How to organize your laundry room
Organizing a laundry room: 10 ways to organize a laundry room
(Image credit: Martin Moore/Darren Chung)
You can bring a smile to wash day if you follow our advice for how to organize a laundry room (honestly).
Of course, to get on top of laundry tasks, it helps to have a dedicated space, especially if it’s one you can close the door on. And when planned with care, this is one asset you’ll never want to be without.
The pursuit of the best laundry room organization tips may seem like a never-ending mission, but keeping your utility and laundry room organized is vital to achieving a functional yet stylish space.
Disorder is often a sign of a lived-in, homely space, and we'd hate to get rid of that notion entirely. After all, not every laundry room needs to look like a minimalist or purist haven. What we do want to do is make things easier to locate, use and maintain – and many of these ideas will be useful for organizing a kitchen, too.
We've asked the design experts to share the best laundry room organization tips they've learnt through the years.
Organizing a laundry room
Our ever-busier lives and the rise in popularity of open-plan living mean it is more important than ever to maintain a sense of calm and order in the home. Separate, well-designed utility and laundry rooms are perfect for creating an organized environment; offering a space where laundry can be stored, ironed and aired out of sight and, essentially, kept out of the main kitchen/living areas. The key to a well-organized space? Excellent laundry room storage ideas; and this is where to start.
(Image credit: Kathleen Walsh Interiors)
One thing about organizing a laundry room – just as with organizing a pantry – is ensuring it's not only fit for purpose but takes the pressure off other spaces, especially when you’re doing so in tandem with organizing a small kitchen. This means working enough laundry room cabinet ideas and laundry room shelving ideas into it, with a mind to exactly what you need, where you need it.
Here, Kathleen Walsh Interiors used smart floor-to-ceiling storage to provide hidden hanging/drying space, room for an ironing board and plenty of storage.
'We are quite practical-minded when we work through a design and especially for rooms getting a lot of wear and tear, not every element need be custom. Here we combined custom cabinetry with off the shelf bells and whistles for the cabinet interiors,' says Kathleen.
2. Store seldom used items up high
(Image credit: Future / Kasia Fiszer)
The best way to maximize space when organizing a laundry room is to install floor-to-ceiling storage, following the rules for organizing kitchen cabinets with high-level cupboards for seldom used items – perhaps out-of-season bedding, holiday supplies, even vases and party platters, accessible via a step ladder.
'Using cabinetry up high for dangerous substances such as bleach that you don't want young kids or pets to get hold of is a sensible way to organize a laundry room, too,' says Lucy Searle, Homes & Gardens' editor in chief. 'Failing that, these cabinets need to be lockable.'
3. Use baskets to organize a laundry room
(Image credit: Future / Carolyn Barber)
Favorites for organizing deep pantry shelves and when organizing a utility room, baskets are also your laundry room friend.
You can designate the baskets to each member of the family so that everyone has easy access to their own clean clothes (meaning you don't have to deliver them to their rooms), or use the baskets to separate darks from lights. Or use them to store guest towels.
If your laundry room doubles up with mudroom ideas, and you have the space, bench seating provides somewhere to sit and change shoes, as well as allowing for handy laundry organization opportunities for anything from dirty laundry or shoes waiting for a wash to laundry supplies.
4. Stack appliances to save floor space
(Image credit: Amalia Gal Interior Design)
Organizing a laundry room isn't just about use of space, it's about ensuring efficiency, too, as in this laundry room makeover by Amalia Gal Interior Design .
'If families have the space and budget, we recommend incorporating two washing machines and two dryers so laundry can be processed in half the time,’ says Richard Moore, design director, Martin Moore Design .
'For a recent project, we were asked to accommodate commercial laundry machines, which offer much larger capacities than domestic. Commercial clothes steamers have also become quite popular for eliminating trips to the dry cleaner. An extra fridge, freezer and dishwasher is a real luxury, especially if you entertain on a large scale, and can often be tucked away in the laundry room.’
If you’re keeping these appliances in a laundry room, optimize their efficiency by effectively organizing a refrigerator and organizing a chest freezer for maximum utility.
‘We have also designed a laundry chute, meaning our clients can easily whisk laundry downstairs,’ says Richard. ‘And let’s not forget pets. Rather than having the kitchen littered with dog beds, we have created practical areas for dogs within utility rooms, including dog showers and built-in baskets with underfloor heating for super-quick fur-drying after walks.'
