How Mr. M.H. Lee, a wetcleaning novice, operates his 100% wetcleaning store
Wetcleaning. There are few words that sparks more controversy among cleaners. It is a fact that there are many successful wetcleaners operating in USA. It is also a fact that there are many drycleaners who had a bad experience with wetcleaning. Red Bank Cleaners in Red Bank, NJ belongs to the latter. He had so much trouble wetcleaning for about one year that he almost bought a drycleaning machine. But he ended up buying a new wetcleaning system. Here is the story of Mr. Moohyun Lee.
Brother-in-law was a drycleaner
Mr. Lee came to America in 2001 after the 9-11. Like so many people in those days, he worked at a chicken processing factory for about a year. His brother-in-law was a drycleaner in New Jersey and it was at his place where Mr. Lee learned drycleaning
“The store was in Colts Neck and I probably have about 10 years of experience with drycleaning.”
The brother-in-law’s store did very well and Mr. Lee’s sister who operated a nail salon decided to help her husband.
“So, my wife ended up taking over my sister’s nail salon. The store did quite well and I was content with helping her. Then, a fellow church goer bought a large drycleaner and asked for my help. I worked at his store for some time and that made me want to open my own store.”
Mr. Lee had the money for a store but finding a good candidate wasn’t easy.
“I was looking for a store in the mid-500K but it was easier said than done. Advices from all the acquaintances did not help, either.”
By pure luck, a friend of a friend had a drycleaner. Its sales were in the 400K range before the pandemic but it is in the 300K. The offer was 500K including the building. Mr. Lee liked the deal. There was one problem, though. The store did 100% wetcleaning because the owner was a firm believer in wetcleaning.
Wetcleaning did not meet his expectation
Mr. Lee knew nothing about wetcleaning. He never knew there were stores with no drycleaning machine.
“The owner was very enthusiastic about wetclenaing but I wasn’t convinced. So, I learned it for about two months but I still wasn’t comfortable with it. The owner ended up suggesting getting a drycleaning machine instead.”
Most equipment in the plant was very old and Mr. Lee was planning to replace most of them anyway so getting a drycleaning machine was definitely up his alley. So, he took over the store.
But he discovered an unexpected bump on his path to a drycleaning machine. About 40% of the customers chose this store for wetcleaning. When “Under New Management” sign went up, a lot of customers started asking if the store would remain a wetcleaner. He was told a lot of them had a ‘skin condition’ and cannot wear clothes washed in a harsh solvent.
“So, I decided to stick with wetcleaning for one year. My brother-in-law’s store was only 20 minutes away and I ended up sending out a lot of clothes to him. Then, some customers started complaining about solvent odor.”
1 year in hell
Mr. Lee took over the store in January last year (2024). He decided to stick with wetcleaning for 1 year so that’s what he did. At least, he tried.
“It was so hard. So hard that my hemorrhoid came back. My eyes were blood-shot. Nose bleeding became a daily routine.”
The wetcleaning method he learned was to hang dry washed clothes. Clothes should be extracted so some water drops fall to the floor. His store is a narrow and long rectangular shape. When clothes are hung, you can’t really move around the store. So, he had to do washing after his pressers are gone for the day. Working late into the evening was his daily routine. The floor was always wet and there were many days when clothes did not dry properly. He ran 3 dehumidifiers but moisture from wet clothes was too much to handle.
“I was literally at the end of a rope and I decided that drycleaning is my only solution. I contacted a distributor and the only thing left was my signature on the contract.”
Then, he discovered another problem. The only way to bring in a drycleaning machine was through the side wall but there was a Post Office. It was unlikely that the Post Office would agree to knocking down it wall.
He also heard about a drycleaner in the neighboring town who had to go through a lengthy hearing process to install a new drycleaning machine.
He was definitely in a double bind.
AquaMax wetcleaning system
While Mr. Lee was held up with his drycleaning machine purchase, he was invited to a AquaMax wetcleaning system demonstration held for members of WetcleanerUSA.com.
“I knew right away that Mr. Lee has a very bad taste about wetcleaning,” said Mr. E.S. Kim, the CEO of EcoTech USA that developed the AquaMax system. “He definitely doubted our slogan; ‘Wetcleaning made easier than drycleaning.”
So, Mr. Kim gave Mr. Lee proprietary soaps (Silver & Gold) and conditioner developed for AquaMax system. He told him how to use them and to tumble dry washed clothes. No hang-drying.
“I could see the doubts in his eyes when he left but he ended up calling me in two days,” said Mr. Kim. “Just from the tone of his voice, I could tell why he called me.”
The result was night and day
“The difference was night and day,” said Mr. Lee. “When I used AquaMax soaps and conditioner, clothes felt different. I had a gas dryer but clothes came out perfectly. Since I don’t have to hang-dry any more, my work flow improved right away.”
“When I pulled out a suit jacket for the first time and put it on a hanger, it looked as if it was finished on a Suzie,” said Mr. Lee. “I kept looking to find a flaw. Any flaw. But after one week, I can’t help but agree with the slogan ‘wetcleaning made easier than drycleaning.”
“If you ask 10 different wetcleaning experts, you will get 10 different answers.” Said Mr. Kim. “I guess you can say there are many ways to wetclean clothes. AquaMax gives you ONE easy and safe solution.”
Mr. Lee said the only difference between AquaMax wetcleaning system and drycleaning is the extra step of pulling out washed clothes and putting them in the dryer. But he is now spending far less time at the spotting board. He can wash 6~10 loads a day but his work is done before 3pm.
“My pressers are paid a salary and they are very happy their work is finished sooner.”
Mr. Lee installed additional dryer (steam) so work flow is very fast no matter the work load. The 55lbs AquaMax wetcleaning system cost him less than 1/3 of his drycleaning machine so he intends to invest in more modern equipment.
“By any means, I am not a wetcleaning expert. But It’s OK. As long as I am this comfortable with 100% wetcleaning, who cares?”
Mr. Lee can be reached at (732) 219-1977 if you have any questions.
