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.

Powering Your Laundromat

Powering Your Laundromat

A Look at What’s Ahead for Natural Gas and Electricity Prices It’s no secret that electricity and natural gas prices are rising across the board – and have been for a while. Electricity prices began rising shortly after winter storms in February 2021 and have been...

15 Steps to a Smooth Laundry Project

15 Steps to a Smooth Laundry Project

1. Make sure your site is zoned for a laundromat before you buy or start the project. Also, make sure of what size signage you can install and where you can put it. 2. Oversize your utilities – 400-amp, three-phase service. Know whether you will need a transformer on...

Slashing Through the Red Tape, Part 2

Slashing Through the Red Tape, Part 2

Working with Local Government and Utilities to Get Your Laundromat Project Completed on Schedule and on Budget [This is the second of a two-part feature. You can read Part 1 here.] In Part 2 of PlanetLaundry's May cover story, laundromat owners shared their thoughts...

Headlines

Wash with Wally: Removing Wine Stains, Washing Silk Shirts, More…

My wash-dry-fold service recently has received a number of garments with wine stains. We’ve done a decent job of getting out most of the stains, but not all of them. Do you have any suggestions to help us tackle any wine stains we may encounter in the future? Wine is...

Coin-O-Matic to Host Free Event for Laundromat Owners, Investors

Coin-O-Matic will host a free educational and networking event for laundromat owners and investors on October 18 at the company’s headquarters in Alsip, Ill. Throughout the daylong event, attendees will be able to watch live product demonstrations of Maytag laundry...

Join the Conversation, Part 2

How to Build Your Laundry’s Brand Through Social Media Marketing [This is the second of a two-part feature on how laundromat owners can use social media to market their businesses and build their brands. You can read Part 1 here.] Long-time laundromat owner Patti...

CLA Launches Initiative for Women in the Vended Laundry Industry

In 2019, the Coin Laundry Association held its first luncheon for women in vended laundry during the Clean Show in New Orleans. Nearly 80 people attended and the feedback was positive. Due to the pandemic, the next event to focus on women in the laundromat industry...

Three LaundroLab Locations Coming to Denver

Two military veterans are bringing the LaundroLab franchise concept to their Denver communities. Shannon Christianson and Evette Velez are laying the groundwork for a family venture in hopes that their 13-year-old daughter eventually can become involved in the...

HappyNest Expands PUD Service

Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its availability to Crystal Lake, Ill., through its new partner, Kimberly’s TLC. Based in Crystal Lake, the facility now provides HappyNest laundry services to residents and businesses in the area, which...

LaundryCares to Host Free Laundry, Literacy Event in New York City

The LaundryCares Foundation has announced it will host a Free Laundry and Literacy Day event on October 10 at four Clean Rite Center laundromat locations throughout the greater New York area, encompassing the communities of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. Local...

Join the Conversation, Part 1

How to Build Your Laundry’s Brand Through Social Media Marketing [This is the first of a two-part feature on how laundromat owners can use social media to market their businesses and build their brands.] Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay. Research shows...

EVI Reports Record Results for 2022

EVI Industries Inc. has reported record operating results for the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year, ended June 30, 2022. The fourth quarter financial highlights include: Revenue increased 28 percent to a record $83 million. Gross profit increased 36 percent to a...

HappyNest Expands PUD Service to Myrtle Beach

Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its availability to Myrtle Beach, S.C., through new partner, Sam’s Laundromat. Based in Conway, Sam’s now provides HappyNest services to residents and businesses within the greater Myrtle Beach area. “Our...

Tips for Social Media Success

When it comes to social media marketing, businesses often face a difficult decision: what type of content should they post – be it on Facebook, Instagram or somewhere else? The answer isn’t always clear-cut, as different platforms have different audiences and...

Investor to Bring LaundroLab Concept to Nashville Market

Michael Meade is a CPA and real estate investor in Nashville – and now also a laundromat owner. Meade is currently working with laundromat franchise LaundroLab to solidify plans to purchase space for his first LaundroLab location. He initially identified LaundroLab...

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September Magazine Issue

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

ACI Unveils Redesigned Website Promoting Cold-Water Washing

The American Cleaning Institute has launched a redesigned website for its Cold Water Saves initiative, which is a joint effort of ACI and The Sustainability Consortium to promote the power of cold-water washing. Originally launched in 2016, Cold Water Saves aims to...

GNA Honors Fowler Laundry Solutions

Fowler Laundry Solutions, based in Union, N.J., has received its fifth consecutive Girbau North America Multi-Housing Distributor of the Year Award for outstanding service, sales, and support in the multi-housing laundry market. Led by Doug Fowler and founded in 1952,...

GNA Adds to Headquarters Staff

Girbau North America recently welcomed Barb Kramer as national accounts coordinator and Paige Paulick as inside sales associate. Kramer handles multiple duties in support of national accounts sales and customer relations, including order processing, assisting...

Speed Queen Adds Third Franchise Location in Dallas Market

Speed Queen has continued to expand its laundromat franchise in Dallas. The newest Speed Queen Laundry – located at 2950 Walnut Hill Lane – is the third such store in the Dallas area. “We’re excited to add another great location to the Dallas market and give these...

FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Columns

The Laundry Doctor

The Magic Number

When Processing Natural Fibers, It's Critical That Temperatures Remain Below 80 Degrees Temperature is a key component within the overall cleaning process. And one of the most important temperature thresholds with regard to cleaning is 80 degrees. What's so important...

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The Business Mind

The Formula for Powerful Advertising

The Formula for Powerful Advertising

Don’t Overlook the Impact of Human Psychology on the Success of Your Promotional Campaigns I’m a firm believer that advertising is simply applied psychology using print, television, radio or any other media platform the advertiser so chooses. Given that, it stands to...

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Wash With Wally

Wash with Wally: Installing an ATM

Wash with Wally: Installing an ATM

I just got into the laundromat business, and I’m considering installing an ATM in my store. My question is whether I’m better off buying a machine outright and installing it myself, or having an outside vendor own and install the ATM, with some type of commission...

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Viewpoint

The Art of Building a Brand

Here Are the Keys to Establishing and Growing Your Laundry Business' Brand IdentityWhat is a brand and why is it critical to the success of a business? What factors must be considered when establishing a brand and brand identity? How is your brand communicated?...

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Digital Marketing

Go Beyond Basic Website Maintenance

Go Beyond Basic Website Maintenance

Three Tips to Help ‘Future-Proof’ Your Business’ Site One of the biggest draws of the vended laundry industry is that it’s “future-proof.” In other words, unless there’s some type of apocalypse that none of us see coming, people are going to need to do their laundry....

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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.