Austin Cleaners

Austin Cleaners

Written by Darcie Duttweiler Friday, 23 May 2008

After running a restaurant in the Prime Outlet mall in San Marcos for a year, Adam Dartez decided he wanted to pursue his entrepreneurial options in Austin and teamed up with his high school friend, Jeff Judy.

Judy, who was then finishing his Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University after running his family’s flooring business in Houston for a couple of years, jumped at the chance to work with his old soccer buddy.

“When we were looking at business ideas together in Austin, we wanted something that wasn’t high tech,” Judy said. “We wanted to take an existing business and make it different.”

In the 1998 McNeil High School graduates’ quest for a unique approach to an existing business, they began researching green dry cleaning methods and knew it was what they were looking for.

According to Dartez, 75 to 85 percent of dry cleaners nationwide use a solvent known as perchloroethylene, or perc for short, which is a highly abrasive solvent that has been linked to cancer in clients and in employees. “We wanted to do something healthier for our employees, customers and the environment,” Judy said. “Austin is a very green city, and the technology is out there.”

Austin Cleaners opened its doors in March 2007 in the budding San Felipe Market retail center at the McNeil Road and US 183 intersection, and uses a hydrocarbon solvent instead of the harmful perc solvent. The hydrocarbon solvent has a longer cleaning cycle, which is why most dry cleaners prefer to use the more aggressive perc. The hydrocarbon solvent can also be reused instead of being dumped into the environment. “We’d rather use a longer cycle and gain environmental and health benefits,” said Dartez.

In addition to earth-friendly solvents, Austin Cleaners also recycles hangers and bags from previous dry cleaning, even from their competitors. While being environmentally conscious is a concern, their focus is pleasing their customers. “A good customer visit is our main priority,” Judy said.

With their goal of providing the best service to their clientele, Austin Cleaners also offers wedding dress preservation, which includes pickup, pre-spotting, washing and pressing, storage in an acid-free box and delivery, ensuring the bride’s gown will look as “perfect as the day she wore it.” “We provide very personal attention for something that holds extreme sentimental value,” Judy said.

With dry cleaning being a convenience-oriented business, Dartez and Judy wondered what could put their cleaners on the top. Their solution was that an office staff can bring their dry cleaning needs to work, and Austin Cleaners will pick up, clean, and deliver without the slightest inconvenience to their patrons. And without a whole office driving to the dry cleaners, the environment is still being protected. “We want to be the best in service, quality and for the environment,” Dartez said.

Going green doesn’t have to break the bank.

• Dry Clean
  • Dress Shirt: $4.50
  • Pants: $4.50
  • Skirt: $4.99
  • Dress: $6.99
  • Two-Piece Suit: $8.99
  • Three-Piece Suit: $10.99

Austin Cleaners, 7318 McNeil Road Ste. 104, 219-6959