5. Hide away laundry supplies in drawers
(Image credit: Future)
With the laundry room coming under increasing pressure to perform a variety of crucial household roles, such as washing, drying and ironing, a good layout and adequate storage are more important than ever, but that doesn't mean it needs to be all out on show, nor bespoke.
In this minimalist scheme, a simple vanity unit provides plenty of space for brushes, sponges and spare guest towels. The same rules apply as for organizing kitchen drawers so if laundry room drawers are without dividers add in kitchen organizers to create compartments.
'High capacity, hidden storage is essential to keep everything neat and tidy, providing a clutter-free space that’s a pleasure to use,' says Danny Lay at kitchen designers Caple .
6. Go for floating shelves to mix display with organization
(Image credit: Sarah Shields Photography / Whittney Parkinson Design)
As much as organizing a laundry room is about functionality, your space has to look good too. Laundry room shelving ideas – whether open shelving or hidden within a closet or behind pocket doors – are a great option for hardworking spaces.
Having everything on display, however, is not for the untidy as it requires a certain amount of dedication to keep shelves looking smart and uncluttered.
'Stick to displaying a selection of smaller trinkets and flowers to give the room a curated aesthetic,' says Whittney Parkinson, principal and interior designer at Whittney Parkinson Design .
The same applies for laundry room countertop ideas. Just as when you’re organizing kitchen countertops, keep display to a minimum to provide work space.
7. Keep often-used items on open shelves
(Image credit: Harvey Jones Kitchens)
‘We find most homeowners replicating the look and feel of their kitchen in the utility and laundry room – same countertop and color scheme, with perhaps a twist on the handles,’ says Matt Baker, designer at Harvey Jones .
When organizing a laundry room at planning stage, incorporate rails, open shelving and baskets, to avoid the small space feeling cramped with too many wall cabinets. These storage solutions also provide easy access to things you use regularly.
‘Box shelving is a great way to open up a wall and create storage, and can be painted to match the cabinets or highlight a favorite color within the room,’ suggests Matt.
Alongside plumbing for laundry appliances, a large Belfast-style sink is invaluable for all the tasks one would prefer not to carry out in the main kitchen and provides additional storage below which can be maximized with clever under-sink organization tactics. Go as big as you can with the sink to accommodate to cater for pre-soaking clothes and flower arranging, as well as hiding dirty pots and pans when entertaining.
8. Make space for airing clothes
(Image credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat / Alice Lane Interior Design)
Efficient storage should be a priority when it comes to organizing a laundry room – no one wants a hectic space after all. Providing a hanging rail somewhere is essential, allowing you to air many items at once without taking up floor space.
'There are many creative bespoke solutions to storage in a multi-purpose laundry room,' explains Jessica Bennett, owner and design prinicpal at Alice Lane Interior Design . 'One way is to maximize full ceiling heights with overhead storage cabinets, which also makes a great decorative feature.
'
To break up a large wall of cabinets, it's also a good idea to use a combination of closed and open solutions.
There’s only so far shelving can be narrowed down and still prove useful, so if leaving a large floor area in a laundry room is the goal, such as in narrow utility rooms, opt for hanging rails in its place.
9. Create room for airing bedlinen and towels
(Image credit: Martin Moore Design / Darren Chung)
A ceiling laundry pulley for drying linens is a great way to ensure a well-organized laundry. Suspended at ceiling height, it creates little impact on the rest of your laundry room, freeing up floorspace for other essentials or more storage. Fit it above the sink so wet outerwear can drip dry without leaving puddles on the floor.
The best organized laundry rooms will have a window that opens, too – it benefits ventilation in the room, ups natural light levels, and improves the ambience when spending time within the room and is valuable when performing tasks such as ironing.
10. Label laundry baskets
(Image credit: Future)
Whatever you keep in your laundry baskets, labelling them, just as you would with Mason jars in a pantry, allows you to quickly access what you need. With any luck, it might encourage other family members to get on with their own laundry chores, too.
How do I organize my laundry room?
Regardless of whether you are looking for small laundry room ideas or have a large area at your disposal, laundry room makeovers should create space for the following:
- sorting dirty and clean washing
- handwashing
- drying
- ironing
How do I declutter my laundry room?
To declutter your laundry room, it needs to be organized like a well-oiled machine, geared up for sorting, laundering, drying, ironing and airing clothes and bedlinen, with you at its center, a whirlwind of efficiency.
Start by emptying the laundry room entirely to give it a good clean.
Then, discard anything you can't or won't use or have too much of – you needn't assign them to the garbage; it may be that you can find a grateful home for them.
