Community Involved Archives - Model Cleaners

Model is part of the solution.

Why is Model Cleaners an essential business?

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that garments and bedding must be cleaned at a temperature “above 167° F” in order to kill a virus. Home washers and dryers cannot exceed 135 degrees. Only professional cleaning will completely eliminate COVID-19 pathogens. At Model Cleaners, we use high-temperature steam (upwards of 300 degrees) as a standard part of our finishing process – effectively sterilizing without damaging your fabrics.

CoronaVirus

The CDC confirms that the coronavirus can remain active and contagious for hours to days on a variety of materials, including clothing. In addition to fabrics, the National Institute of Allergy and Infection Disease notes that COVID-19 remains active for extended periods of time on stainless steel, cardboard, and copper. These materials are often used for buttons, zippers, and other high touch components of garments.

So if you and your family are:

Still wearing clothing and outerwear
Occasionally going out to pick up supplies
Sleeping on sheets and under blankets every night
Starting your spring cleaning

Let Model Cleaners help you reduce the risk of virus transmission by sterilizing your garments and household items.

Model Cleaners offers a variety of services to keep the safety of our customers and employees a priority.

FREE home delivery service (click here to see if we are in your area)
24-hour drop boxes (Upper Saint Clair & Collier locations)
Cash-free Transactions
Drive-up Windows (Rostraver , Bethel Park & Greensburg locations)

As a family-owned and operated business since 1986, thank you for supporting us during this challenging time. We are proud to continue offering services aimed at keeping our community and customers safe.

In order to prevent the spread of communicable disease, effective August 17th, 2020, a $2 Model garment bag handling & sanitation charge will be applied for all Model garment bags picked up on our pick up and delivery routes. We will apply virus-killing disinfectant to all Model garment bags before it leaves our cleaning facility. This added cleaning measure on the garment bag will help keep our employees and customers safe.

For regularly updated information about steps Model Cleaners is taking to address COVID-19 concerns, please visit our COVID-19 message to customers, or contact our corporate office at 888-996-6335

What is Dry Cleaning

Customers always ask us, “What is Dry Cleaning?”

Many would be surprised to learn that drу сlеаnіng іѕ not actually a “dry” process. It’s a process in which dirt is removed with a liquid solvent other than water. The term “dry cleaning” was coined because water is not being used to clean the item.

GreenEarth Cleaning

Mоdеrn drу сlеаnіng has bееn аrоund fоr juѕt over 200 years. Model Clеаnеrѕ uses a numbеr of solvents to clean your clothes, but most recently, we have invested in GreenEarth Cleaning.

GreenEarth replaces the solvents used in conventional dry cleaning with pure liquid silicone, a clear and gentle solution that is environmentally non-toxic and non-polluting. It cleans clothes exceptionally well, without harsh chemicals so colors stay bright and fibers don’t wear. Another bonus? GreenEarth is odor free, so you won’t have to worry about that traditional “dry cleaning” smell when you pick up your clothes.

The First Inspection Process

When garments and/or household items are brought in to our stores, our customer service representatives meticulously inspect each piece. We look for stains, tears, missing/broken buttons, and more. When we see a problem, like a stain, we pin a tag to the garment to bring attention to the issue. If a customer has a special request, it is denoted the same way. If an item is badly stained, it can be pre-treated prior to dry cleaning. Click here to see our stain removal process first hand.

The Dry Cleaning Process

Our dry cleaning machines are similar to your washer and dryer at home, however, thеу аrе much lаrgеr, holding uр to 100 pounds! To reduce waste, these machines have filters thаt clean and recycle the liquid ѕоlvеnt many tіmеѕ. So, how actually cleaned?

