Laundry roles

Just curious.  Who does the laundry in your household?  Female head-of-household or male head-of-household? Or does it just depend on who has time?  Is laundry an assigned chore for one of the kids? (scary)

Do men and women do laundry differently?

How old do kids have to be in order to learn to do their own laundry?

We observe all kinds of different laundry techniques, from extreme to sloppy.  Some people sort various shades of a color into separate piles, and wash a single item in a machine.  Others jam everything into a huge machine.

We try to encourage moderation.  People seem to feel quite strongly about how laundry should be done.  Interesting.

 

“Best” of Austin

We are very excited to have won the Austin Chronicle's People's Choice Award for 2011 for Best Laundromat.
This is our third year in business and our third time winning this recognition. Ironically enough, we now
also have three locations!
So it makes me reflect on the significance of this honor.  As a small business, we are very aware of the
value of good PR.
We are incredibly proud of this recognition for many reasons: it is a boost to our employees to feel part
of something significant; we (the owners) feel as though we are doing it right (much of the time); but most
of all, this buoys our belief in our vision of running an environmentally responsible business that is an
asset to the community.  Because this recognition comes from that very community that our business revolves
around.
So we are humble, grateful, and once again excited about continuing to look for ways to improve and grow.
Thank you, Austin. We won't let you down.

Water Conservation

Central Texas is in a Stage 2 drought.  Stage 3, which has never happened before, is looming.  For those of you using wells, you are probably urgently looking for ways to conserve water.  Even if you have city water, it is incumbent upon all of us to conserve.

When looking for conservation options, it goes without saying that your first priority is household use such as cooking, bathing, and personal care.

Laundry is something that is easy to outsource, with significant benefits to the community.  There are two options – take it to a laundromat and wash it yourself OR drop  off your laundry for wash & fold service.  A modern commercial laundry will have high-efficiency front-loading washers, saving the community half  the amount of water used in your home washer or top loaders in a laundromat.

There are other benefits as well – it will take you a lot less time to wash and dry, so enjoy that extra free time!  We offer a load and leave service, allowing you to load up all your washers, add detergent, and let us move everything to the dryer.  More leisure time, or a quick way to catch up on errands!

 

 

Keeping your whites white

Have you noticed your whites turning gray or dull?  Have you ever wondered how to bring your clothing to its original bright white color?  Try these tips in your home washer:

* Run the wash cycle on your machine using vinegar to break down and soap scum/residue that may be clogging the washer holes

* Don’t overload. Detergent loosens soil from fabrics and the washer needs enough room for agitation so the dirt will wash away, rather than re-depositing in the garments

* Do not use chlorine bleach.  Use a hydrogen peroxide-based whitener such as Oxy Clean.  Bleach removes color, not stains.  A peroxide-based whitener actually removes the stain and revives the white color.

If your white garments have that dull gray look, remember to tell the Attendant when you drop off clothing for wash and fold service.

 

