MacLaughlin’s Dry Cleaners Leading the Way in Atlantic Canada

By Kellie Underhill

It’s that time of year again—time when many of us head to the dry cleaners with all of our fall and winter coats to get them cleaned for the season. And if your garments happen to be made of leather or suede, you’re in luck! Because the only certified leather cleaning specialist in New Brunswick is right here in Miramichi.

MacLaughlin’s Dry Cleaners on Veteran’s Lane in Newcastle are ROYALTONE Certified in leather and suede cleaning and one of only two leather cleaning specialists in Atlantic Canada.

“There was nobody else doing it,” says Frank MacLaughlin. “Nearly every household has one or two suede or leathers, so the demand is there for a quality cleaner.”

Frank and his wife, Patsy, have been serving the Miramichi region for about 25 years and are as committed to providing professional quality service today as they were when they first opened in 1981.

“If you don’t do a quality job, there’s no use in doing them at all,” Frank says.

In 1983, Frank and Patsy went to Tulsa, Oklahoma, took a course and got licensed to clean natural fabrics like leather, suede and fur.

People sometimes grumble about what seems to be an expensive process, having their clothing professionally cleaned, but Frank says when it comes to high-end garments, if you want to properly take care of them, you don’t want to cut corners.

“Suede absolutely has to have weather repellent,” he says. “It may seem expensive, but when you factor in that it’s a three to four hour process for each garment and you only have to do it every five years, it’s really not that much.”