Your local dry cleaning establishment isn't what it used to be.

There's a trend afoot in the dry cleaning industry to use state-of-the-art equipment that has the ability to remove stains from delicate fabrics like never before.

One such high-tech dry cleaners recently opened its doors to help those of us who are sloppy and spill-prone to look good.

Hacienda Cleaners, located in Hacienda Business Park, is a full-service cleaners and laundry that gets rid of dirt like Clint Eastwood gets rid of rustlers in "spaghetti westerns."

Owner Manu Shagafi has 27 years in the dry cleaning business. He and his wife Frances have invested nearly $300,000 in the best washers, dryers, blowers, steam presses and folding machines on the market today.

"We can clean and press 150-180 shirts an hour," says Mrs. Shagafi, noting that Hacienda Cleaners will launder and press shirts for 99 cents through April as an introductory offer.

Although the new machines allow the Shagafis to treat dirt and stains more effectively, there still remain big challenges in the dry cleaning business. "Older styles are in again," comments Mrs. Shagafi, "and with that there seems to be a trend to take old dresses out of storage and make them part of a woman's wardrobe. Some of these dresses were stored with stains and removing those middle-aged stains is the biggest challenge we face."

The Shagafis recently successfully treated a 175-year old wedding dress. "We couldn't just throw chemicals at it and hope for the best," says Mrs. Shagafi. "We had to clean the garment very gently, seven different times in all, to get it looking new again."

In addition to its expanding customer base, Hacienda Cleaners is responsible for all valet cleaning services offered at the Sheraton Inn, Holiday Inn, Super 8 and Compri hotels in Pleasanton. The dry cleaners also offers free pick-up and delivery service to anyone in Pleasanton.

Hacienda Cleaners is open from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm (Monday-Friday) and from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday. It is located in the Hacienda Plaza shopping center just south of the clock tower.

To see a reproduction of the original article and edition of Pleasanton Pathways, visit: March 24, 1986 Pathways.