Running a Green Laundry Business

A well-run laundry is an asset to any community. These days “well run” does not only mean clean. It means establishing and maintaining an environmentally responsible business. Some facets of this goal may be realized by educating customers; other decisions require the owner’s financial investment and perhaps a change in mindset. In the end, it all pays off.
Water Usage
The laundry business presents many opportunities to embrace and lead the green movement, starting with water usage. Modern front-loading high-efficiency washers save local water authorities more than half the water used by older commercial washers or home washing machines.
An owner’s first commitment might be to upgrade old top loaders. Even refurbished front loaders will save money on utility bills. Look for the Energy Star rating for equipment that will minimize water and energy use.
Revisit the temperature setting you use for your washers. Ideally, warm water will be 110 degrees if your hot water setting is at 130 degrees. This hot water setting is the minimum acceptable standard used by the medical industry to kill germs and bacteria.
Let your customers know that washing in cold or warm water is effective, and that hot water is only necessary for heavily soiled items. Also, it is most economical to wash a full load of clothing, not just a few items.
Dryers
Check the length of time your dryers are set to run. Modern dryer technology is similar to a convection oven in your home. Dryers use more air and fewer BTUs, drying clothes evenly and with a softer finish; thus there is less need for dryer sheets. Newer equipment uses approximately 40 percent less fuel.
Encourage customers not to over-dry their clothing. Dryer sheets can get caught in the dryer motors and increase repair costs. Don’t open the dryers while they are running because it takes time for the temperature to warm up again, ultimately resulting in longer drying times.
Keep lint traps clean for more effective air circulation. Clean your dryer vents regularly to lessen drying times and decrease CO2 emissions.
Products
Wash & Fold service is an opportunity for owners to establish standard operating procedures and tightly manage processes. The higher your percentage of Wash & Fold business, the more you can control costs.
Educating customers is an ongoing process. Start with small steps and easy tips. When it comes to most products, less is more. Modern high-efficiency washers only require half the amount of detergent recommended on the label. It is not desirable to see a washer full of bubbles. Even some detergents labeled “eco-friendly” have fillers, giving them a thick consistency. Some other tips:
• Brands with the fewest ingredients are best. Avoid NPE chemicals.
• Softeners are not necessary. Try using ¾ cup of white vinegar added during the rinse cycle. It is less expensive and just as effective, but without additives.
• There is no need for multiple dryer sheets.
• Chlorine bleach should be replaced with a peroxide product. Try borax or dry oxygen bleach. There are several non-chlorine whitening products on the market.
• Enzymes are very effective for stain removal. Lemon juice, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are also options.
• Purchase wash & fold bags made of biodegradable plastic.
Infrastructure
When was the last time you looked at your store as though you were a new customer? We all remember our brand new or newly renovated Laundromats and how fresh they looked. Take a critical look at your store now. What changes can you make that will be environmentally friendly?
• Research window film options. A high quality polyester film, embedded with reflective metal particles, bounces back 78 percent of the solar energy. Consider installing film onto the windows that face south and west.
• Add window blinds. Combined with window film, solar blinds made from recyclable fabric have no PVC or off-gassing, and can decrease your air conditioning costs.
• Consider installing a commercial tankless hot water system. These systems heat water only as it is needed, so no energy is lost by storing pre-heated water in a holding tank.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. They use 75% less energy, last 10 times longer, and release less heat.
• If you add a new coat of paint, select a brand with zero volatile organic compounds.
• Evaluate the cleaning products you use. Clean using cloth towels instead of paper.
• Check the temperate settings for your air conditioning and heat. Rather than turning your HVAC system off when you close, raise or lower the settings by about 5 degrees. Recommended settings are 78 degrees for air conditioning, and 68 degrees for heat.
• Open the doors if it is a nice day outside. Nothing is better than fresh air!
• If you do not already have ceiling fans, consider having them installed. Choose switches with multiple speed settings so you can adjust and even out the temperature in different parts of your store.
• Keep your equipment in good repair so it will run at peak efficiency. Don’t wait until things break. Have a trusted and competent repair person continuously check your equipment proactively.
• Buy recycled toilet paper and paper towels to stock your store. Purchase non-toxic cleaning products, and select chemical free detergent for your wash & fold service.
• Consider updating any mechanical system with a SEER rating less than 14.
• Most importantly, select your equipment carefully. Modern commercial laundry equipment is designed with the environment in mind. The April edition of American Coin-op reports that the number one problem for laundry owners is high cost of utilities.

Community
It is incumbent upon us to be an asset to our community. Engage with local civic organizations and let them know that your store is a location that will accept clothing donations on their behalf. Donate unclaimed clothing to local charities.
Recycle hangers. Used hangers work well for hang-drying clothes.
Rather than subscribing to new publications, ask your customers to bring in the magazines they have already read.
Place recycle bins around your store, and encourage customers to use them to recycle detergent bottles, water bottles, newspapers and magazines. These adjustments will help create an environment that promotes sustainability.
Attendants
Your attendants are often the face of your business; they should model the behavior you desire. Don’t expect them to engage in a conversation about using less detergent or not opening a dryer while it is running, unless you can show them a professional and comfortable way to begin that conversation. Take small steps towards educating your customers. Start with customers who are already using high-efficiency detergents, since they are likely to be open to hearing conservation tips. Post helpful hints around the store. Install a bulletin board with useful information. Encourage customers to post their own suggestions.
Take the lead role in educating your employees and customers. Be vocal about your business model throughout the community. Be sure all your advertising consistently reflects your vision and mission. Your goal should be to lower utility costs to 9%-12% of gross monthly income. If you follow these simple guidelines, your business will be more profitable, environmentally responsible, and an asset to your community.

Pet Stains

Pet stains are almost impossible to avoid.  Cold weather…full moon…revenge…

Here are some tips to make the best of a bad situation:

* Take immediate action

* Blot the stain

* Do NOT pre-treat

* Do NOT wash, dry or have dry cleaned

* Take the item to a professional Laundromat, point out the stain, and explain what it is.  Special enzymes are used to break down the stain(s).

The item(s) must be washable or you should be willing to sign a waiver.

Pet stains are better left to the professionals!

Mazeltov on the roof

Laundromats and Water Conservation

During 2010 Wash Day Laundry in Austin, Texas, used approximately 1.2 million gallons of water. The good news is that we saved the community just over 1 million gallons of water.
One of the advantages of using a Laundromat, besides saving you time, is that the new high-efficiency commercial laundry equipment uses about 45% less water than home washers or equipment in older Laundromats.
Our mission is to be environmentally responsible, and water is a precious resource. Help us get the word out.  If you know anyone who needs to use a Laundromat, encourage them to choose one with newer equipment.

What does it cost to oursource laundry?

Remember the first time you hired a housekeeper?  I debated the pros and cons for months.  My mother kept our home spotless, but she was a “stay at home” Mom, and I worked.  So I tried to do it all, work, travel, and raise kids, as did many women of my generation.  Then one day a friend asked what day my housekeeper came, assuming I had one, and I realized that it was okay to hire someone–it was now the thing to do for working Moms.  Now I can’t imagine going without regular professional housekeeping.

