With recent updates surrounding COVID-19, Newcastle business Pride Dry Cleaning is urging the Prime Minister and NSW premier to ensure dry cleaners remain on the list of essential services.

The owner of the Islington based dry cleaner and laundry, Jennie Lyons, said that from a community health perspective it is vital that dry cleaners be allowed to stay open to service residents and other essential services.

She said dry cleaning, as well as laundering using thermal and chemical disinfection kills viruses and germs more effectively than home laundering.

Jennie said that in the United Kingdom and United States dry-cleaners and laundries have been deemed as essential services.

“If disposable coverings become increasingly in short supply then the extra safeguard of proper cleaning of uniforms, sheets, towels and similar items will be vital in the fight against COVID-19 (coronavirus),” Jennie said.

“Doctors, nurses and other hospital workers, ambulance officers, police, medical centre staff, aged care facility workers, hotel, supermarket and bank staff as well as teachers can use our services to feel secure that they are going to work and coming home to their families with properly cleaned work clothing,” she said.

Jennie is also fighting to keep her business going to support her livelihood as well as that of her staff.

“I want to keep as many of my staff working for as long as possible,” she said.

She said her business is well placed to serve the community safely and conveniently during the pandemic.

Jennie has a Red Box at her store which allows for 24/7 drop off, pick and payment without human contact.

Pride is also offering free pick-up and delivery to any business or resident in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, and has an agency at Westfield Kotara’s concierge desks.

“Our staff can safely pick up and leave laundry and dry cleaning at front doors for people who are self-isolating or in quarantine.”

Jennie, a former Hunter Business Chamber Director, feels for other business and is urging them to hang in there and try an innovate in the battle against the impacts of COVID-19.

“I am not going to let COVID-19 defeat me or my community,” she said.

Dry Cleaning Institute of Australia CEO, Brian Tonkin, has written to Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt and his state and territory counterparts urging the government to keep dry cleaner doors open for operation.

In his letters, Brian has told ministers that these services are imperative during this difficult time and should be considered essential.

“Professional cleaning for both laundry and dry cleaning have a history of being able to kill aggressive viruses…whether it be disinfectants combined with temperature in the laundry process, or the combination of dry cleaning solvents, together with the temperatures associated with the drying and finishing processes this combination provides a very high level of assurance,” Brian said.

“In stressful and uncertain times such as these, the public needs the opportunity to be able to take garments, furnishings, linen etc. to a professional company to provide personal confidence that the coronavirus has been effectively killed.”

Pride Drycleaning is a family run dry-cleaning, laundry and business that has been operating in Newcastle since 1942.

IMAGE | Pride Drycleaning and the Dry Cleaning Institute of Australia are calling for the industry to be considered an essential service in the wake of more possible business closures due to COVID-19