On September 29, a total of 138 people, including co-op members, board members, and staff, participated in an online study session hosted by Palsystem Kanagawa, with Mr. MOGI Takao, who runs a dry cleaning store in Koganei, Tokyo, as the resource person.

Mr. MOGI started to soap cleaning business since about 30 years ago, and has held many courses to teach how to wash clothes using soap. In this event, co-op members, board members and staff of Palsystem Yamanashi and Palsystem Shizuoka also participated.

Mr. MOGI Takao, CEO of Hakueisha Cleaning

●How to remove 99% stains and dirt

Mr. MOGI explained that most stains can be removed by using a combination of hot water, soap, and oxygen bleach. In the case of stains such as shirt collar stains, lipstick, foundation, and food spills, he mentioned that those can be cleaned to an amazing degree by applying soap and scrubbing with a brush, or by soaking the shirt in a washing solution of soap and oxygen bleach dissolved in hot water.

Down coats are often thought to be unwashable at home, but Mr. MOGI explained that down is the feathers of waterfowl which loves water, and rather washing in water is more suitable than dry cleaning. He explained in a video demonstration of how to wash a down coat using laundry soap.

Stains on the collar are so clean.

Down coat is fluffy washed.

●Useful knowledge taught by a professional

During the study session, participants were given useful knowledge about laundry such as how to read laundry labels, wash fashionable clothes (delicate clothes), and how to read the contents on detergent packages. Mr. MOGI explained that detergent is not fully removed in a single rinse and fluorescent whitening agents make clothes appear white, along with actual video demonstration.

Subsequently, a question and answer session was held where participants received answers that only a laundry professional could provide, such as how to remove partial stains from ballpoint pens, and how ink stains cannot be removed even by a dry cleaner. The number of questions from the participants, including those asked in advance, reached nearly 130.

●Comments from participants

• The story of Mr. Mogi was very convincing. I thought I would try to wash my down clothes by myself at home next time, even though I used to send them to the dry cleaners every year.

• Using Palsystem products, and showing images about how to wash them in detail, was very informative. I would like to try it for ballpoint pen stains on white-shirt collars and pockets.

• I have been using different detergents for different laundry, but I learned that household clothes can be washed with the same laundry soap and oxygen bleach, which saves money and is environmentally friendly. It was a real learning experience for me.