Outsourcing can be the core to your success, including outsourcing laundry. I am adamant about not ever doing laundry, so I hire someone to do laundry. I send it out, pay my housekeeper to do it, or assign it to my children.
Absolving myself of the time and headspace required to stay on top of clothes, linens and unmentionables frees me to build the life I want.
If you are looking to hire laundry or other housekeeping, here are three resources to help you find help:
- Bark.com – Hire a pro to do your laundry >>
- Care.com – Get 20% of Care.com membership with code JOINCARE20 >>
- HomeAdvisor.com – Get laundry help from a professional near you >>
Want to hire someone to do laundry? 5 solutions
1. Hire a household manager or housekeeper to do laundry who can also clean and organize your house
Hiring a housekeeper can provide multiple benefits besides having a clean home. A housekeeper can wash, fold, and put away your laundry, but also keep your home organized.
By taking care of tasks like laundry, your house manager can:
- Keep your home organized so you can always find what you need, quickly
- Free up your time, so you can do things you’ve been putting off
- Decrease your stress level by eliminating clutter
- Ensure you have a healthier household by sanitizing hard surfaces, clothes, and linens
- Decrease the money you spend on cleaning products
There are so many reasons why hiring a housekeeper makes sense, especially if you have the budget to do so. You can choose to hire an independent housekeeper or a cleaning service that has a team of housekeeping staff.
On average, it costs between $15.50 and $20.25 an hour to have a housekeeper, according to Care.com. But, some businesses charge a flat fee per space.
No matter what you choose, be sure to make a list of what you need and expect so that you can find the best fit for your household.
And if you feel guilty about outsourcing your laundry, it’s time to reframe your thoughts. You work hard. There’s nothing wrong with delegating. It’s a boss move.
2. Drop off your laundry at a laundromat
I used to live in New York City, where every neighborhood has wash-and-fold services for around $1 per pound. Most places will pick up your filthy sack of poopy, pee-y, spit-up-y, avocado-y, spaghetti-saucy, grass-stainy laundry in the morning, and deliver it after work, neatly folded, sorted and smelling fresh as your baby’s butt that you just washed — all for about $20.
That same bag full of laundry would cost me about $8 to do in the coin laundry, including detergent (I live in an apartment) each week.
I figure it would also cost about $10 per week if I had my own washer and dryer, factoring in detergent, water, electricity, and wear and tear on a Maytag.
But all this outsourcing really isn’t about the saved $15 or the extra $15 or the wear and tear. Wash and fold laundry service is about economizing time and energy.
Read: How to set up a budget
3. Search “laundry pick up and delivery near me”
I found a great local laundry service that picks up my laundry and drops it off clean and folded within 24 hours through Bark.com, with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
Bark is a service that allows you to sign up for free, detail the service you need, and receive offers from housekeepers, laundry and other service providers. Choose one and never do laundry again!
To contact housekeepers you are interested in interviewing, you’ll need to purchase Bark credits. Each credit costs $1.80, but you can buy a credit pack or monthly subscription to save money on the per credit cost. Each housekeeper will have a credit price based on the job you require. The more you ask for, the higher the credit price.
Not every zip code has these amazing wash-and-fold services (I lived in NYC), but you can find someone to do your laundry in your home through sites like Care.com.
Care.com (founded by a mom) is another reputable service where you can find local household managers, housekeepers, laundry and nanny services near you. Check out our Care.com review and get 20% of Care.com membership with code JOINCARE20 >>
If you cannot outsource laundry through Care.com, try a search for “laundry pick up and delivery near me:”
4. Pay your nanny to do your laundry
You can also pay your nanny or babysitter extra to also change your linens and do your laundry.
5. Pay someone to do laundry
You can ask around for a recommendation, and tell parents in the neighborhood that you'd be happy to pay someone to take over your laundry. It may inspire a fellow mom to start a work-at-home business that could change her life.
A local parent in your neighborhood may also be interested in taking in your laundry. Ask around!
You can sign up for Care.com to see who’s in your area.
Laundry service reviews
These are some websites that can connect you with professionals who offer laundry services:
Bark
Bark is a website that finds local professionals for you for free. There is also an app called Bark Professionals available for iOS and Android devices.
If you're looking to hire a housekeeper to do your laundry and clean your home, these are the questions Bark will ask you:
- What type of property needs cleaning?
- How often do you need cleaning services?
- How many bedroom(s) need cleaning?
- How many bathroom(s) need cleaning?
- How many reception room(s) need cleaning (living/dining)?
