laundry?

[cptacek]

If you live in a college town, you might be able to make some money by doing laundry for people. I just remembered that when I was a freshman in college, one of the football players offered to pay me $5 a load to do his laundry for him. At my particular college, using the washers and dryers were free, but I was just too busy to do it. Oh, and it was kind of icky because of the sweat

But, if someone had a washer / dryer, they could charge by the load. Make up some bags out of white canvas that, when full, represent a load of laundry. Make it so even if they cram it full, you will still do only a load with it. Probably a two load minimum, so you can sort whites from colors, though. If you got more than one client, you would have to attach their name to the bag so you would know whose was whose. Use canvas or some other strong not color transferable material, and you can just throw the bag in with the clothes. That way you wouldn't get the clean clothes dirty from the dirty laundry bag.

The hardest part would be pickup/delivery and folding. Other than that, the machines do the work.

Advertise at the college laundry mat, and if you have a high efficiency pair, advertise that, too. The greenies will eat that up.

You would probably want a "use at your own risk" contract, though. Wouldn't want to be sued because someone put something that shouldn't be washed into the laundry bag.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

More than 20 years ago there was a guy who started up a laundry service for students at a private college (one with tuition that must now be ~$42K yearly). He charged $20 (20+ years ago, I'm tellin' ya!) per load. I couldn't believe he had enough clients to make a business of it at that rate. He brought the laundry to the laundromat where I did my laundry.

A few years later, a self laundromat opened that seemed to feature the name of the school he first got clients from. U Wash/Wash U-- laundromat & school nickname. The laundromat uses in its logo letters that look like those on an athletic jacket and uses the colors of the university. I always wondered whether the proprietor was the same guy who'd picked up and washed the students' laundry.

It can work.

[cptacek]

wow, $20 a load! that would add up quick!

[zeldo]

It is an interesting idea but I can't really see how you would make significant amounts on this for the work involved.

Also there is a the liability factor to take into consideration what if someone says you wrecked their armani shirt, at the very least you would have to factor in the cost of insurance for this.

[cptacek]

Yes, that is why I said a "use at your own risk" contract. But insurance would probably be a good idea anyway.

But, significant amount of work? Let's see. I already said pickup/deliver would be the hardest part. But other than that? Sort. Dump into a washer. Pour the soap. Close the lid. Set the dial and pull. Wait. Put clothes in dryer. Add dryer sheet. Close the door. Set the dial and pull. Fold. Put back in bag.

Don't you think that would be pretty easy? I mean, people around here crow about picking up pennies. This would be at least as lucrative as that

Make your own soap and it would be even cheaper. And greener, which you could also advertise.

[jIM_Ohio]

It is an interesting idea but I can't really see how you would make significant amounts on this for the work involved.

Also there is a the liability factor to take into consideration what if someone says you wrecked their armani shirt, at the very least you would have to factor in the cost of insurance for this.

Its called demand

people in college are "too busy". Fri-Sat-Sun were the laundry days when I went to college, and I might have spent as much time waiting for machine(s) to become available as I did with laundry in the machines.

If I do not wake up until noon on Sat or Sun, and there is a party at 10pm, that also shrinks the time available.

There is demand, just find the right price point.

[creditcardfree]

I just browsed the craigslist ads in my area. There is one person advertising to do laundry...including pick up and delivery. Ad says about $15! An interesting idea.

[Mike75]

Good idea

This is indeed a good idea.... Anybody can do this. This can be tried by housewives and bachelor's too. They can do laundry for their neighbors and friends and earn some extra cash.

[ThePennyHoarder]

I've seen a lot of people advertising on Craigslist looking for someone to do their laundry. I even saw one ad today that was looking for someone to iron - they were willing to pay $1 per shirt.

[GregOlney]

haha, bummer! that would be a hard life...

[Sian]

now THIS idea has me thinkin...

$10/load (just wash/dry)
$15/load (wash/dry, fold)
$10-15 extra (ironing)

[cptacek]

You already have a laundry mat in college, or already have someone doing this at the college?

In our school, the washers and dryers were free and the guy STILL offered me $5/load to do it. It is about time and priority, not access to a washer/dryer.