Rick's Cleaners is a locally owned and non-franchised dry cleaning and laundry business that has been serving the Austin area since 1987. With 14 locations throughout the city, we offer our clients convenient access to our services, which include dry cleaning, laundry, alterations, and repairs. We take pride in our ability to provide high-quality services at an incredible value, with our price of $5.29 for most regular garments dry cleaned posted everywhere for your convenience.
At Rick's Cleaners, we are committed to providing an exceptional customer experience by offering Eco-friendly equipment, recycled plastics and hangers at all our locations. We have won multiple awards over the years, including Best Dry Cleaners in Austin year after year, which is a testament to the quality of our work and the trust that our clients place in us.
Our team of experienced professionals has the skills and expertise to handle any cleaning needs, from everyday laundry to restoration services for damaged garments due to water, mold, smoke, and fire damage. We take pride in our ability to solve problems for our clients, including freeing up time by taking care of everyday laundry and providing effective stain removal services.
In 1987, Town Lake was still only known as Town Lake, an average gallon of gas cost 89 cents, and Austin had a population of about 447,000 people (traffic actually moved on Mopac and I35). What Austin didn't have at that time was a discount dry cleaner offering one price dry cleaning. Rick saw a need and an opportunity to bring discount dry cleaning to Austin. On August 21, 1987, Rick's Cleaners was born. Our very first store opened on Burnet Road in Centennial Shopping Center where TacoDeli is currently located. With tremendous community support his business grew to several locations around the greater Austin area.
Fast forward more than 35 years and today Rick's has modernized their facilities, equipment, and implemented Eco-friendly practices, which include recycling hangers and plastic at all of our locations. Our original plan of providing quality dry cleaning at the absolute best price has remained consistent over the years. We chose transparent flat rate pricing as our business model. Our competitors charge up to double what you pay with us. We don't believe it should cost that much.
About a year after opening his first store, Rick's son, Ian, was born in Austin. Ian remembers “[His] dad would work, and I would take naps in the big yellow laundry carts.” This business is one that requires being on site and extremely involved in the day-to-day operations to be successful.” Ian would go on to attend undergrad at The University of Texas at Austin and eventually start his career in the dry-cleaning industry.
Recalling the conversation that led the way for him to take over the family business, Ian explains, “My Dad approached me right after graduating UT and asked me to give the cleaning business a shot.” Ian joined the team in July 2010. He learned from the ground up—from how to tag and mark clothing to working in the plant where the cleaning & pressing happen. “My main goal was to improve our quality which started by sending improperly pressed clothes back to the press to fix. At 21 years old, I knew no one would respect me because of my age and because I was the owner's son. To earn our team’s trust, I moved one of our pressers to another position and I began learning to press pants.
Ian took ownership of the company on January 1, 2016. Carrying with him that same passion and commitment he witnessed from his Dad. Ian is hands on and oversees the daily operations of the business by working in the plants, stores, and office.
Although we've grown to 14 locations, we work very hard to keep the small feel alive. Many people think Rick's is a franchise but we're the furthest from it. Rick's is a small, Austin born, family run business. In celebrating more than 35 years in business, we are extremely grateful for the people of Austin and surrounding communities. We owe it all to our loyal customers and our team!
