About Rideau Cleaners

Since 1932 the name Rideau Cleaners has meant professional, small town service the community can depend on and while the industry has changed that atmosphere remains to be true.

Bob Burns and Karen Charette inherited this legacy in 2004 when they purchased the Smiths Falls company in April, 2004. The pair has spent over 50 years in the dry cleaning business.

Over the years the business has focused on maintaining the small town atmosphere at the Smiths Falls headquarters by retaining local staff, while expanding to meet the changing needs of the industry. The Smiths Falls business on Percy Street has three staff members while the Carleton Place location on Franktown Rd. has two.

The Rideau Cleaners commercial van travels 340 km a day, five days-a-week to service about 19 satellite locations.

We try our best to make everybody happy.

Rideau Cleaners began in 1932 in Smiths Falls. In 1952 William James and his son, Clem moved to Smiths Falls from Toronto and partnered with family to continue the business. Early in its operation a major fire closed the business for several months, but the decision to rebuild was made. Over the years the business has moved from its original home on Main Street, Smiths Falls, to the corner of Abel and Lombard Street and finally resting at its current home on Percy Street around the 1970s.

It was around this time that manufacturers were introducing new material in clothing, which continues to be a challenge for dry cleaners today. However, the industry has become safer, more automated and more environmentally conscious.

Looking to the future, Bob Burns and Karen Charette would love to see a greater partnership between dry cleaners and manufacturers to address dry cleaning issues caused by sparkling materials and beads on clothing.