Longtime Laundromat Owner on 23 Years of Service, Challenges, Community Impact

For more than two decades, Lee Ann Geurts has been a steady force in her Brooklyn Park community in Minnesota, running three laundromats that have become known not just for clean clothes, but for connection, comfort, and care. What began as a business venture for her...

Green is Good Business 

Green Operations Increasingly Important to Feed Consumer Demand  When Green Laundry Lounge co-owners Pulin and Krishna Dasai got into the vended laundry industry, they wanted to change a narrative: laundromats are water and energy-intensive businesses.   “The...

Leveling the Playing Field

John Um wanted to make sure small business owners could get fair pricing and access to reliable suppliers without needing to have significant buying power. As a leader whose career spanned several major retail and e-commerce companies, he had seen firsthand how hard...

Staying Fierce: Haley Gould Finds Perfect Fit in Vended Laundry

Haley Gould is the Director of Partner Success for HappyNest. She manages an internal team while leading more than 100 partners across the United States building a successful pickup and delivery operation in addition to running their laundromat business. A consummate...

PlanetLaundry Podcast

America’s #1 Resource for Vended Laundry News & Info

PlanetLaundry is the official publication of CLA and is trusted by thousands of laundry professionals to deliver the latest news and industry-specific topics.

Before Heading to the Junkyard

In a recent California case, a coin laundry operator took possession of a closed location, which contained a number of washers approximately 20 years old and cannibalized for parts over time. In assuming possession of the location, the coin laundry operator installed...

Before Heading to the Junkyard

In a recent California case, a coin laundry operator took possession of a closed location, which contained a number of washers approximately 20 years old and cannibalized for parts over time. In assuming possession of the location, the coin laundry operator installed...

My Neighbors Tree Offends Me! Can I Get Out the Ax?

So your neighbor has trees. Large trees. Large trees with offending branches and roots. In fact, your local fire department is considering citing you because the branches of one of these offending trees are perilously close to your chimney. One day, you notice that...

Headlines

Wash with Wally: Is It Time to Buy New Equipment?

Originally posted - Apr 05, 2012 I really need to purchase some new washers and dryers for my store. I'm constantly repairing the machines I have. In addition, the parts bills are killing me. However, because of the uncertain economy, I'm not sure what I should do....

Wash with Wally: Comforter Questions

Originally posted - Feb 03, 2012 I just washed a white, queen-sized down comforter. I read the attached washing instruction label, which warned against using bleach. Are these labels always accurate? First of all, it doesn't sound like that particular care label was...

Wash with Wally: Saving with Solar

Originally posted - May 10, 2013 In addition to purchasing newer, more energy-efficient equipment, I'm considering using solar power to heat my water and help me conserve energy. What are your thoughts on this technology? I would definitely look into solar technology...

Wash with Wally: Cleaning Cloth Napkins

Originally posted - Apr 09, 2014 I have a commercial client who wants my store to take over the cloth napkin laundry service for his Italian restaurant. I'm not sure what is required to perform a quality service for this specific account. The napkins are red and often...

Wash with Wally: Spray Spotters

Originally posted - Aug 13, 2014 I do a lot of drop-off laundry at my store and was looking for a good spray spotter. Do you have any recommendations? Yes, I would get Liquid Wisk. This product is good on food stains, some inks and some light oils. It is probably one...

Wash with Wally: Should Tipping Be Allowed?

Originally posted - Jun 27, 2012 I'm considering starting a drop-off laundry service. Should I allow my customers to tip my attendants, or is this a bad idea? It's not a bad idea at all. If your customers want to tip your attendants, that's fine. In my opinion, that...

Wash with Wally: Too Much Fabric Softener?

Originally posted - Mar 10, 2014 I do a great business in drop-off laundry. The problem I'm having is that my attendants are overusing the liquid fabric softener in an effort to make the clothes smell good. I even gave them measuring cups, but that haven't seemed to...

Wash with Wally: Cleaning Yoga Blankets

Originally posted - May 03, 2012 I have been approached by a potential commercial client about cleaning yoga blankets. If you're not familiar with them, they are heavy wool blankets about the size of a twin bed sheet. This client doesn't want to dryclean the blankets...

