Drycleaning & Laundry Institute

Name

Drycleaning & Laundry Institute

Legal name

Drycleaning & Laundry Institute

Website

https://dlionline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Drycleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin-Operated) (812320), Industrial Launderers (812332)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Garment Dry Cleaning (Delicates, Bridal, Formalwear) (HSAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Uniform Laundry (Corporate/Facilities) (HSAJAEAE), Commercial / B2B Laundry Pickup & Delivery (SMBs, Gyms, Salons, Restaurants) (HSAJACAE)

Keywords

• Drycleaning trade association
• Laundry industry education
• Garment care certification
• Textile testing services
• Professional laundry training

Headquarters

HQ city

Laurel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: DLI generates primary revenue through tiered membership subscriptions (Budget $70/mo, Standard $104/mo, Premier $300/mo) providing access to education, technical support, marketing tools, networking, and savings programs.
2. Allied Trade Memberships: Revenue from equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers who join as Allied Trade members (DLI-only at $1,400/year or Joint Association Membership at $2,980/year).
3. Professional Certifications: Revenue from certification exams including Certified Environmental Cleaner (CED), Certified Professional Drycleaner (CPD), Certified Professional Wetcleaner (CPW), and Certified Garment Care Professional (CGCP).
4. Education and Training Courses: Revenue from in-person courses (Introduction to Drycleaning $1,395-$2,295, Advanced Drycleaning $1,895-$2,795), virtual courses ($349-$495), and self-study courses at various price points.
5. Social Media Content Service: Premium social media content service for drycleaning businesses offering professionally designed, custom branded posts and videos for a one-time investment of $1,200.
6. International Membership: Annual international membership for drycleaning operators outside the U.S. at $600 annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) is a nonprofit trade association serving the garment care industry. It provides member businesses with education, certification programs, technical and laboratory services, industry standards, advocacy, and networking resources for drycleaning and laundry operations.

Product overview

Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) is a trade association for garment care professionals offering a comprehensive suite of educational programs, technical resources, and membership services. The portfolio centers on the School of Drycleaning Technology providing in-person, virtual, and self-study courses, complemented by Professional Certifications (CED, CPD, CPW, CGCP), the International Textile Analysis Laboratory (ITAL) for garment analysis, the Encyclopedia of Drycleaning bulletin archive, On-Demand Webinar Library, and marketing tools. DLI operates a tiered membership model (Budget, Standard, Premier) and offers the Allied Trade Partnership Program connecting members with industry suppliers. Additional offerings include Fabricare Magazine, Award of Excellence, Hall of Fame Award, and networking opportunities through weekly Peer-to-Peer Meetings and the Find a Cleaner directory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• International Textile Analysis Laboratory (ITAL): Damaged garment testing division of DLI that analyzes damaged garments and determines responsibility for damage or failure to perform.
• School of Drycleaning Technology

Products and services

• DLI Membership Annual membership subscription for garment care businesses providing access to DLI resources, advocacy, training discounts, and industry networking.
• Certified Professional Drycleaner / Launderer (CPD/CLP) Certification

