This article was written by our expert who is surveying the dry cleaning industry and constantly updating the business plan for a dry cleaner.
Launching a dry cleaner in October 2025 requires clear weekly targets for garments, staffing, and equipment.
This guide answers the 12 most common questions with precise numbers you can use for planning your weekly operations. It reflects typical small urban facilities processing 200–300 garments per week and scales guidance when relevant.
If you want to dig deeper and learn more, you can download our business plan for a dry cleaner. Also, before launching, get all the profit, revenue, and cost breakdowns you need for complete clarity with our dry cleaner financial forecast.
A typical small dry cleaner handles 200–300 garments per week, with shirts as the largest category and a 2–3 day standard turnaround. Demand peaks on Mondays and Fridays, with additional spikes in winter for coats and outerwear.
About 70–80% of items require dry cleaning, 20–30% laundry/press-only, and 10–15% need special treatment. Efficient weekly operations usually need 2–4 staff, one dry cleaning machine, shirt units, pressing stations, and consistent restocking of solvents and consumables.
| Weekly metric | Typical range (small urban dry cleaner) | Notes you can apply |
|---|---|---|
| Total garments received | 200–300/week | Baseline to reach breakeven/modest profit |
| Top garment share | Shirts 35–40%; Trousers/skirts 20–25% | Adjust staffing around shirt finishing |
| Service mix | Dry clean 70–80%; Laundry/press 20–30% | Impacts solvent and detergent purchases |
| Special treatments | 10–15% of pieces | Allocate spotting time and chemicals |
| Turnaround time | 2–3 days standard | Longer for delicate/specialty items |
| Peak periods | Mon & Fri; 8–10 AM and 4–6 PM | Staff front counter and finishing accordingly |
| Core staffing | 2–4 employees | Front desk, cleaner/spotter, presser/finisher |
| Subscription share | 30–40% of weekly volume | Stabilizes weekly intake |
How many garments are typically received each week?
Most small dry cleaners receive 200–300 garments per week.
This weekly volume is a realistic starting objective for a new dry cleaning business aiming at breakeven or modest profit. In dense areas or with strong corporate accounts, volume can climb above 300 items; in suburban or newer sites, expect the lower end of the range at launch.
Set weekly intake targets and track them daily to spot shortfalls early and trigger promotional pushes. Pair targets with capacity checks so you do not create bottlenecks in spotting, pressing, or packaging.
Calibrate store hours and marketing to hit these weekly counts without eroding quality or turnaround promises.
You’ll find detailed market intake benchmarks and levers to grow volume in our dry cleaner business plan.
What is the average breakdown by garment type?
Expect shirts to dominate, followed by trousers/skirts, then suits, dresses, and coats.
Use the following weekly mix to plan staffing and machine cycles for a small urban dry cleaner. Adjust the ranges as you learn your neighborhood’s preferences and seasonality.
| Garment type | Share of weekly items | Operational implication |
|---|---|---|
| Shirts | 35–40% | Prioritize shirt unit capacity and finishing staff during peaks |
| Trousers & skirts | 20–25% | Steady pressing workload; check pleat and crease quality controls |
| Suits (jackets & sets) | 10–15% | Allocate careful inspection; separate solvent loads to protect fabrics |
| Dresses | 5–10% | Increase spotting diligence; delicate trims need lower agitation |
| Coats & outerwear | 5–10% (up to ~15% in winter) | Heavier cycles; ensure hanger strength and storage space |
| Specialty (gowns, couture, silks) | 1–3% | Senior spotter review; longer turnaround and premium pricing |
How does demand fluctuate between weekdays and weekends?
Demand is highest on Mondays and Fridays for most dry cleaners.
Customers drop off after the weekend and before the next week, creating two weekly spikes. Saturdays show moderate activity; Sundays are usually closed or very low volume in this sector.
Match staff schedules to these peaks to control queue times and maintain promised turnaround. Time your outbound SMS/email reminders to smooth pickups and avoid storage congestion.
Align your promotions to midweek to lift Tuesday–Thursday intake when machines are underutilized.
What seasonal variations change weekly garment volume?
Winter increases coat and heavy-garment share; warmer months lift lightweight items and linens.