Improve storage. There are a whole host of laundry room storage ideas to choose from: consider laundry closet ideas, create drawer or shelf space, hanging racks and pegs, and invest in rolling carts for awkward under-countertop spaces.
Assign cupboards or zones in your laundry room for different purposes or laundry tools. This is key to ensure it remains functional as it will allow you to be sure you don't double up on too many things in future.
So, you may have one zone for dirty laundry, one for folding, one for stacking, one for laundry powder, one for drying – and so on. These zones need to be little more than a rack, basket, a shelf in a cupboard or a countertop space, but keeping them distinct will help the laundry room feel organized.
Once you've decluttered your laundry room, consider whether this space can be used to take pressure off other areas of your house.
A cupboard for brushes, brooms and cleaning products could provide extra kitchen storage solutions that will free up kitchen space. And although a steamy laundry room isn’t advisable for storing foods that can spoil, it would be fine for canned and bottled goods, or perhaps to take a second freezer or a wine cooler.
If the hallway has become a dumping ground for the family’s coats and shoes, your laundry room could also include mudroom ideas, with hanging space for damp jackets and a low bench by the back door with shoe storage beneath, handy as a quick perch when changing boots or sports gear.
How do you maximize space in a laundry room?
To maximize space in a laundry room, first and foremost, the room needs a clear flow and unobstructed doorways.
The ironing board, which should be hung on the back of the laundry room door or tucked into a tall cupboard, will need floor space to be folded out for ironing – and an electric socket will need to be usefully placed to make setting up and ironing easy.
Fitted units will make the most of every inch of space. Depending on the shape and size of your laundry room, utility room storage can be fitted in a single or double run or a U-shape.
Wall units will increase storage space – or you can use wall space to hang drying racks. Don’t forget to allow enough room for cupboard doors and drawers to open.
Either way, the use of vertical space is important: a laundry room needn't feel spacious, like you might want your kitchen ideas to – practicalities come first.
Laundry appliances and the sink will need to be connected, so if you intend to move them or are setting up an entirely new room, speak to a plumber at an early stage of the project in case there are any pipework restrictions.
To make the most of space, consider choosing a combined washer dryer or stack the dryer on top of the washing machine in a purpose-built unit.
Don’t fret if your house or apartment is seriously short of space as, with a bit of creativity, utility room ideas can be incorporated into even the tiniest of spaces.
For example, a mini wash station could be set up under the stairs or in an alcove, with the washer and dryer stacked, and cupboards and a small worktop alongside.
What does every laundry room need to be organized?
With the right balance between storage and work space, a laundry room becomes a model of efficiency – and this is what it needs, other than the obvious appliances.
Tall storage is a must for the ironing board, mops and brooms. In a larger room the ironing board could be left out all the time but in a bijou room a fold-out ironing board integrated into a cupboard is a neat solution.
Counter space makes light work of baskets for folding and sorting clothes.
Detergents and cleaning products, plus the iron should be stored behind closed doors away from the inquisitive fingers of young children.
Wall mounted-cupboards with child-proof locks are a must; a chart of laundry symbols fixed to the back of the door is a useful addition.
Below the countertop, a roll-out laundry sorter will keep dirty linen out of view.
Fortunately, no-one needs to spend wash day up to the elbows in suds any longer, but a good sink or deep basin is still an essential for hand washing delicates and woollens, cleaning off muddy boots or even rinsing the dog.
Traditionally, the sink is positioned in front of the window for the best light. Fireclay ceramic sinks are the classic option, with a deep bowl to accommodate larger items.
Fitted with a high-spout bridge tap or tall pillar taps to allow enough height to fill a bucket or bowl for handwashing, the sink will be a focal point of the room. For an industrial look, opt for a stainless steel sink, or for contemporary chic, choose a composite sink.
On days when rain threatens the classic laundry room drying rack comes into play. Strung from a pulley, it can be lowered for easy loading, then hoisted out of the way. Wall-fixed racks that fold out when needed are another option.
Look out too for country-style hooks or a rail to take shirts and dresses on hangers.
Step up the decorative elements with a generous laundry hamper, open wicker baskets and peg bags in fun prints.
Think about incorporating an extractor fan to improve the ventilation; a dehumidifier is great for getting washing dry quickly, especially on rainy days, and will help stop the room from smelling damp.
How do you organize towels in a laundry room?
If your laundry room is also the place where you keep towels, organizing them so that they feel fresh and welcoming at bath time is important.