My first housekeeper also did the laundry.  All I had to do was put it away.  What a luxury!  I’m sure many people wonder what it would cost to have someone else do their laundry each week.  So here’s a quick way to calculate outsourcing your laundry for a family of four:

On average, a family of four will wear approximately 20 pairs of pants or shorts and 30 shirts or blouses.  Add in socks, underwear, plus a few miscellaneous items: towels, sheets, swimsuits and a sweatshirt or two. 

It’s been our experience that all this weighs about 45 lbs.  Our special website coupons offer a price of .99/lb.  That’s about $45 for a week’s worth of laundry, washed, folded and ready to put away.  

How much is your time worth?  It takes almost 2 hours per load to wash, dry and fold at home, plus you have to stick around the house to take everything out of the dryer so it won’t wrinkle.  Let’s assume you earn $20/hour.  That’s $40 of your time to do just ONE load! Plus the cost of detergent, softener, dryer sheets.  Consider the water you will save.

Our motto is “Four minutes to do your laundry.  Two minutes to drop it off; two minutes to pick it up.”  That about sums it up.  Consider outsourcing your laundry.  If it isn’t affordable each week, remember those special occasions when you just want a break!

What exactly is Wash & Fold Laundry Service?

What exactly is “wash & fold”? It is a three-step process: first we wash your clothing in warm water, unless you specify otherwise.  Then we move everything to the dryer where your laundry dries for 35-42 minutes depending on the type of fabric. And finally, after your laundry is dry, we hang everything over a rack to minimize wrinkles, then begin folding.
Folding is an art. We use a stencil so that everything comes out the same size, just the way you see clothing neatly stacked at retail stores.
If you have items that are stained, please show the attendant the location and type of stain so we can pre-treat appropriately.  Also let the attendant know about any special requests. Some customers request that we hang-dry certain items (we often use our judgment, too).
Children’s clothing can be challenging, but we do our best to keep like-items together and sorted.
Ideally, all the women’s clothing ends up together, and visa versa with the mens’ clothing, although it can sometimes be difficult to determine what belongs to whom.  If you sort your clothing prior to drop-off and request that it be folded accordingly, then everything will be returned to you in order, making it much easier to put away.
We try to “make it pretty” by keeping all towels that are the same color together.
Once everything is folded, we place your laundry in bags, tie the bag shut and label it, then attach a printed ticket. We are happy to hang items at your request.  There is no additional charge as long as you provide the hangers. Since our store is computerized, we enter the location of the items and the number of items and place everything in storage.

Just a reminder that we also offer pressing and chemical-free dry cleaning.  We are your one stop shop for everything related to cleaning your clothing.

Our regular wash & fold price is $1.15/lb (our Monday special offer is .99/lb). If you take part in our “pre-paid” program, your wash & fold price is .99/lb any day of the week. There is a 10/lb minimum charge.
We also do pick-up & delivery for $1.75/lb – what a great gift idea for someone recovering from an illness or for anyone who cannot drive.
So simplify your life by trying us out! We want to make your laundry experience unforgettable!

To dry clean or to launder, that is the question.

During my days in Corporate America when I traveled frequently and had the benefit of an expense account, I visited my neighborhood dry cleaner every week.  They would ask me, “Is this dry cleaning or laundry?’  My answer was, “I don’t know.  Don’t you know?”  I didn’t understand the difference, and trusted they would process my clothing correctly.

Having the benefit of hindsight, most of the items being dry cleaned could have been laundered.  But I wanted them ready to pack again at a moment’s notice, pressed, and in a plastic bag.   I didn’t know that a full service laundromat could have done the same thing, with a number of other benefits.

So why do we take items to the dry cleaners when they can be washed?  Here are some common reasons:

• We don’t know the difference between the laundry and dry cleaning processes
• We don’t read the care labels
• We want that professional pressed look that we are accustomed to getting from our dry cleaners 
• We believe only dry cleaners can remove stains
• We go to the same dry cleaners out of habit
• We don’t know where there is a full service laundromat

Here are some facts to consider:

• You will save money in the long run.  The price of a shirt may be similar, but over time the savings will add up, especially for items such as comforters
• In the case of our store, we use non-toxic cleaning products–detergent, enzymes, degreaser, oxygen cleaner, and peroxide bleach.  No worries about chemicals in your clothing
• Your items will come back professionally pressed and bagged
• Everything is processed on site, allowing for quick turnaround times

For the average consumer, this decision boils down to a lack of understanding or habit.  The fact is that you can take your items to a full service laundromat, and they will be returned to you just as clean and pressed as they will from a dry cleaner.

Our laundry has a partnership with an eco-friendly dry cleaner.  So if an item really does need to be dry cleaned, we are not compromising our promise of chemical-free cleaning.

So, to dry clean or to launder…now you have some facts to consider.