Thе сlоthеѕ are рlасеd іn a perforated drum. Throughout the сlеаnіng cycle, the drum rоtаtеѕ while thе solvent wаѕhеѕ іn thrоugh the drum аnd аrоund the clothes. During this time, dirt is lifted and stains are removed. The fіnаl сусlеѕ spins thе garments tо expel аny rеmаіnіng solvent аnd thеn tumble drіеѕ thеm with wаrm аіr.

The Pressing Process

Immediately following cleaning, the clothes are pressed. Depending on the garment, it is either hand pressed, re-shaped with a body form, or steamed. For example, a delicate silk blouse would be steamed, whereas a standard pair of cotton pants would be hand pressed.

The Final Inspection Process

After garments are pressed, they are sent to Final Inspection. Here, the clothes are given a once-over. Similar to the First Inspection, we check for any remaining stains, pressing quality, etc. If a stain was not fully removed during cleaning, we will directly treat the stain again with a stronger solvent in hopes to fully remove it.

Though we try our best, it’s important to note that some stains just can’t be removed. Watermarks, caramelization stains from sugar-based substances, bleach spots, and old, set-in stains are very difficult and sometimes impossible, to remove. Therefore, when you do have a stain on an item, it’s important that you bring it in as soon as possible. If a stain is fresh, there is a much better chance we can remove it.

Want To Learn More?

Model Cleaners has been ranked among Wеѕtеrn PA and Morgantown, WV’s most trusted dry cleaners. Try us out today to discover why. Stop into any of our convenient locations or join our FREE pickup & delivery service. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

We Are Expanding.

The Largest Dry Cleaner in Western, PA Just Got Bigger.

Model Cleaners is very excited to announce that Ruby’s Cleaners of the North Hills has merged with the Region’s Largest Award-Winning, Family Owned and Operated Master-Drycleaner, Model Cleaners. Ruby’s Cleaners stores are in Allison Park, Babcock, Middle Road, Seven Fields, Franklin Park, Treesdale, Ingomar, and Oakmont.

These locations will be converting to Model Cleaners locations over the course of the year. This means our footprint just got larger and we will be able to service more areas than ever before. This will also give Model Cleaners 20 total locations throughout the greater Pittsburgh area to better serve our community.

What does acquiring Ruby’s Cleaners mean?

President of Model Cleaners, Dan LaCarte states that “Acquiring Ruby’s Cleaners, is a great addition to the Model Family of stores. We are excited about giving the customers of Ruby’s Cleaners added time-saving services that we offer at Model Cleaners. Most specifically, our Free Pickup and Delivery service will now be an option for the current customers of Ruby’s Cleaners”

Model Cleaners would like to state that the current customers should not see any disruption to their current experience; in fact, they can expect the same great customer service and cleaning expertise combined with new benefits that only Model Cleaners can deliver.

This change will happen over time, so Model Cleaners will make sure to communicate with customers as the transition occurs. We are expecting a smooth transition for us and most importantly our valued customers. As always, thank you for being our valued guest.

Model Cleaners Acquires Ruby's Cleaners — Model Cleaners Expands

Model Cleaners Set to Launch 2017 Coats for Kids Competition

Model Cleaners is set to launch the 2017 annual Coats for Kids Competition among area schools, with the overall program goal to collect, clean and deliver 10,000 coats to area kids that are in need of staying warm during the cold months ahead.

Below is a quick snapshot on how the Model Cleaners Coats for Kids Competition works:

Model Cleaners is now open in Morgantown, WV

Model Cleaners is now open in Morgantown, West Virginia! The region’s largest family owned and operated dry-cleaner is now operating it’s 14th location in the region on Mileground Rd. in Morgantown, WV.

The new location features a customer drive-thru, an on site seamstress, Free Home/Office Pickup and Delivery, a 24 Hour Garment drop off box, an exclusive Customer Rewards Program while cleaning with “region” exclusive environmentally friendly cleaning technology with GreenEarth Cleaning. Learn more about Model’s GreenEarth Cleaning methods here!.

[Read more…]

$54,000 dollars of Free Coat Cleaning given away by Model Cleaners to help area Kids stay warm!