Towel storage ideas might include a cupboard that has some ventilation – such as simple, drilled holes in the cabinet door or side – and with adjustable shelves will help you keep towels soft and well organized in a laundry room.
Assign one shelf to bath towels, one to hand towels, one to guest towels, one to beach towels – and so on.
Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.
45 Laundry Room Ideas for Small Spaces, Converted Garages & More
Avery Martin
There's no getting around doing laundry. It's just one of those chores that has to remain a priority. Otherwise, you can easily become overwhelmed. Even though the process — sorting, washing, drying and folding your clothing — might take much more time than you'd like, there are some ways to make it much more efficient each week.
A good place to start is with a well-designed laundry room, especially if you have a small space. Here, we've gathered the best laundry room ideas to make your design scheme much more stylish and functional.
This roundup, including brilliant design and DIY tips, storage solutions as well as wall color and art ideas is full of inspiration for your home. You can take a design risk by combining your laundry room with an office, save space (and be practical) by converting a closet or go bold with patterned wallpaper and floor-to-ceiling shelving. There's even room to get creative with storage — think pull-out shelves for cabinets along with mounted drying racks, laundry hampers and ironing boards.
Take a look through these laundry rooms for 2022 that are big on style and order.
PC PhotographyGetty Images
1 of 45
Incorporate a Work Station
If a dedicated office and laundry area don't work for your home, combine the two in one space.
Punch up the look with cheery wallpaper and pastel blue cabinets.
RELATED: Top Paint Color Trends to Keep On Your Radar for 2022
Courtesy of Country Living
2 of 45
Decorate a Shelf
Love the look of your well-decorated living room mantel? Recreate a similar arrangement in your laundry room by propping art against the wall and placing greenery in a small decorative jar. You can also store laundry extras on there.
PC Photography
3 of 45
Have Fun With Flooring
There's no reason not to go bold with flooring in a utilitarian space. Try patterned floor tiles in a classic plaid to amp up your layout.
phototropicGetty Images
4 of 45
Showcase Wood Cabinets
You can never go wrong with classic wood in a design scheme. Here, wood cabinets that provide ample storage are paired with complementary flooring to warm up the room.
Lindye Galloway
5 of 45
Hang a Pendant Light
Lighting is key in functional spaces, especially in laundry rooms.
Show off your style with a sleek pendant light that'll make it easy to sort and fold clothing.
David Tsay
6 of 45
Go for Numbered Baskets
With numbered storage baskets in a bright color, you're sure to find everything you need to finish a load quickly without losing your cool.
Lisa Romerein/OTTO
7 of 45
Paint the Front Door
A matching door and footstool pair well with framed wall art in this laundry room. For a predominantly neutral space, try an energetic paint hue like mint green or teal.
John KeebleGetty Images
8 of 45
Stack Your Machines
Save much-needed space by stacking your washing machine and dryer within a built-in for a sleek look. Carve out enough room for an open shelf and narrow cubbie to hold things like baskets and drying racks.
Michael RobinsonGetty Images
9 of 45
Install Patterned Wallpaper
You might be reluctant to try graphic wallpaper in a living room or dining room, so experimenting with it in a smaller space, like a laundry room, is a good solution.
Plus, it's a no-fail way to bring contrast to neutral cabinets.
baonaGetty Images
10 of 45
Keep It Simple
Sometimes less is more, and this laundry setup is proof. Minimalist closed cabinetry frame this apartment's compact washer and dryer.
Julie Soefer
11 of 45
Go Tone-on-Tone
Choose cabinets and machines in the same color family to create a sense of harmony. While you can always go with grays, blacks or whites, this laundry room is proof that an unexpected hue can also work wonders in a space.
Michael Hunter
12 of 45
Hide Supplies Under a Skirt
In a smaller space, get smart with your storage by placing extra laundry supplies under your sink. Cover up the clutter with a fabric skirt, then pull it back to find whatever you're looking for.
Avery Martin
13 of 45
Make Sorting a Breeze
Work laundry hampers into the room's design, like designer Sarah Stacey did here. Place 'em on pull-out shelves to help you sort your whites, darks and delicates with ease.
SHOP SLIDING ORGANIZER
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
14 of 45
Elevate Your Machines
Ease the strain of loading and unloading by raising your washer and dryer. Use the riser kit that comes with your machines for an easy fix or take a cue from this chic laundry room designed by Christie Leu.
Sean Litchfield
15 of 45
Build Machines Into Your Cabinets
Built-ins that extend from floor to ceiling offer plenty of opportunities to store extra cleaning products, linens and more. Mix in a few cubbies next to the machines to keep your laundry day must-haves within reach.
