, hospitals or educational institutions. But maintaining your own laundry can raise many questions. The first such problematic point is the acquisition of machines. Washers and dryers suitable for commercial use can be very expensive and, in some cases, not even suitable to meet special needs. In addition, the design of the right place also presents challenges both in terms of the plumbing system and the required space. In addition to frequent use, ongoing maintenance and possible repair costs must also be taken into account on a permanent basis – as FMbusiness.hu sums up.

For this very reason, a quality laundry and dry-cleaning service may be the most obvious choice for many facility operators, which may also be more cost-effective overall. Many service providers already use applications to make it easier to coordinate pick-up and drop-off, and in addition to more traditional solutions, they also undertake additional tasks. Not only cleaning your own or leased textiles but also ironing and finishing (e.g. painting, sewing, etc.) can be included in the framework of the contracted company.

The great advantage of service providers is that they can meet the special needs of several different areas, whether it is hygienic washing for healthcare institutions, upholstery cleaning for hotels or chemical cleaning of work clothes.

The latest industry trends

In the future, cleaners will also have to keep up with customer demands, which is why they will have to expand their range of services. These may include tailoring, shoe repair, folding services or the more flexible, perhaps 24/7 pick-up option.

Digitization is also an unavoidable factor in this industry, which is why most cleaners and laundries will use apps that allow customers to track orders, view cleaning history and invoices, and schedule free delivery or pick-up. Of course, this does not mean that the physical location would be completely excluded, as it is expected that this will remain an important aspect due to comfort and speed.

And it is no question that, sustainability is becoming one of the most important aspects of the cleaning industry as well. It has already become clear that the wasteful and sometimes harmful dry-cleaning methods of the past just have to go. Companies that continue to adhere to these will not be able to compete with those representing more modern technology. Not only due to the more conscious choice of the tenants but also because of the new regulations, those businesses that pay special attention to the chemicals and resources used during cleaning, as well as water conservation and the proper disposal of waste, while providing quality and cost-effective service, gain a competitive advantage.

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