The table below shows how the weekly garment mix typically shifts for a small dry cleaner and what to prepare operationally in each season.
| Season | Mix shift | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Coats/outerwear up to ~15%; more wool, sweaters | Stock stronger hangers and covers; plan heavier solvent cycles and drying times |
| Spring | More dresses/light layers; fewer heavy coats | Increase delicate-spotting chemicals; promote turnaround for events/graduations |
| Summer | Light fabrics, linens; shirts remain high | Watch shrinkage risks; manage perspiration stains; expand shirt finishing hours |
| Autumn | Transitional jackets; school/work wardrobe refresh | Run subscription reactivations; check storage capacity ahead of winter |
| Holidays | Party wear, specialty items increase | Extend lead times; premium pricing for delicate fabrics and embellishments |
| Rainy periods | Outerwear and stains from mud/splash | Boost spotting supplies; add drying racks; plan for odor removal cycles |
We cover season-by-season operations planning in the dry cleaner business plan.
What proportion requires dry cleaning vs. laundry/press-only?
Plan for 70–80% dry cleaning and 20–30% laundry or press-only.
Shirts drive much of the laundry/press share; suits, dresses, and many coats land in dry clean loads. Keep separate load programming for delicates and color protection.
This split should guide weekly purchasing of solvents, detergents, and pressing aids. Use item coding at intake to minimize misclassification and rework.
Track the mix weekly and adjust inventory reorders to avoid costly midweek shortages.
This is one of the strategies explained in our dry cleaner business plan.
How many garments need special treatment (stain removal or delicate handling)?
Expect 10–15% of weekly items to need special treatment.
This includes stain removal (wine, oil, makeup), odor treatment, delicate fabrics (silk, rayon), and beaded/embellished garments. Allocate a senior spotter’s time daily and document stain protocols for consistency.
Track special-treatment rates by day to forecast spotting chemicals and time. Build clear customer expectations and premium pricing for these items.
Pre-inspection at drop-off reduces disputes and improves customer satisfaction.
What is the weekly processing capacity?
A small facility typically processes 200–300 garments weekly; larger plants exceed 1,000.
Use the capacity table to scale equipment and staffing decisions as you grow in the dry cleaning business. Keep at least 15–20% buffer capacity for peaks and seasonal surges.
| Facility size | Weekly capacity | Notes for planning |
|---|---|---|
| Small storefront | 200–300 | One dry cleaning machine; shared shirt unit; limited storage |
| Medium plant | 400–700 | Two machines or longer shifts; more pressing stations |
| Large plant | 800–1,200+ | Multiple machines, automated conveyors, dedicated spotters |
| Mobile/locker add-on | +10–25% | Smooths intake across weekdays; plan for routing and bag inventory |
| Subscription-heavy mix | +15–30% | More predictable flow; use standing pickup days |
| Event-heavy zone | +10–20% (seasonal) | Proms, weddings, holidays; extend turnaround windows |
It’s a key part of what we outline in the dry cleaner business plan.
How many staff members are needed to handle the weekly load?
Most small dry cleaners run efficiently with 2–4 employees.
Typical roles are front desk/cashier, dry cleaning operator/spotter, and presser/finisher. Cross-train so you can cover peak windows and sick days without missing promised turnaround.
For 200–300 weekly items, schedule at least one experienced presser during morning and late-afternoon peaks. Add part-time help on Mondays and Fridays to control counter wait times.
Use daily dashboards (intake, WIP, due-outs) to allocate hours to where bottlenecks appear.
What turnaround time do customers expect?
Standard expectations are 2–3 days for most garments.
Delicates and specialty items may extend beyond 3 days due to spotting, gentle cycles, or hand finishing. Offer paid express (next-day) only when you have confirmed capacity and solvent cycle availability.
Communicate clear “due by” dates on receipts and SMS notifications. Under-promise and over-deliver to build retention and reviews.
Audit your on-time percentage weekly and adjust staffing where delays occur.
What are the peak hours or days for drop-offs and pickups?