Nicole Morrison Photo
16 of 45
Bring in Bold Colors
Liven up a windowless laundry room with bold hues. Let the patterned wallpaper be the focal point, then coordinate the flooring and cabinetry to match.
Julie Soefer
17 of 45
Add in a Pet-Washing Tub
Don't forget about your furry friends! Carve out a space to clean your pet, making sure to tailor the width and height of the tub to their overall size.
Install a hanging rod on the wall and use it as drip-dry area between washes.
Avery Martin
18 of 45
Install a Pull-Out Ironing Board
There's no way around it: Ironing boards are eyesores. Tuck yours in a cabinet, so you can discretely store it when it's not in use.
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
19 of 45
Create a Multi-Functional Mudroom
Put machines on one side and built-in shelves on the other to give one room many different purposes. Tie everything together by covering the walls with playful wallpaper, like this black-and-white blowfish design.
RELATED: Brilliant Mudroom Ideas
Sean Litchfield
20 of 45
Build a Countertop
Here's a prime example of where fashion meets function. Install a countertop on top of your front-loading machines to give you plenty of space to store laundry essentials and fold clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer.
Thomas Kuoh
21 of 45
Give Your Laundry Supplies a Home
Find a place for all of your laundry day essentials — detergent, dryer sheets and stain removers — in drawers, baskets and canisters.
Thomas Kuoh
22 of 45
Mount Dryer Racks to the Wall
Instead of taking up precious floor space, mount a few drying racks straight to the wall. When your clothes are dry, you can fold 'em up, so they don't get in the way of washing and folding.
Mark Lund
23 of 45
DIY a Clothes Hanger
Suspend an old ladder from the ceiling and hang clothes on the rungs to keep them wrinkle-free.
Julie Soefer
24 of 45
Go With a Space-Saving Storage Solution
A mix of drawers and pull-out shelves let you designate specific spaces to store laundry products, keep laundry hampers out of the way and properly fold clean clothes.
Lucy Call
25 of 45
Attach a Hanging Rod
Ample counter space is a must in any laundry room, but this design also incorporates a hanging rod, which will come in handy when it comes time to use your garment steamer.
Brie Williams
26 of 45
Use Your Machine's Exterior
Affix a bin to the side of your stackable machines to ensure that you have exactly what you need within arm's reach.
Go with something that can easily be removed and cleaned, like a flat-backed wire basket.
SHOP FLAT-BACKED BASKETS
Jessica Welling Interiors
27 of 45
Designate a Spot to Divide Dirty Laundry
Use drawers to sort delicates, colors and whites (or however else you like to divide up your laundry). Wire mesh baskets, as shown here, are the ideal option since they air out dirty clothes before washing.
See more at Jessica Welling Interiors »
Bless This Nest
28 of 45
Stack Hampers on Top of One Another
DIY a wooden shelving system with slots big enough to store two or three laundry baskets on top of one another.
See more at Bless This Nest »
Fox Hollow Cottage
29 of 45
Add a Free-Standing Shelving System
A free-standing shelving system can hold all of your supplies without getting in your way of doing laundry: Store detergents on the shelves at waist level, handheld appliances down below, and spare hangers and cleaning products up above.
See more at Fox Hollow Cottage »
Handmade Weekly
30 of 45
Roll a Cart Between Machines
We all know the struggle that comes with side-by-side machines, often becoming cluttered with lost socks, dryer sheets and dust bunnies. If you have a bigger gap between the washer and dryer, fill that space with a shelved cart that you can roll in and out.
SHOP SLIM STORAGE CART
See more at Handmade Weekly »
8 tips - how to open a laundry
Home"Novel Group"Company blog8 tips - how to open a laundry
1. Study the market, customers, competitors.
Don't open the laundry until you answer the simple questions. How many laundries are there in your city? What capacity do they have (kilograms of laundry per month or per day)? How many potential customers are there in your area? How many mini-hotels? How many hotels up to 100 rooms? How many big hotels? How many residents of your region are able to take laundry to the laundress and are interested in doing so? There are about 30 such questions in total.