- When are the best days for cleaning?
- Will you be supplying cleaning materials and equipment?
- How likely are you to make a hiring decision?
Once you answer these questions, you have to provide your email and phone number so local professionals can contact you with a quote for your requested services. If you're not someone who wants to receive a bunch of calls and emails, Bark may not be for you.
Bark also does not require background checks.
These were the professionals that showed up based on my location and preferences:
Bark.com isn't rated by the Better Business Bureau but has 3.96/5 stars from customer reviews on the site. It also has 4.5/5 stars on Trustpilot.
Find a housekeeper today on Bark.com >>
Care
Care.com isn't just for babysitting. You can hire a number of professionals through the platform, including housekeepers. Care.com also has an iOS and Android app.
Care.com requires caregivers to pass a background check every year, though it does not require the same of all professionals.
To use Care.com, you have to create a profile and fill out information about your home, what type of cleaning services you're looking for, and how much you want to pay.
Care.com generates an ad on your behalf, which you can add to/edit. To post your ad, you have to pay for a membership. There are three payment options:
- Annual – $12.95
- Quarterly – $24.95
- Monthly – $38.95
These are some messages I got from housekeepers within a few hours of posting an ad:
Care.com has a B rating from the Better Business Bureau, though only 1.4/5 stars on Trustpilot. Most negative customer reviews are from people who had trouble finding a professional in their area.
Join Care.com for free today and get 20% off a premium membership with code JOINCARE20 >>
Angi
Angi, formerly known as Angie's List, is a website that matches you with professionals for various jobs, including housekeeping. When you visit the site, you'll be asked to choose what type of cleaning service you need from these options:
- Central vacuum
- Stone or marble restoration and polishing
- Maid service
- Spring cleaning
- Walls, ceiling, tile, and grout cleaning
- Ducts and vents cleaning
- Professional home or office organizer consultant
- Post construction cleanup
- Range and hood cleaning
Angi asks whether you need recurring services or a one-time cleaning, the square footage of your house, and how soon you'll be needing services.
Angi matches you with professionals in your area who specialize in the type of service/cleaning you've requested, and you can see how they've been rated by past clients:
If you request a quote from a company, they may reach out to you via phone or email.
Angi requires professionals designated as Angi Certified businesses to undergo a background check.
Angi had its accreditation revoked by the Better Business Bureau in 2022 because the company was sued in California for misleading customers into believing it had completed background checks on contractors when it hadn't.
Angi has 3.1/5 stars on Trustpilot and has an app available for iOS and Android devices. Angi merged with HomeAdvisor in 2017.
Find a professional housekeeper on Angi >>
Thumbtack
I like Thumbtack because it's straightforward. On the main page, you type in your zip code and what you need — in this case, laundry services — and you get a list of professionals who provide that service in your area.
You can read reviews from past clients, see how many employees a company has and how long they've been in business, and request a quote if you want to move forward. That means no unsolicited phone calls from professionals.
Thumbtack does not require background checks, though they are available for free if a professional chooses to do one.
Thumbtack is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating and has 4.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Thumbtack for Professionals is available for iOS and Android devices.
Find a laundry professional on Thumbtack today >>
Why you need to hire someone to do laundry
I really, really hate to do the wash, and I really, really hate to fold.
The sorting and cycling and hauling of this never-ending chore so tedious, so mundane and omnipotent that it's a joke for moms everywhere.
Except that it will make you poor. Nothing funny about that!
Investing in laundry service makes me richer because it frees up my time to use in more productive ways.
What if you invested just half all those laundry hours in your career, a business or freelance gigs? What if not having to worry about wash and dry and fold freed you up to spend more energy at work — and be more focused and engaged with your family when you are at home.
We haven’t even mentioned the happy factor. Some people just love laundry. I have never met one of these people, and I suspect I would not like her.
For me, wiping laundry off my weekly to-do list has been the most incredibly liberating exercise.
Before, it was a constant gnat swarming around my mind – what was clean when, when would I schedule a load, when to haul the dripping sheets into the dryer and to remember to take out my lacey things to air dry.
Now, I spend a fraction of that mental energy to coordinate a visit with Sandra.
When you are a single mom, money and time are especially precious.
Our professional lives, our kids and we ourselves simply cannot be weighed down by regrouting the tub (unless that is your thing, of course) or keeping your kids undies sparkling white. You are better than that.
When I get on my soapbox about this topic, I often hear people – and by “people,” I mean “women” – who cry:
“Laundry is just a part of life, you spoiled asshole!”