Kids helping other needy Kids stay warm this winter! That is what caring for one another is all about!!

Charleroi Area Students stock the Model Coat bins with light worn Coats for kids in need! Over 750 Coats were donated by Charleroi Area School District! — Charleroi Area Middle School Students help Model Cleaners General Manager, Gregg Anders in stocking the Model Cleaners Coat bins with Coats for Kids before the cold winter! Over 700 Coats were donated by Charleroi Area School District!

Over 4,000 area kids and families in need of a warm coat will stay warm this winter thanks to the efforts of area students and Model Cleaners.

Kids helping Kids:Pleasant Valley Elementary School students filling up the Model Coat donation bins in an effort to help other kids stay warm this winter. Peters Township School District collected over 1,000 Coats for Kids in just 8 weeks!

With the help of Upper St Clair, Seton LaSalle, Charleroi, Peters Twp and Belle Vernon school districts, Model Cleaners collected, cleaned and delivered over 4,000 coats since October 9th! At Model we have given away $54,000 dollars of Free Cleaning in an effort to help kids stay warm this winter!

2016 Coats For Kids Champions: Upper St Clair Student Council was presented a $1,000 check by Model Cleaners President Dan LaCarte for finishing in 1st place in the Coats for Kids Competition!

The final Coats 4 Kids standings are below! Upper St Clair pulled out a tight win over Seton LaSalle in the 1st Annual Model Cleaners Coats for Kids Competition! Thank you to all the students, parents and administrators for all your help the past 8 weeks!

We will be back in 2017 with more schools and hopefully more coats donated, cleaned and delivered for area Kids in need!

Coats 4 Kids Standings	Enrollment	Coats Collected	Coats/Student
Upper St Clair (9-12)	1394	958	0.687
Seton LaSalle (9-12)	519	337	0.649
Charleroi (K-12)	1532	723	0.472
Peters Twp (K-12)	4300	1176	0.273
Belle Vernon (K-12)	2522	382	0.151

Area Students Stuff Model Cleaners Trucks Today with 858 Coats Donated for Kids in Need!

A NEW daily Coat Donation record has been set while a NEW Leader has Emerged in the Model Cleaners “Coats for Kids” Contest with only one more week remaining!!

On Friday December 2nd, various Model Cleaners trucks set out to pickup all of the donated Coats from Participating School districts. Our Model trucks were so over-flowed with coats, that we had no room in our trucks to pickup the coats donated from the Peters Township School district…. But do not worry Peters Township we will be there 1st thing on Monday to pickup your school’s donated coats!

Model Cleaners picked up a total of 858 COATS FOR KIDS TODAY bringing our TOTAL COAT FOR KIDS DONATIONS to 2,444 COATS.

2,444 Coats have been donated by area students then picked up, cleaned and donated by Model Cleaners in just 8 weeks!

858 Coats packed our Model trucks today! Thank you Area School Districts!

Since October 10th these Model Bins have seen over 2,400 Coats donated for Kids in need this winter!

[Read more…]

Model Cleaners and Local Students Continue to Lead “Coats for Kids” Coat Drive

During this time of Thanksgiving, we certainly have a lot to be thankful for. With the efforts of local students and Model Cleaners we have now Collected and Cleaned 1,586 Coats for Kids before the Holiday season. Your continued caring is the reason why Kids will stay warmer this winter!

Last week brought in 374 additional "Coats For Kids" to be cleaned for Free by Model Cleaners and delivered to local Salvation Army offices — Last week brought in 374 additional “Coats For Kids” in partipating School districts.

Charleroi and Upper St Clair keep going back and forth for the leader in the Inagural Model Cleaners “Coats for Kids” Competition. Charleroi (k-12) (0.251) is holding a slim lead over Upper St Clair (9-12) (0.247). Also rising in the standings is Peters Twp (k-12) who has collected 330 coats as a district the past two weeks. The winning school with the highest Coat per Student enrolled ratio will receive $1,000 dollars from Model Cleaners while the 2nd place school receiving $500 dollars.