And even when you open a laundry, continue to study the market. nine0003
2. Advertising, advertising and more advertising.
If you don't spend, you won't earn. It's trite, everyone knows it. But once a business is launched, unfortunately, many people forget about it. There are a lot of urgent cases, and it even seems that the business has gone and advertising may not be needed yet ... We advise you to launch advertising simultaneously with the opening of the laundry, immediately after commissioning. And never stop advertising. Of the advertising solutions recommended for laundries: advertising in Yandex.Direct, advertising in Google.Adwords (rather image), mini-booklet, mailing by e-mail, mailing of a booklet and promotional letters. We recommend sending out booklets every 6 months to all companies that may be your clients. One of the semi-annual mailings should go before the season. Advertising must be permanent. nine0003
3. Several medium-sized laundry machines are better than one large one.
It is better to have a few medium format machines than a couple of large ones. Beginners often make a standard mistake in the calculations: they plan the power of washing, drying and ironing for 1 machine. For example, according to the calculation of the laundry, the load per day will be 200 kg of dry linen (all calculations in the laundry equipment are based on dry linen). So, we can assume that the washing machine washes 4 times in 9 working hours, that is, it must have a load of 50 kg (the calculation is very rough). This is a mistake, because often a heavy load machine will not boot to 100%, and if it breaks, the whole process will stop. Therefore, try to break your laundry into 2-4 streams (the stream is the line “washing machine - dryer - skating rink”): if the calculated load allows you to put a washer-extractor with a load of 150 kg, then it is more reasonable to put 3 professional washing machines for 50 kg . The same goes for dryers. With ironing rollers and ironing calenders - a little more complicated, but similar logic works.
nine0011
View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://thenovelgroup.ru/blog/8-sovetov-kak-otkryt-prachechnuyu.html#sigProIdc6ab3342a3
4. Start buying equipment with service and parts information.
Before you buy anything, check with the supplier how quickly they ship parts and who in your area is doing the service on their behalf. Be sure to specify what terms for the fulfillment of warranty obligations are prescribed in the contract. What repair and service operations take how long.
5. Don't buy everything at once: you shouldn't equip just opening laundry with all types of equipment at once. nine0006
We, as you understand, are a supplier of laundry equipment, and, as a commercial company, we are interested in the customer buying a lot at once. But as an honest firm, we want to warn you: it's almost never wise to buy a complete set of equipment.
For example, you plan to have 3 washing machines, 2 dryers, 1 roller and 1 calender, plus finishing equipment and small items. If you are just opening a laundry, it is better to buy 1 set first: washer-dryer-calender-finish. This rule is relevant for mini-laundries and medium-sized laundries for the first year of operation. nine0003
6. Look for "anchor" clients (the 80/20 Rule).
Eighty percent of your turnover comes from twenty percent of your customers. The rule is tested and it really works. Many clients of Novel Group confirm this. Look for "anchor" customers. For a laundry business, this is one large hotel or restaurant complex. And feel free to negotiate boldly, in fact, some of the seemingly unapproachable and "cool" customers will be happy with the new laundry in your city. Many clients of "Novel Group" tell different stories, but there is a general similarity - having found the "anchor" client, they were able to make significant progress in developing the laundry as a business.
nine0003
7. Find a comfortable room.
Found an anchor customer but haven't opened a laundry yet? Then look for a laundry room that will be ideally located: close to the main customers, but also convenient for everyone else, with a convenient entrance. But above all close to the "anchor" client. You can even search in his building or on the same street. Just remember that moving a laundry is a very difficult process and the contract, at least verbal, should be for 2-4 years. The requirements for the room are simple: estimate how many kg per day you plan to wash, divide this figure by 2 and get the optimal size of the area of \u200b\u200bthe room. Don't forget about wide doorways so that you can bring in large laundry equipment. The cleanliness and level of repair greatly affect the quality of the wash. Ideal Requirements: Walls and ceiling carefully painted and dust free, floors tiled or otherwise dust-free. A separate issue is communications in the room, available electrical load, water supply, steam.
This is a topic for a separate article. nine0003
8. Go visit.
If you are planning to open a laundry as a business, then we strongly recommend that you invite yourself to visit competitors. You can pretend to be a potential client and say that in a year you will open a hotel in the suburbs and look for a contractor. Or you can be completely direct about your intentions. It is best to look for examples in another region, since in this case you do not enter into direct competition. How to proceed, decide for yourself. But we highly recommend looking at 2-5 foreign laundries. nine0003
We wish you good luck in this difficult task. You will inevitably stumble upon problems and draw some conclusions. Please contact Novel Group for advice. We always help our clients!
Home laundry business plan
Contents
- How to open a laundry?
- Home laundry business plan
- Business Registration
- Lease and requirements for premises
- Laundry equipment
- Employees
- Ways to attract customers
- Profitability of the laundry business
Undoubtedly, since childhood, every person dreams of being realized in life.