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $3,500 in gift certificates available to new members through Allied Trade Partnership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Cleaners Association (CCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional affiliate association serving professional cleaners in California. DLI members also receive free local association membership in select states including California.
• Heartland Fabricare Association (HFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes professional cleaners in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Joint Association Membership available through DLI.
• MidAtlantic Association of Cleaners (MAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes professional cleaners in Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Offers Maintenance Masterclass series co-hosted with DLI.
• North Carolina Association of Launderers and Cleaners (NCALC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes professional cleaners in North Carolina with regular meetings, education, and networking events.
• North East Fabricare Association (NEFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes professional cleaners in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Joint Association Membership available.
• South Eastern Fabricare Association (SEFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes professional cleaners in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Joint Association Membership available.
• Southwest Drycleaners Association (SDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes professional cleaners in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah. Joint Association Membership available.
• Canadian Fabricare Association (CFA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorServes professional cleaners in Canada. Canadian cleaners are directed to join through CFA for local representation.
• Drycleaning Institute of Australia (DIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes professional cleaners in Australia. DLI and DIA launched a new online training course collaboration in March 2025.
• American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLI CEO Mary Scalco serves as Chairperson of AATCC Research Committee RA43 (Professional Textile Care Test Methods). DLI's laboratory has supported AATCC initiatives by providing access to specialized equipment and solvents.
• Air World Pads and CoversminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied Trade Partner offering new and renewing DLI members 20% off any Air World product.
• Cleaner's SupplyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied Trade Partner offering new DLI members a $100 gift certificate.
• EnviroForensics & PolicyFindminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied Trade Partner offering free insurance archeology consultation ($200 value) and $500 off insurance archeology projects.
• Kreussler, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied Trade Partner offering new members a $200 scholarship credit for in-person courses at DLI's School of Drycleaning Technology.
• LaundryLuxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied Trade Partner offering 50% off list price on one washer or tumbler for new and renewing members.
• R.R. Street & Co. Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied Trade Partner offering $150 credit toward purchase of Street's, Adco, Laidlaw, Puritan and/or Flex products for new DLI members.
• Realstar, USAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied Trade Partner offering new members $200 parts credit on Realstar equipment.
• Renegade BrandsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied Trade Partner offering new members $200 credit on first order and a FREE Spot Treater Kit.
• The Route ProsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied Trade Partner offering new members a free 'Building Profitable Routes' book ($159 value) and a free 30-minute consultation.
• SMRT SystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied Trade Partner offering new members 12 months of SMRT Marketing with two months free (up to $2,390 value).
• Merchant Cost ConsultingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied Trade Partner offering free analysis of credit card processing statements and first month free for new and renewing members.
• NIE InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllied Trade Partner offering new members 6% off insurance and renewing members 6% off insurance.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TRSA (Textile Rental Services Association): TRSA is the US trade association for the linen, uniform, and industrial laundry rental industry, offering education, certification, advocacy, and networking. It is the closest direct peer to DLI given its similar association model serving commercial laundry operators, though focused on rental rather than drycleaning.
• Coin Laundry Association: CLA is the US trade association for self-service/coin-operated laundry owners and operators, providing education, advocacy, and vendor partnerships. It mirrors DLI's structure as a member-funded industry association but focuses on the coin-op segment rather than drycleaning.

Regional players

• Drycleaning Institute of Australia: DIA is Australia's national drycleaning trade association and a strategic partner of DLI, jointly launching an online training course in March 2025. It is comparable as a regional counterpart serving the same industry in a different geography.
• Canadian Fabricare Association: CFA is Canada's national fabricare trade association and a DLI channel partner that routes Canadian cleaners through its membership program. It parallels DLI's mission in a different national market and is a key international affiliate.
• National Association of Cleaners (UK): NACF is a UK trade body supporting drycleaners and launderers with training, advocacy, and member services. It mirrors DLI's association model for garment-care professionals in the British market.

Others

• AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists): AATCC is a standards and education organization for the textile industry whose RA43 Professional Textile Care Test Methods committee is chaired by DLI's CEO. It is comparable as a textile-focused association and a close collaborator, though broader than drycleaning.
• Clean Show (Hosted by Five Industry Associations): The Clean Show is North America's largest laundering and drycleaning exposition co-produced by allied associations (including DLI), serving as a key industry ecosystem event. It is comparable as the dominant shared industry platform that DLI leverages for member acquisition and engagement.

Broad incumbents

• ISSA (Cleaning Industry Association): ISSA is the leading worldwide trade association for the cleaning products and services industry, serving janitorial, commercial cleaning, and related segments. It is comparable as a much larger, broader incumbent association that overlaps with parts of DLI's supplier ecosystem.
• American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA): AHLA is a large US trade association providing education, certification (e.g., CSEA), advocacy, and member benefits to lodging operators. While not in drycleaning, it parallels DLI's membership-driven model of training, advocacy, and networking for a fragmented SMB industry.
• National Restaurant Association: The National Restaurant Association is a large US trade body offering ServSafe training, certification, advocacy, and networking to fragmented foodservice operators. It is thematically comparable to DLI as a tiered-membership association built on training/certification for a SMB-heavy industry.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/drylauninst
• Facebookfacebook.com/DryLaunInst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drylauninst
• Instagraminstagram.com/drylauninst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Drycleaning & Laundry Institute