Coats 4 Kids Standings	Enrollment	Coats Collected	Coats/Student
Charleroi (K-12)	1532	384	0.251
Upper St Clair (9-12)	1394	345	0.247
Seton LaSalle (9-12)	519	69	0.133
Peters Twp (K-12)	4300	540	0.126
Belle Vernon (K-12)	2522	248	0.098

If you are not apart of these school districts you can still donate a coat at any one of our 12 local Model Cleaners locations. The last day for Coat collections is Friday December 9th, 2016. This Coat drive is for Coats only of any size.

1,212 Coats Donated by Local School Districts and Cleaned for FREE by Model Cleaners before the Holidays Approach!

Model Cleaners Coats for Kids Contest so far has been a “Heartwarming Success” and after 5 weeks we have made 1,212 Kids warmer this winter! As morning and evening temperatures get into the 20’s a Warm Coat for a Kids makes such a huge difference going to the Bus Stop and coming home from School!

Model Team Member Roman Dipiazza collected 131 Coats from Peters Twp School District. — Model Team Member Roman Dipiazza collected 137 Coats from Peters Twp School District.

Last week Participating School Districts set a new weekly high by donating 337 Coats to Area Children that are in need. Great job to Peters Township School district for donating a new weekly high from an individual school of 137 Coats!

Over 300 Clean Coats are ready to Be Delivered by Model Cleaners to the Local Salvation Army Office.

A new leader has emerged in the Model Cleaners Coats for Kids Contest with just 3 weeks left in competition. Upper St Clair High School (9-12) holds a slight lead over Charleroi School District (K-12). Any school can move into 1st place with a strong effort.

Coats 4 Kids Standings	Enrollment	Coats Collected	Coats/Student
Upper St Clair (9-12)	1394	287	0.206
Charleroi (K-12)	1532	279	0.182
Seton LaSalle (9-12)	519	54	0.104
Belle Vernon (K-12)	2522	245	0.097
Peters Twp (K-12)	4300	347	0.081
Total Program	10267	1212	0.118

The Last Coat pickup at Area Schools will be on Friday December 9th, 2016. The 1st place school with the highest Coats donated per Student ratio will receive a $1,000 check from Model Cleaners. Help your school and donate a Coat today!

875 Coats Donated by Local School Districts and Cleaned for Free by Model Cleaners before Winter Time!

We are at the halfway point with Model Cleaners Coats for Kids Contest and after 4 weeks we have made 875 Kids warmer this winter! Just One coat Donated and Cleaned by Model Cleaners can make such a difference in a child’s life this winter! Be thankful for what we have and pay it forward to someone who is in need!

Charleroi (K-12) holds a slight lead over Upper St Clair (9-12) with just 4 weeks left in competition. Any school can move into 1st place with a strong effort. The Last Coat pickup at area Schools will be on Friday December 9th, 2016.

Coats getting ready to be donated to your local Salvation Army centers in an effort to Keep Kids warm this winter! — After your Coats are donated, Coats are then cleaned at Model Cleaners for FREE, then all Coats the following week get delivered by Model Cleaners to your local Salvation Army center for distribution to area Kids that are in need for a Warm Coat before Winter Time! #YouCare #Modelcares #EqualsWarmerKids

After 4 weeks please see the updated Coats For Kids Standings:

Coats 4 Kids Standings	Enrollment	Coats Collected	Coats/Student
Charleroi (K-12)	1532	226	0.148
Upper St Clair (9-12)	1394	200	0.143
Belle Vernon (K-12)	2522	200	0.079
Seton LaSalle (9-12)	519	39	0.075
Peters Twp (K-12)	4300	210	0.049
Total Program	10267	875	0.085

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