Any of us can choose one of two options: become an employee or open our own business. Many are not averse to taking risks in order to still become successful entrepreneurs and secure a decent life for themselves. If you are from such people, then this article will surely come in handy. Today we will talk about another business idea in the service sector - opening a dry cleaner. You will learn how to open a laundry and whether it is worth starting a business in this field of activity. nine0003
How to open a laundry?
It is worth noting that in Soviet times laundry services were very popular. This was due to the fact that most people had to wash things by hand. Today, despite the fact that almost every home has a washing machine, the popularity of laundries does not fade away. The thing is that some things cannot be washed at home, they require professional, special cleaning. Therefore, even despite technological progress, a fairly large number of people use laundry services.
nine0003
If you are interested in the idea of organizing a laundry as a business, then you should consider that starting such a business is quite expensive. It should be noted that with a lack of funds, you can open a mini laundry at home.
When opening a laundry, you need to decide on the format. There are two types of dry cleaners: in the first case, this is a large laundry, where customers are offered a full range of services (dry cleaning, washing, ironing), and the second is a mini laundry with a self-service system. Naturally, the first option is more expensive, but the cost of services in this case is much higher. nine0003
In general, if you have money, it is better to open a full-fledged dry-cleaning-laundry and offer your customers all kinds of cleaning, washing, ironing services. If the starting capital is small, then open a mini laundry at home.
Laundry scheme
Having decided on the direction, start drawing up a business plan.
Home laundry business plan
A well-written business plan will help you achieve your goal in a short time.
nine0003
In your home laundry business plan, set a clear direction, format, and analyze demand and competition. In addition, it is worth calculating the approximate payback time of the business and the financial costs for the project.
Choosing the format of the establishment
- Laundry-dry cleaning. This form of laundry organization offers its customers a full range of various services (laundry, stain removal, ironing). The client brings clothes to the laundry, and after 2-3 days, takes the washed and ironed linen. But do not forget that opening an institution of this format requires serious financial costs. So be prepared for a big investment. nine0026
- Mini laundry at home. It should be noted that abroad this type of service is in great demand. The thing is that in Europe the fee for the use of electricity and water is quite large, so it is much more profitable to use the services of a mini self-service laundry. The meaning of the work of a mini laundry at home is that the client loads the laundry on their own, waits for the wash to end and pick up their clothes.
The service fee is usually charged at the entrance (purchase of a token or card). The disadvantage of such establishments is that they do not provide all the necessary services. But the big plus is that the cost of laundry in a self-service laundry is much lower than in dry cleaning. That is why most of the population uses these services. nine0026
Business registration
When opening a laundry, you should register your business legally. Let's take a closer look at all the steps you need to go through in order to get a laundry permit.
Registration with the tax office. First of all, go to register your type of activity. To do this, it is necessary to determine the substantive form of activity. The easiest option is to register as an individual entrepreneur. If you plan to jointly open a laundry, then you should register a Limited Liability Company. nine0003
The next step is to obtain permission to operate from Rospotrebnadzor.
To do this, you need to submit an application and wait for the conclusion of the commission.
In addition, be sure to familiarize yourself with the sanitary-epidemiological and fire requirements for the premises and dry cleaning equipment. These services must check and issue permits for activities.
It is worth noting that the collection of all documents required for registration is a rather long process, but it cannot be avoided. If you do not have time, entrust this matter to an experienced lawyer. nine0003
Lease and requirements for premises
If you wondered how to open a laundry, then, of course, you should not miss such an important moment as renting a room in the right, advantageous place.
Even start-up entrepreneurs are well aware that the cost of rent in both large and small towns is quite high. But, do not forget that its attendance and profit directly depend on the location of the institution. Therefore, it is worth studying this issue very carefully.
First of all, you should pay attention to demand and competition. I do not recommend opening laundries in areas where similar establishments already operate. nine0003
When choosing a location, be sure to consider the format of the institution. For example, if you open a full-scale dry-cleaning-laundry with a wide range of services, then it is worth renting premises in a crowded part of the city, as an option, this is a center or a business district.
Opening a self-service laundry is more appropriate in a residential area. An excellent solution is to rent a room near high-rise buildings, preferably in the area of new buildings or near hostels, because in such places the competition is minimal, and the demand is maximum. It is students and middle-income residents who are potential customers of laundries. nine0003
Requirements for the laundry room:
- Dry cleaning room, must be located on the first or basement floor;
- Mandatory availability of water supply, sewerage, electricity;
- Well-equipped ventilation system;
In addition, the laundry room itself should be divided into several separate spaces.