- Mondays (8–10 AM, 4–6 PM): post-weekend drop-offs and weekday pickups
- Fridays (8–10 AM, 4–6 PM): pre-weekend drop-offs and event pickups
- Midweek (4–6 PM): commuter pickups increase, especially near transit
- Saturdays (morning): moderate, useful for households with weekday constraints
- Sundays: often closed or minimal trade; schedule deep-cleaning and maintenance
What percentage of weekly garments come from subscription/contract customers vs. walk-ins?
Expect 30–40% from subscriptions or contracts and 60–70% from walk-ins.
Corporate pickup points, apartment lockers, and hotel partners stabilize weekly demand. Build simple plans (e.g., 10 shirts/week) and discounted bundles that lock in repeat behavior.
Track contract health monthly; churn there hits your base volume quickly. Use loyalty points for walk-ins to migrate them into predictable cycles.
Forecast staffing and consumables off the contract calendar to reduce stockouts.
This is one of the many elements we break down in the dry cleaner business plan.
What equipment and supplies should be stocked weekly to avoid interruptions?
Keep a consistent weekly stock of solvents, detergents, spotting agents, packaging, and maintenance parts.
Use this operational checklist to size weekly orders for a small dry cleaner handling 200–300 items. Adjust the “Notes” column based on your service mix and season.
| Item | Typical weekly need (200–300 items) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dry cleaning solvent (e.g., alternatives to perc) | Monitor tank levels; top-up per machine spec | Check local regulations and filtration schedules |
| Laundry detergents & additives | 5–10 kg mixed detergents/boosters | Driven by shirt and linen share |
| Spotting agents (protein, tannin, grease) | Assortment kits; replenish 10–20% weekly | Correlate with 10–15% special-treatment rate |
| Pressing aids (starches, sizing, silicone) | As used; reorder at 30–40% threshold | Maintain pressing quality and speed |
| Consumables (hangers, bags, tags) | Hangers 250–350; poly bags 200–300; tags 300+ | Increase hangers in winter for coats |
| Filters, gaskets, pads, covers | Spare set on-hand; rotate weekly checks | Prevents downtime during peaks |
| PPE (gloves, masks) & cleaning supplies | Weekly restock to par levels | Meets safety standards and daily sanitation |
What are the common weekday vs. weekend patterns in numbers?
Plan staffing to cover two weekday spikes and a lighter Saturday.
While exact shares vary by neighborhood, a practical planning split for a small dry cleaner is below. Use it to set counter hours, pressing shifts, and pickup reminders.
| Day group | Share of weekly intake | Operational focus |
|---|---|---|
| Mondays | 20–25% | Extra intake staff and tagging; start spotting early |
| Tue–Thu | 35–40% combined | Maximize machine utilization; finish backlog |
| Fridays | 20–25% | Manage evening pickups; clear due-outs |
| Saturdays | 10–15% | Shorter shifts; prep for Monday surge |
| Sundays | 0–5% (often closed) | Maintenance, cleaning, inventory counts |
What is the clear intake-to-output workflow I should follow each week?
- Intake & tagging: verify stains, fabrics, trims; promise a realistic due date.
- Pre-spotting: apply correct chemistry (protein, tannin, solvent-borne).
- Load planning: separate by color, fabric, and soil; schedule cycles.
- Pressing & finishing: quality checks on seams, pleats, and buttons.
- Packaging & pickup: SMS alerts; stage orders by due date and route.
Get expert guidance and actionable steps inside our dry cleaner business plan.
Conclusion
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. We accept no liability for any actions taken based on the information provided.
Want to go further?
Explore practical, number-driven playbooks for launching and scaling your dry cleaning business. Learn how to price, staff, and plan capacity with real-world templates.
Sources
- DojoBusiness — Weekly garment benchmarks for dry cleaners
- Clotheslyne — Why many dry cleaners close on Sundays
- ByNext — Sunday closure patterns
- Admiral Cleaners — Turnaround expectations
- NIOSH — Dry cleaning occupational safety
- EPA — Dry cleaning solvent management
- Rinse — Opening hours overview
- LivePlan — Sample dry cleaning plan (UK)
- Wecasa — Dry cleaning timelines
- Modaknits — Garment categories overview
-Dry cleaner business plan: the complete template
-Dry cleaning business: profit margin explained
-How much space does a dry cleaner need?
-Tools that increase a dry cleaner’s revenue
-Dry cleaner investment guide
