does anyone use a drop-off laundry service?

[tiffanic]

I know this sounds crazy, but I love doing laundry. And I am always looking for things to do to make money that I really ENJOY doing. Last night I saw a show on tv where a guy was making a living picking up laundry in his neighborhood, doing it, then dropping it off at their home the next day. It intrigued me. I know it probably sounds really gross to think of doing other's laundry, but don't mind it. In fact I did it all through college for a laundromat.

Anyway, the man on tv was doing only machine washables, not dry cleaning, but I suppose I could pick and drop off that stuff as well... He had quite a route developed and was doing all the work himself at a laundromat.

I know if I was working full time again I would hate to spend my Saturdays doing lots of loads. I imagine others feel the same way. So, I am looking for a some pricing info per pound if you or someone you know has used a service like this, and some feedback about what you thought of the service. Did you keep using it, for example?

thanks!

[funniegrrl]

I used to use a bundle service years ago. It was a service inside a laudromat, no pickup service. They charged by the pound -- I think the current rate is something like $1.85/lb Mon-Thurs, $2/lb Fri-Sun.

[MISSINDI]

Our local laundromats do laundry and charge $1/lb. (but you would have to figure in a charge for the pick-up/drop-off). I would LOVE a service that came to my house to pick it up and drop it off! Zoots picks up and drops off dry cleaning, and we have a local dairy that does milk (and assorted other stuff) deliveries weekly. Love it. A shame you're not closer!

[Gumbeaux]

I've done this before and liked it. Make SURE that nobody smokes in the house that does your laundry or your clothes will smell like smoke.

[rosen]

I think this is a great idea! (My sister once spent a summer earning $$ ironing... but she charged by the item.) I don't mind doing laundry, but would never dream of what you are thinking of doing. It's a service that I think a lot of folks would love to use!

So I'm sitting here thinking what a great idea... and then I start thinking that I have no idea of the answers to the following questions:

How much does it cost me to run a load in cold water
How much does it cost me to run a load in hot water (something I never do)
How much to run the dryer for a normal load
What's the difference between the cost of running a gas vs an electric dryer
Do you weigh dirty? Whose scales? Where are the scales if there's a dispute
What does it cost per mile to drive my car
What happens if the washer or dryer looses things
What if you can't get stains out
What if you create stains
What if the car is in the shop & you can't pick up or deliver
What if the weather is so bad that you can't pick up or deliver
What if the W/D breaks down

I could go on & on. But these are just things I'm sitting here thinking about... not trying to deter you at all! I think you should go for it! :)

[tiffanic]

I KNEW this would be a good place to ask the question. Thanks for the great advice and thoughts.

Missindi: it would be easy for me to pick up dry cleaning
I have a friend with a laundromat nearby, so I would just do it all there thereby getting it all done at once and not having to wait for each load to finish at home. I would use the front loading bigger washers and dryers to process more things at once than I could ever do at home. I wonder if I could work out a lower rate from him since I would be visiting his business every day (hopefully). And no one can smoke in a laundromat, right?? Gosh, I hope not.

So a day would look like this: drive to three or four residences, gather sacks of laundry I have already supplied the customers with, wash, dry, fold, return stacks of clothing to a newly washed sack, and drop off bundle.

The customer can unpack and separate the clean items since it would be impossible for me to know which shirt was little Susie's and which one belongs to her sister.

As for stains and damage, I think I would have to have them sign a disclaimer that they will trust me to try to remove stains I have been told about, but that I am not responsible for removing those that they haven't listed on an order tag attached to the bundle. Or I could have them check off a box on their order that says I am allowed to try to remove stains but that if items are not coming clean with conventional methods I will return the item to them without drying it. And I would have to stress that I am not doing hand washables and that by sending the items to me they understand they will be put through a machine. Lots of bases to cover...

And as far as delivery/pick up. I could do it for a small additional charge per pound outside of my neighborhood, but the regular price if within five miles or something. I have a minivan so space is not an issue in my car, and it's reliable. But I am lucky to have plenty of relatives nearby who would loan me their car in an emergency.

Keep the random thoughts coming, it's helping me think through lots of scenarios. Now I have to try to rope in some customers :)

[PAMMELA]

I think it's an awesome idea and I'd use you in an instant!!! :)

[Clover]

I think it's a great idea too. If I were a client, I would want tops and pants on hangers so they wouldn't get wrinkled, rather than folded. I would be happy to supply the hangers.