I own a laundromat in a small town without a drycleaner, and one of my customers recently brought in a white wedding gown for me to clean. It is made from a synthetic material, which I believe is polyester. How can I clean it?
Before you do anything, be absolutely certain that everything on the wedding gown is synthetic, including the thread, in order to prevent puckering.
Next, take the gown home. Fill your bathtub with warm water, and then pour in about a half-pint of a quality dishwashing detergent and approximately 16 ounces of OxiClean – and mix it into a solution. Place the dress into the solution and gently swirl the garment for five to 10 minutes, and then let it soak for three to four hours.
Drain the water and refill the tub with clean water. Rinse the wedding dress twice and then hang it on a plastic – not metal – hanger until it dries. After it dries, you can steam out any wrinkles.
Keep in mind that most drycleaners will charge anywhere from $50 to $125 to clean wedding gown, so be sure to charge accordingly.
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 specific enough. Most of the time, when the labels give an instruction regarding the use of bleach, they qualify it by saying, “Do not use chlorine bleach.”
The only bleach I know that could be harmful is chlorine bleach. You can try using non-chlorine bleach. Put a little in a glass, mix it with water, and then take a cotton swab and go over the stained area to see if there is any fabric damage. If you don’t notice any fabric damage, you can feel safe washing the comforter with non-chlorine bleach.
My recommendation is, if you’ve got cotton items, wash them in hot water with a quality detergent and non-chlorine bleach.
I’m trying to buy a laundry that’s located in a shopping center, and I would like to know what is considered a reasonable rent per square foot. I don’t want to get stuck with a lot of escalator clauses.
Of course, a “reasonable rent”is relative to the volume and profit of the particular business. I always look at the gross volume and won’t pay more than 25 percent; preferably I like 15 percent to 20 percent of dollar volume for at least the first five years, or until the mortgage is paid off.
When the total rent goes beyond 30 percent, you’re getting into the red zone – and you become vulnerable to changes such as utility increases, labor increases or a new competitor.
Also, don’t get involved with cost of living increases. It’s always a phantom figure. Management companies look for any reason to increase your rent, because they get a percentage of the profit. If possible, deal directly with the owner, not a management company.
Remember that rents never go down, and a bad lease is the biggest drawback when the time comes to sell your store.
My wash-dry-fold and commercial laundry business is going very well. My attendants are busy all day. However, I recently landed a contract with a security company to do their shirts. This client wants the shirts washed and ironed. Unfortunately, I’ve been having a difficult time finding a decent iron that will last. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
You’ve probably been using residential-type irons for this account, and while such irons are great for home use, they simply aren’t constructed to stand up to the rigors of commercial use. The elements are too thin, and the water chambers are too small. In addition, many people tend to put tap water into their irons, which will calcify the water chamber prematurely.
I would suggest calling your laundry supplies distributor and ordering a quality commercial iron that features an independent, hanging water bottle. Such an iron would be ideal for the type of work you described. And, remember, use only distilled water in your iron, and it should last for years.