Not so long ago dying in childbirth was just part of life. Economies and technology changed since that was a valid point, and you are now free to unload unsavory tasks to people who want to earn a living doing them.
“Laundry doesn’t take that long, I don’t see what the big deal is, jeez! So lazy!”
One, two hours is a lot of time for me — as you will see below my long list of other things you might do with those minutes. Second, it is actually far more than just two hours of labor to do your laundry. Because you spend countless hours thinking about and remembering and stressing about when and how you will do the laundry. You might fight with your spouse or kids about the laundry. Get annoyed with yourself if you forget the wash overnight — or the drying and wind up with a crumply, wrinkly mess.
So it is two hours, plus countless brain cells and energy and emotion spent on laundry.
It’s a big-picture thing.
“Oh, but doing laundry is just a part of life. I’d feel guilty for sending it out.”
Do you feel guilty for using a dishwasher, instead of cleaning every grimy fork and sippy cup by hand? Do you feel guilty for not washing your clothes on rocks by the river — because you are already outsourcing their cleaning to a machine made in China, that sits in your garage / basement / laundry room and does 99% of the work involved in laundry. In other words: You already outsource, so why not take it just a fraction of a step further and offload that task completely?
“I feel it is my duty as a parent to teach my kids to mop the floor.”
Really? Do you really think that your child will grow up incapable of knowing how to mop a floor in an emergency? For real?
“You are such a snotty, rich bitch. Not everyone can afford spending all their money on house cleaners and laundry service. I hate you.”
Muah back atcha!
Look, no one has ever gotten rich without outsourcing some tasks. No one. You can’t do it all — I don’t care if you are a sculptor slaving away in your attic, you rely on an agency, a gallery, someone to publicize your shows and host boozy after parties where hedge fund guys will feel all important and buy your stuff. Or if you are a tech entrepreneur, you simply cannot work alone in a Starbucks and create a bazillion dollar enterprise. You are one person. Successful enterprises consist of people doing what they do best, and being wise enough and humble enough to pass along other tasks to others who are more competent and enthusiastic about those things.
If you spend your energy and time on sorting and washing and drying and ironing and sorting and matching and folding, your energy is on a low-skilled task that fosters resentment. I don’t know of one fabulously successful person who does his or her own laundry. Do you?
I often hear from blog readers or friends incredulous cries: “How do you get so much done all the time! Do you ever sleep?!”
Actually, many nights I’m in bed by 9 p.m. (not proud of that, it is what it is), and I spend plenty of time dawdling on Facebook. But it is true: I produce a lot of creative work I am very proud of, make a handsome living, pick my kids up from the bus most days, hit the gym, jogging path, or yoga studio five times per week and enjoy a hot date or evening out with my friends once or twice weekly. Not to mention day trips, vacations, weekly movie night and family dinners every weeknight with my kids and guests. No complaints.
My secret – the one all those incredulous friends do not want to hear? I outsource shit I don’t like to do. I even outsource stuff I DO like to do, because it makes more sense for someone else to do it! In my business, I hire people in my business to do things I can do but am not efficient at — like podcast production and editing, web design and marketing.
Easy, affordable meal planning tips for single moms
Couples and families fight over housework, so just outsource laundry and housekeeping
People keep getting divorced. A lot. Rates have been around 40-50 percent for more than four decades.
Younger people aren't getting married, as marriage rates hitting historic lows.
Married women are pretty freaking unhappy. Researchers found: “The average married woman is less happy than the average married man, less happy than single women, less convinced that married people are happier than single people, and more likely to file for divorce. Once returned to single life, women’s happiness recovers, whereas men’s declines, and divorced women are less eager to remarry than divorced men.”
50 things you can do instead when you hire someone to do laundry:
- Play checkers with your kids.
- Host a dinner party.
- Have a glass of chardonnay while watching Handmaid's Tale.
- Hit the gym.
- Go to yoga, Zumba or Pilates.
- Go for a jog, hike or power walk with a friend.
- Finish your degree.
- Get a new degree or job designation that will give you a new direction and earning power in your career.
- Take steps to launch that new dream business.
- Grow your business. Or, find a great work-at-home career to start.
- Find cool, quick ways to make money from home.
- Attend a networking event.
- Take an online course.
- Network online via LinkedIn, professional associations, Facebook groups, following up on email communication or setting up meetings.
- Call your parents.
- Teach your kids how to jump rope.
- Just hang out alone together in the same room with your kids without engaging in electronics. Maybe some of you are reading, or doing a puzzle or Legos.
- Cook as a family.
