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.
A Southern Gentleman
An Interview with Veteran Laundry Distributor Lamar ThomasLamar Thomas, president of T&L Equipment Sales Co., got his start in the laundry industry in 1954, delivering washers and dryers to coin laundries in the Charlotte, N.C. area. In 1967, he joined his father...
Language in the Laundromat
Store Owners Launch Early Childhood Literacy and Learning Program in the Chicago SuburbsLaundry operators Bill Norteman and Jim Cowen know what it's like to try to do the family laundry with children in tow. As the co-owners of JetXpress Laundry in Elgin, Ill., they...
Marketing, Technology And Making More Money
Boost Your Digital Marketing Success with Automation Techniques, Solid Analytics and a Retargeting ProgramTechnology is a game-changer.Since the year 2000, we've seen the invention, adoption, and removal of advancements like MySpace, multiple generations of...
Headlines
Florida Franchisor Looks to Expand National Footprint
WaveMAX Laundry – a vended laundry franchisor based in Jacksonville, Fla., currently with 16 laundromat locations across multiple states – is looking to aggressively boost its share of the market. The brand has an additional 24 locations under development and nearly...
PlanetLaundry Podcast, Episode 6: Understanding Our Economic Behavior
In this episode, PlanetLaundry columnist Stephen Bean shares the latest installment of his column "The Business Mind" entitled, Understanding Our Economic Behavior: How Our Psychological Makeup Impacts Our Financial Decisions. You can read the full story in the July...
Planning for a New Normal
Key Considerations for Laundry Owners in the Post-COVID-19 World These days, I find myself spending a good chunk of my time thinking about my laundry business – not necessarily about what to do with my PPP stimulus money or how to run my operation in the middle of...
Make 2020 Count
“The more people, the more dirty clothes.” – Ancient laundromat wisdom Time flies, as do the decades. Despite the ongoing pandemic and economic concerns, there’s a headcount to be made in 2020. The original constitutional edict from the framers comes to life in the...
Clean 2021 Booth Sales Now Open to 2019 Exhibitors
The Clean Show is now accepting booth space contracts for next year’s event from all of the exhibitors who participated in the 2019 show. Space is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Sales will open to all other companies interested in exhibiting this fall....
CLA Board of Directors Issues Statement Rejecting Racism
Today, the Coin Laundry Association’s Board of Directors issued the following statement: The Coin Laundry Association’s mission is “to advance the self-service laundry industry by providing store operators with the industry research, connectivity, education and other...
Clean 2019 Listed Among Top Trade Shows
Trade Show News Network, which covers the latest news and trends in the trade show industry, has ranked the Clean Show at No. 83 in its listing of Top 250 Trade Shows of 2019. The annual list is based on net square feet of paid exhibit space. Clean 2019 in New Orleans...
Speed Queen Opens 700th Branded Laundry
Speed Queen recently reached a milestone by opening its 700th branded laundromat, with the launch of its new store in Orbassano, Italy. “New investors and entrepreneurs continue to leverage the brand equity and our proven business model of Speed Queen-branded...
What’s on My Bookshelf?
The ‘Best of the Best’ from the Author’s Own Personal Business Library I’ve had the same office in the same building for the last 15 years – from which my brother, Fred, and I run our laundry machinery distributorship. As with most repetitive actions, when I arrive to...
Let the Buyer Beware
What You Should Never Do When Looking to Purchase an Existing Laundromat In recent years, thanks in part to writing for this magazine, as well as getting the opportunity to speak to store owners through the Coin Laundry Association’s Connect LIVE program, I’ve been...
Staying Power
Looking Ahead to the Future of Laundromats The coronavirus outbreak has significantly impacted all of our lives in some way or another. Some of us have witnessed the dangers of this virus first-hand and the very real health concerns it presents. Many others have lost...
PlanetLaundry Podcast, Episode 5: Are You Covered?
In this episode we will hear from Jason Rehor, an account executive with Associated Agencies and your representative for CLA Insurance. Jason can be reached at (847) 427-3524, or email: [email protected]. You can read the full story entitled “Are You Covered? What...
SPONSORED CONTENT
This Month's Issue
- Green is Good Business: Green Operations Increasingly Important to Feed Consumer Demand
- Women In Laundry: Lee Ann Geurts Loves a Challenge
- Store Profile: Kings Laundry Kicking it in Los Angeles
- Untapped Growth Opportunities
- And More…
THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS
Industry News
Rinse Buys FlyCleaners, Launches in New York City
Laundry and drycleaning service Rinse recently acquired its New York-based competitor, FlyCleaners, and has launched in New York City. Founded by Ajay Prakash, James Joun and Sam Cheng, the San Francisco-based startup said it will expand its laundry...
Laundromat Contributes to Local Nonprofit
Washin’ Coin Laundry, based in Anniston, Ala., recently donated a percentage of the proceeds from its operations to 2nd Chance Inc., a local nonprofit group that provides support for the victims of domestic and sexual abuse. Laundry owner Ken Barrett presented a check...
Whirlpool Commits to ‘Low-Carbon’ Future
The U.S. Department of Energy has recognized Whirlpool Corp. for committing to reduce portfolio-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent within 10 years and to work with the DOE to share successful solutions and decarbonization strategies. As a...
Curbside Laundries Announces Client Appreciation Dinner
Curbside Laundries will host a dinner reception on July 29 – the day before the opening of Clean 2022 – in appreciation of the company’s clients. According to the company, more than 130 Curbside clients will be attendance at the free dinner reception in Atlanta, which...
Attendee Registration Now Open for Clean ’22
Attendee registration for this year’s Clean Show has officially opened. The four-day event – to be held from July 30 through August 2 in Atlanta – will attract thousands of laundry and textile-care industry professionals from all around the world to discover the...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor

The Laundry Doctor’s Inbox
Originally posted -Feb 01, 2013 Since I opened my coin laundry, and especially since I started writing for PlanetLaundry, I notice that the Laundry Doctor receives quite of bit of e-mail – from laundry owners and laundry "doers" alike – asking my advice on everything...
The Business Mind
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Fighting Oil Stains, Operating a Delivery Service and More…
On occasion, I will receive drop-off laundry that has one or two pieces with oil stains. Is there anything available at the local supermarket or hardware store that I can use to remove these stains? If so, what is it, and how do you use it? There are a few products...
Viewpoint
Vital Signs
Neglect Your Store's Signage at Your Own Risk Because a laundromat is a self-service business, there is the tendency among some owners to have a "build-it-and-they-will-wash" attitude toward their stores. In other words, the focus is primarily on the equipment offered...
Digital Marketing
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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.