Wash with Wally: A Sticky Situation

Originally posted - Oct 29, 2012 Can you tell me how to remove yellow wood glue from a pair of cotton pants? I haven't found anything that will work. There are a couple of ways to remove glue. In some instances, depending on the type of adhesive, you can use a paint...

Wash with Wally: Powdered Detergent vs. Pods

Originally posted - Sep 23, 2014 We have a fairly large drop-off service at our laundry. Our customers have been happy with our consistency. For detergent, we use powdered Gain. Recently, Gain has come out with a pod-type product. We have contemplated switching to the...

Wash with Wally: Unclaimed Garments

Originally posted - Jul 29, 2013 I get a lot of lost and unclaimed articles of clothing at my store. I'm not talking about just a sock or two - I mean complete loads of laundry. I make sure it is clean and dry. Then, I fold and bag it, and store it for 60 to 90 days....

Wash with Wally: Choosing the Perfect Location

Originally posted - Jun 07, 2013 I want to build another laundry, and I'm currently looking at a site that's located between two large apartment complexes, which hold approximately 1,000 people. This site is on a main street with a good traffic pattern. What do you...

SPONSORED CONTENT

Business Solutions

Laundromat Marketing

CleanCloud talks to industry experts about the tactics they use to attract new customers and encourage repeat business in our latest webinar

Watch Webinar

SPONSORED CONTENT

Stand out with an optimized online presence.

Stain Solutions Guide

Your go-to guide for using OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover — from laundry loads to facility messes. Download the free guide today!

Download Guide

September Magazine Issue

This Month's Issue

 

  • House of Laundromats: Real Estate Trends and What to Watch
  • Member Spotlight: Bringing a Century of Expertise to the Evolving Laundromat Industry
  • PlanetLaundry Podcast: Reimagining Community: How the Hub Laundromat Cafe is a Change Catalyst in Detroit
  • Women In Vended Laundry: How Adrienne Hurrington Keeps the Wheels Turning as SAMCO
  • And More…

THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS

Industry News

Martin-Ray Named Speed Queen Distributor of the Year

Speed Queen recently awarded its highest distributor honor – the 2016 Distributor of the Year – to Martin-Ray Laundry Systems in a ceremony held June 5 at Top Golf in Las Vegas during Clean 2017.Since 2011, the Denver-based distributor has produced "significant and...

Equipment Marketers Holds 24th Annual Trade Show

Hundreds of laundry owners and potential investors in the Mid-Atlantic region attended Equipment Marketers' 24th annual trade show and service seminar, which was held May 4 at the company's headquarters in Cherry Hill, N.J. In addition, more than 25 vendors were...

Maytag Honors Leading Distributors

Maytag Commercial Laundry recently held its 58th Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, welcoming 218 attendees from 22 countries to the three-day event. One of the meeting's highlights was the Fred Maytag Awards Dinner, where the company saluted its leading distributors. This...

Girbau Signs Joint-Venture Agreement with Chinese Manufacturer

Continental Girbau Inc.'s parent company - Girbau, based in Vic, Spain - has signed a joint-venture agreement with Shenguang of China. The two laundry equipment manufacturing companies signed the agreement on May 18 in Shanghai. As a result of the joint venture,...

EnviroStar Acquires Martin-Ray Laundry Systems

EnviroStar Inc., a distributor of commercial laundry and drycleaning equipment based in Miami, has announced its acquisition of Martin-Ray Laundry Systems Inc., a distributor of vended, commercial and industrial laundry equipment, as well as a provider of laundry...

FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Columns

The Laundry Doctor

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

The Business Mind

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Wash With Wally

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Viewpoint

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Digital Marketing

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Strategic Corporate Allies Program

Our Strategic Corporate Allies support CLA’s mission through advocacy, education, and innovation to strengthen the industry, advance our members’ businesses, and prepare the next generation of laundry professionals for the future.

Interested in becoming a Strategic Corporate Ally of CLA? Contact President & CEO, Brian Wallace via email at [email protected] or call (630) 491-0499.