- Fire up that online dating site or app, if you haven’t. (Here's my list of best dating sites for single moms.)
- Go on a date.
- Read. A book. An actual real, paper book. Fiction even! (Here's my list of the best books for single moms.)
- Have sex.
- Listen to podcasts.
- Get a massage.
- Give a massage.
- Work in the garden.
- Declutter your home like a mad woman. Go nuts! Feels so good!
- Get sun on your body. Even in the winter, just some sun on your face and hands is amazing.
- Bath. Take a great, long bath. 5 Tips for Self-Care Sunday
- Nap.
- Catch up with that best friend or cousin who lives far away.
- Visit loved ones.
- Write birthday cards, and send them!
- Thank-you notes!
- Gratitude. Start and maintain a gratitude practice, whether sharing by email your thankful thoughts each day, or writing them down in a special notebook, or verbalizing them on a voice app on your phone.
- That skill that you always wanted to learn but did not? Do that. For me: I’m going to take tennis and acting classes. Maybe you want to learn to ride a motorcycle, use power tools (that kind, or that kind, too) or juggle.
- Volunteer. Animal shelter, teen center, nursing home.
- Mentor someone. Officially, through a program at work or in your community, or informally offer your guidance to someone you know.
- Listen to a friend who needs to be heard.
- Create something. A craft, a poem, song or essay.
- Make your home prettier. Paint a room (better yet: go to the paint store, select a color, and hire someone to paint), hang a few new pictures, rearrange the furniture, change up the bed linens. Make it pretty, make it yours.
- Library. When was the last time you hung out at the library?
- Help a friend reach her dreams.
- Go to a service where you worship. Or, if you’re in the market, find a new house of worship.
- Do a new activity with your kids — learn to rollerblade or pogo-stick together. Take a community college class on woodworking or CPR.
- Start a family give-back project. Raise money for a cause, give volunteer time, or reach out to people you know who need company, help around the house or meals.
- Attend live performances – music, theater, dance. Free outdoor summer concerts, college and high school productions, Broadway or community theater.
- Stroll the streets of a neighborhood or town you’ve never visited.
- Visit a travel site, and brainstorm and daydream and drool – then budget!
- Dream! Dream big and beautiful and outrageous! Write those dreams down! Create a dream board, tell your mastermind group, a trusted girlfriend, your cat! Spend those two hours each week teaching yourself to believe you can and will fill those hours will more wonderful incredible life than any top-loading, energy-saving appliance can afford you.
Don’t just take it from me, here is a guest post from single mom Danyel Clarke, who lives in Claremore, Oka., with her two-year-old and a puppy. Consider hiring out household tasks to nurture your relationship with yourself!
Danyel's story…
If you were to walk into my house, you’ll almost think I have my crap together. My son's room and bathroom are always perfect. Living room, kitchen and dining room are almost always perfect: things put away, clean, where they belong.
Then you open my bedroom door and realize that I have been putting all of my energy into the rest of the house and I actually haven’t done my laundry since September. You read that right. SEPTEMBER. I have enough clothes to make this is perfectly feasible. My son's laundry gets done, towels are always clean, sheets are washed, then I lose energy and say “screw it” by the time it’s my turn for my clothes.
I’ve been so exhausted with work, family, the “to-do” list, putting absolutely everyone and everything before myself. Nothing and everything gets done all at the same time.
I haven’t made it to church in two months, but it was my New Year's resolution to quit using exhaustion and chores as an excuse and just GO!
But ladies, today, the first Sunday of the year, I ran out of clean underwear. Completely out. Not a thong, faded or period-granny-panty one left in the drawer. Completely out.
So I freeballed it to church. Yep, I sure did!
On my way to church and during worship I was making a mental list of all the things I needed to get done today: top of the list was wash a load of underwear. Take boxes to recycling, go to the grocery store, remember that I'm supposed to bake a pecan cheesecake for that lady at work (add ingredients to that grocery list), take those glasses to my mom, I really need to steam clean that carpet, oh! Get a light bulb for the fridge, don’t forget to close the vents outside the house, trim the dog's nails as he’s really starting to leave marks on the kid, clean up the playroom…you get the picture.
Most people wouldn’t show up to church without underwear. But I’m sure glad I did, because today I was reminded of imperfection and grace.
After church I had planned to head home, make lunch for me and my little, and get started on my list.
After all, I should save the money. But instead I headed to one of my favorite places in town to eat. Just the two of us. Ordered (two) MANmosas, an appetizer, a tasty grilled chicken club, a meal for my little that I knew he wouldn’t eat, but hey! Now, he has dinner and I don’t have to cook at all today!