- Working area. Install washing machines, clothes dryer, ironing facilities here; nine0026
- Recreation area for visitors and staff. Regardless of the chosen format, it is required to equip a separate space for visitors and employees, where they can relax and wait for their order.
- Also, if possible, set aside a place to store cleaning equipment and detergents for washing and cleaning clothes.
Laundry equipment
In this section of the business plan for opening a laundry, it is worth considering, first of all, the format of the institution. If this is a full-fledged dry-cleaner, where all kinds of cleaning, washing and ironing services are provided, then the equipment must be professional. Keep in mind that a lot of money is required to purchase it, almost the bulk of the budget will be spent on the purchase of appropriate equipment. nine0003
Mini self-service laundry does not require professional equipment.
Indeed, in this institution there are only standard laundry services, and sometimes even ironing of things. Therefore, it will be enough to purchase several automatic washing machines (preferably multifunctional), dryers, as well as ironing equipment (irons and special ironing boards).
Naturally, all entrepreneurs want to save money. In this case, the purchase of used equipment can be a completely justified goal with a shortage of finances. I recommend that you choose foreign-made equipment and accessories for dry cleaning. They are more reliable and durable in operation. nine0003
The cost of laundry equipment
It is not very correct to talk about specific figures. After all, every year the prices for equipment increase significantly. If a few years ago you could buy a washing machine for $500, today a high-quality automatic machine costs at least $1,000.
Consumable
For both dry cleaning and mini laundromat, the main consumables are laundry detergent, clothes cleaners and additional water softeners.
nine0003
Particular attention should be paid to the quality of the washing powder. Naturally, you will be purchasing it in bulk, so take care not to purchase a fake. Remember that the authority of the institution depends on the quality of the services provided, in your case, cleaning and washing clothes. Customers today are quite picky, mainly because of the possibility of choosing a better service at an affordable price. Consider this nuance and if you save, then do it competently and correctly.
In addition to washing powder, you also need to purchase other laundry detergents: bleaches, rinses, fragrances, water softeners, etc.
Video on the topic Video on the topic
Hired personnel
You will not be able to cope with all the duties on your own, so you should think about hiring hired personnel.
The number of employees depends on the volume and range of services provided.
Laundry/dry cleaning staff
- Staff for taking and issuing orders. This position will need to hire 1-2 people. The main task is to accept orders, conclude contracts for dry cleaning of clothes, issue items; nine0026
- Laundry workers. This requires hiring 2-6 people to work in shifts;
- Ironing staff. If you provide such a service, then you should hire several people whose duties will include ironing things.
- In addition, it is worth hiring an accountant, an electrician, a specialist responsible for the operation of technical equipment.
Laundry at home
If you open a mini laundry at home with a self-service system, then the number of employees is significantly reduced. You need to hire only 2-3 people who will monitor the order, operate the equipment for its intended purpose, issue tokens for using the service and, if necessary, advise customers.
nine0003
Ways to attract customers
We have already talked about how to open a laundry, now it is worth discussing how to attract customers who are ready to use this service.
The most effective way to attract people is advertising. With its help, we will learn about new inventions, opened establishments, services and more.
- Advertising in the city. To attract customers, use a bright sign that will communicate the direction of the institution, as well as attract the attention of people from afar. In addition, an effective way is to distribute flyers in crowded places and rent billboards. nine0026
- Advertising on the Internet. I recommend that you create your own dry cleaning website, where all the information of interest to the consumer will be available. Namely, the location of the institution, contact numbers for communication, a list of services provided and prices for them.
- Promotions and discounts.
It is impossible not to take advantage of such a significant means of attracting additional customers. Remember how you yourself were repeatedly led to discounts and promotions. Therefore, your establishment must have an incentive system of discounts for regular customers. nine0026
Cost of dry cleaning services
Due to the fierce competition in the service market, it is worthwhile to correctly determine prices. Otherwise, you will not win the competition and not succeed in the chosen direction. Like many other businesses, starting a dry cleaning business is a lucrative and therefore competitive business. In this regard, monitor prices in your region, take an interest in the price and quality of similar services provided by competitors. If you want to surpass them over time, you need not only to develop a competent pricing policy, but also, first of all, to attract customers by providing quality services. nine0003
Profitability of the laundry business
Depending on the chosen format of the establishment, the profitability of the business will differ significantly.
