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

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‘I’m Behind in My Rent! What’s Next?’

Jan 22, 2015

As the title character, Harold Hill, in the Broadway musical, "The Music Man," observes, "Trouble! Right here in River City!" Substitute the name of your hamlet for River City and the message should be clear. In most states, a three-day notice to pay rent or quit must...

Some Advice on Giving Advice

Jan 22, 2015

A member of the Coin Laundry Association recently called me regarding an adverse ruling in small claims court, which resulted in a $770 judgment against the laundry owner. Apparently, an attendant employed by the owner assisted a customer – at the customer's request –...

Can a Shareholder be Liable for Corporate Debt?

Jan 22, 2015

Although the personal liability of shareholders is generally limited to their investment in a corporation, there are circumstances under which corporate protection from personal liability can be set aside by the courts. The basis for setting aside such protection is...

Headlines

Wash with Wally: Dealing with Dog Hair

Originally posted - Jul 01, 2014 What is the best way to remove dog hair from blankets and dog beds? The best way to handle such a situation is to put these items in the dryer before running them through the wash cycle. Let them run through a drying cycle or two, and...

Wash with Wally: Tracking Loads for Pickup and Delivery

Originally posted - Mar 07, 2013 I'm trying to establish a pickup and delivery business, in addition to my drop-off laundry service. I recently picked up the business of a retirement home, which has about 60 residents. How do I segregate the laundry loads? In other...

Wash with Wally: Stocking Your Wash-Dry Fold Business

Originally posted - Jun 01, 2012 What types of cleaning products and other items are required for me to have what you would consider a fully stocked wash-dry-fold arsenal for my attendants? Basically, to start a wash-dry-fold service, you need bagging supplies -...

Wash with Wally: Cleaning Non-Stainless Dryers

Originally posted - Feb 15, 2013 My dryer fronts are not stainless steel. They have a painted white finish that is slightly grainy, and I've been having some difficulty keeping them clean. How would you recommend I clean these dryers? I would recommend you buy any...

Wash with Wally: Washer Efficiency, Grease Stains and More…

I had one of my stack dryers burn on the inside. I don't know what caused it. Help! There are a number of factors that could be responsible for this occurrence - chemicals still in the clothing after the wash cycle, a lighter in one of the pockets, malfunctioning...

Wash with Wally: Stains on Suede

Originally posted - May 02, 2014 A customer of mine recently brought in a chocolate-colored suede coat, on which she had spilled cola. Do you have any tips that would help me remove this dark stain for her? Suede can be very fragile to dye release. You can try using...

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...

Scaling Wash & Fold Operations

Learn how to grow your wash & fold from an offering into a money-making operation.

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This Month's Issue

Connecting, Learning, Advocating: CLA Maximizes Impact at Clean Show 2025
Member Spotlight: Finding a Niche in the Laundromat Industry
PlanetLaundry Podcast: Turning Setbacks into Success: Saichelle McNeill’s Journey
A Laundromat With Heart: Inside Cherry Drive’s Customer-First Approach
And More…

THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS

Industry News

Survey: Small Business Faces Major Workforce Issues

The National Small Business Association, in partnership with Cynthia Kay and Company Media Production, has released the 2017 Small Business Workforce and Labor Survey, which quantifies how workforce issues ranging from immigration to education to background checks...

Primus Adds Belenky to Distribution Network

Primus has announced that Belenky, Inc. is the newest addition to the manufacturer's distribution network. "Belenky has a 100-year history of providing excellent service to laundry equipment customers," said Mark Schram, North American sales manager for Primus. "We...

Statewide Announces Fall Laundry Improvement Expos

Statewide Laundry Equipment - with offices in Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and Miami, Fla. - has released details of its Fall Laundry Improvement Expos, which will be held in central and south Florida on September 19, 20 and 27. These programs were developed to...

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...