The Business of Laundry: Models That Work

In today’s laundromat industry, one truth holds across every market, model and mission: success requires more than just machines. Today’s operators must choose business models strategically, execute consistently, and lead with intention. Some lean into simple,...

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...

Metrics That Matter

Profit, Performance, and Planning in Vended Laundry The laundromat business is like most businesses in that you need to do a lot of things right to be successful. But how do you know if it’s working? According to successful owners, you just need to look at the...

Safety First, Last… Always

The Laundromat Owner’s Guide to Preventing Accidents, Protecting Your Business, and Controlling Your Insurance Costs As more and more entrepreneurs are discovering, running a laundromat can be a hugely rewarding business. But it also comes with its own set of risks...

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When Colleges Offer Free Laundry

Jan 22, 2015

A laundry owner located near a state university recently posed an interesting legal question. It seems that the school has begun offering "free laundry" to students residing in its dormitories. And, in fact, this appears to be somewhat of a trend, as an increasing...

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...

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: Fire-Damaged Dryers

Originally posted - Sep 16, 2013 I have a huge problem with my insurance company. I had a dryer fire, in which half of my dryers were totally destroyed. The other half had minor heat damage, but a lot of smoke and stain damage. The problem I'm having is that the...

Wash with Wally: Fragrances and Scents

Originally posted - Dec 10, 2014 I have a question about fragrances and scents. Is there any way to add something different to the wash to get it smelling fresh, aside from the normal scented detergents or fabric softeners? Sometimes I wish there was something to add...

Wash with Wally: What to Consider Before Adding Drop-Off Drycleaning

Originally posted - Aug 13, 2012 I have a coin laundry and am interested in adding a drop-off drycleaning business. Can you give me any suggestions regarding things I might need to know and/or do before adding this to my current operation? First of all, you have to...

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...

This Month's Issue

Tech on the Rise: How Operators Are Using Innovation to Run Smarter, Faster Laundromats: From AI phone systems to real-time data tracking, operators and suppliers share how technology is reshaping the modern laundry business and what’s coming next.
Business Profile: Delivering a Superior
Laundry Experience
Member Spotlight: Rick Rome –
Innovating Laundry, One Customer at a Time
Guest Column: How AI Changed Google Reviews (What Laundromat Owners Need to Know)
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...

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...

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,...