In 1990, the Internet, hip hop and the sitcom Friends were on their way in, the Soviet Union and South African apartheid were on their way out, and Oceanside Cleaners opened its first location on Southside Boulevard in Jacksonville. A lot has changed since then, but as Oceanside celebrates 35 years of business on March 12, one thing remains the same: our dedication to providing blue ribbon service to the residents of Jacksonville and the beaches.

“Oceanside staff feel that their work is a direct reflection of themselves,” Owner Mike Harris says. “We really care about what we do and the people we serve. That’s why we go the extra mile, every day, to anticipate—and exceed—our customers’ expectations.”

A family-owned business, Oceanside’s approach has led to extraordinary growth that includes an 8,000-square-foot plant, two drop stores (Southside Boulevard in Jacksonville and Solana Road in Ponte Vedra), 81 employees, 24/7 self-service kiosks and a fleet of delivery vehicles.

The company has built a reputation for award-winning cleaning, eco-friendly equipment and low environmental impact. In addition to standard dry cleaning and laundry services, Oceanside offers specialty services for wedding gowns (alterations, cleaning and preservation) and designer garments.

Giving Back through Customer Service and Community Investment

Oceanside goes above and beyond customary service standards to delight customers at every turn. For instance, Oceanside offers free pick up and delivery in the communities it serves. We were an early adopter of earth-friendly practices, including using organic, Earth-friendly solvents and reusable garment bags. We have been Green-Council Certified since 2013 and earned an international CINET Global Best Practices Award in 2020.

Oceanside also supports a multitude of local charities, including McKenzie Wilson Foundation, The Pink Ribbon Golf Classic, The Daniel Foundation, Ponte Vedra High School, Rotary Club, Christ Episcopal Church, Boys & Girls Club, Children’s Home Society, Mission House, Amelia Island Book Festival, Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival and the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Sky-High Reviews Lead to Awards and Recognition

Our dedication to service excellence has earned Oceanside more than 500 stellar Google reviews averaging 4.8 stars. Positive reviews can be seen on Google, WeddingWire, Facebook and ReviewMyDryCleaner.

We recently received our eighth “Best of Weddings” award from The Knot, an online wedding planning resource, all due to consistent, 5-star reviews by brides on The Knot.

Oceanside was also one of 70 small businesses selected for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 America’s Top Small Business Awards. We were one of 10 awardees in the Southeast, chosen from a field of 15,000 applicants.

Thank you for being an important part of our success. To learn more about our 35-year history, check out this YouTube video.

In 2001, Oceanside Cleaners was one of the first dry cleaners in the U.S. to stop the use of harmful cleaning agents. That was a progressive move at the time given that these chemicals were not officially banned until late 2024 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

On Dec. 9, 2024, the EPA officially prohibited trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PERC), two widely used dry cleaning industrial solvents associated with significant health risks, including cancer and neurological damage. Oceanside is proud to share that we have never used either of these ingredients in our current plant, which we moved into in 2001.

Oceanside Cleaners Was an Early Adopter of Environmentally Safe Cleaning

Oceanside Cleaners has always put customer and employee health first, refusing to use harmful dry cleaning solvents and being Green-Council Certified since 2013. “For over two decades, we’ve used cleaning processes that are 100% eco-friendly according to the EPA of the state of Florida, with cleaning systems and equipment that conserve water use,” says Mike Harris, owner of the family-run cleaners. “On top of this, we recycle hangers, offer reusable garment bags and use a barcode system rather than paper tickets for tracking customer items.”

Instead of harmful chemicals, Oceanside uses liquid carbon dioxide (CO2), silicone-based solvents and hydrocarbon solvents as more environmentally friendly alternatives for cleaning clothes. These methods are often referred to as “green dry cleaning” and are considered less toxic to both people and the environment.

The use of safe chemicals is just one reason why in November of 2020, Oceanside took first place in an international competition for the CINET Global Best Practices Awards, announced in Amsterdam. Oceanside was the first North America company to win the top prize and was selected from 120 businesses in 36 countries.

As a leader making innovations that benefit the communities served by Oceanside, our 35-year-old, family-owned cleaners has grown to 81 employees with an 8,000-square-foot plant.