life lessons from the dry cleaners

you are a grown adult, please wash your darks and whites seperately.

I recently watched the trailer for Happy Cleaners, which is a movie about a Korean American family losing their dry cleaners, the financial struggles, and understanding the heartaches this specific family caused for each other. In the trailer, the children of the parents are somewhat resentful of their parents for operating a dry cleaner, which I never felt growing up. I do understand the heartache of watching them worry and work endless hours, but that is the trauma we carry as first-gen, working-class kids. When my parents sold their cleaners last year, a part of me went missing. I found refuge, a work ethic, and my identity because of Hatherly Cleaners. For that, this substack newsletter is for Hatherly Cleaners and the many life lessons it taught me throughout the past 16 years.

1. Always wash your darks and whites separately. Yes, it is easy to throw your laundry in one basket and having to do just one round of laundry, but what you’re doing is ruining the colors of all your clothing items. I beg you, don’t wash your matte black t-shirt with your white towel. You can spare an extra $4 on laundry for your clothes to last you a few more years. Also, the detergent you use doesn’t really matter, because it’s just soap. Always dry on low heat or hang dry your pants.

2. The sewing machine table was my study station. My mom’s sewing machine and the table were in front of the store, which provided enough room for me to get my homework and assignments done growing up. I used to scribble random shit on the sewing machine table with a sharpie marker and glue buttons underneath the sewing machine table. My mom was not happy about that. The restaurant owner next door would watch me study and bring me a shwarma sandwich as a study snack. He told me that education is the “key to success” for immigrants, which I didn’t understand at first, but as I got older, I knew what it meant. A learning center opened a few doors down when I was in middle school, the owner of the learning center told me I can come in there and get my work done in a study room. For that, I’m thankful for the community the plaza provided for me as a kid.

3. Your parents deserve nice clothing, too. My mom would be in awe of the dresses, dress shirts, and skirts our customers would bring in. She would explain to me how this shirt was hand-stitched, made from silk fabric, and that one day when I make my own money and job I should “treat myself” to one. I do love clothes because I’ve been surrounded by them my entire life, but I also knew the value of saving money and buying myself items of clothing that will not be trends. As much as I love that floral sweater trend in 2019, I knew it wouldn’t last forever. When I went to college, I was fortunate enough to receive a hefty scholarship and a work-study position that paid well. I bought my mom a Burberry silk scarf because she deserved more than wearing a cotton shirt that has already been soaked with her sweat. Whenever I come home to visit this day, she shows me the silk scarf and how much she loves it. I’m getting her a Chanel handbag once I make the big bucks. My dad on the other hand just wears University of Michigan hoodies and t-shirts because he likes to tell his friends I went (and still go) to Michigan.

4. When dry cleaning trousers, ask for a front crease. I’m not kidding you when your nice pair of work trousers have a front crease, you look 100% more polished and taller. I don’t know why my friends are opposed to them, but you’re playing yourself with your crinkly, “doesn’t fit my shape” pants.

5. Heavy starch your dress shirts. I know you’re going to feel stiff wearing it, but you can wear it multiple times and if you decide to just hang it in your closet, it won’t lose its shape. Save yourself some money.

6. I fucking hate summer. I despise the heat. Watching my parents work in 110+ degrees in the summer, taking 2-3 showers a day, and drinking countless bottles of water because of heat exhaustion is why I hate the summer months. It doesn't bring me excitement or joy that the weather is warmer, it brings back bad memories.

7. I will never wear corduroy. During the 2007-08 recession, my parents’ dry cleaners plumed because most of their customers were employees of the auto industry. Around that time, I was going through puberty and would wear this one specific corduroy pants every day to school. I got bullied in middle school for wearing that navy blue corduroy pants 5 days a week. I’m not going to ask my parents for new clothing when the business is failing, that would’ve been selfish. I attached corduroy to that time period, which was tough, so I don’t wear them to this day.

8. The sound of the boiler turning off. Lastly, I wouldn’t be where I am today without that dry cleaners. I wouldn’t have had a home, food on the table, and an education. I take all those things for granted because I know what life is like without them. At exactly 6:55 pm on weekdays, my dad turns off the boilers, which rumbles throughout the entire day. Once I hear complete silence in the dry cleaners, I know business is done for the day. I carry that sound of the rumble with me, knowing that I still have a lot of work to do as a person and student.