I had every intention of getting home right at the time he goes down for a nap so that I could nap, too.
And I don’t feel bad about it.
Like many single moms, I do it on my own. No breaks, no every-other-weekend, or any day at all that the kid goes to the other parent. I’m exhausted. And between a strong-headed 2-year-old and a puppy (hellooooo, just another toddler. What was I thinking?!?) I'm usually at my wit's end. That is definitely not to say I, or any other mom, or that I have it tougher than any other mom — I don’t mean that at all. It’s all hard. Momming is hard. Period.
For all of us, it’s important to remember that perfection isn’t required. It’s okay to splurge. Not cook. Don’t do the laundry (but yes, I did put a load in when we got home), to nap, and go to church commando!
That’s my long winded way of saying that I was “selfish” today. Blissfully, happily and wonderfully selfish. Little one finally fell asleep and now I’m going to nap as well.
Happy Sunday, mommas. Much love! ♥
Danyel
FAQs about hiring someone to do your laundry
What do you need to know before hiring a laundry service?
Before you hire a laundry service, read Google reviews and reviews from sites like the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Sitejabber to find one with a good track record and reasonable cost. You can also ask family and friends if they have any recommendations.
For smaller businesses and individual service providers, you can often look at reviews on professional-for-hire marketplaces like HomeAdvisor or Care.com.
Once you have a few options, ask for quotes based on the services you want. Ask how the laundry service works, what items they accept, pickup/return times, and how long it takes to get your clean laundry back.
How much should I pay someone to do a load of laundry?
Costs will vary based on geographic area and what the service provider counts as one load. Some laundry services charge by the pound with a minimum weight, while others use a flat rate per laundry bag.
Here’s what you can expect to pay for a load of laundry:
- $1-$3/pound or $35-$55/bag for laundry service
- $9-$16/hour for an individual service provider
- $14.81-$18.82/hour for a housekeeper to do laundry in your home
How much to pay someone to do your laundry?
If you plan to get ongoing help for your laundry, you might be able to get a lower monthly rate. Exact costs will be based on your location, the amount of laundry you have and the frequency of service, but you can expect to pay $150-$200 per month.
Before you hire a laundry service, read Google reviews and reviews from sites like the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Sitejabber to find one with a good track record and reasonable cost. You can also ask family and friends if they have any recommendations.
Some laundry services charge by the pound with a minimum weight, while others use a flat rate per laundry bag. Here’s what you can expect to pay for a load of laundry:
– $1-$3/pound or $35-$55/bag for laundry service
– $9-$16/hour for an individual service provider
– $14.81-$18.82/hour for a housekeeper to do laundry in your home
Exact costs will be based on your location, the amount of laundry you have and the frequency of service, but you can expect to pay $150-$200 per month.
I’m coming into this discussion late, but find this discussion really interesting, particularly how a principle of business success – the ability to delegate work to the lowest level capable of doing the work effectively – meets resistance when we get home.
Find any successful small business owner and you will find they outsource. They hire someone to do their books, someone to do their taxes, their contracts, HR functions, etc. They do this because (a) those people are better trained and more efficient at those tasks and (b) it frees them up to build the business. From early on in my corporate career, I was taught that to be successful, I needed to be able to effectively delegate and outsource work, whether to lower level Associates or out of the country. This is what allowed me to progressively grow my own responsibilities and experience as well as grow those in my organization. Companies outsource all day long – whether it be production of parts of the product chain or services.
To me, forget the hard dollar ROI and whether I can make more money. To me, I outsource tasks simply for the mental ROI. As a single mom with her kid 100% of the time, time is my most valuable commodity. I can’t really put a price on it. Most household tasks like cleaning, laundry, ironing, are tasks I would normally do after my daughter is in bed and that is the one time each day I have to myself – to work out, read a book, relax with a nice bath, etc. For tasks I’d do on a weekend like more lawn work, laundry, groceries, etc., that’s time I could be spending with my daughter. Somehow, 20 years from now when my daughter recalls her childhood, I can’t see her saying “I sure wish my mom cleaned the toilet herself”. Beyond that, I’m typically supporting a local business owner or mom who relies on that business to support their family or supplement their income. It’s a win/win. it’s a mutually respectful relationship.
I am off to make a list of things I honestly never thought of outsourcing – laundry being one – to add to the list of what I already outsource.
I stumbled across this site looking for some laundry tips while web surfing. I’m definitely not the intended audience seeing as I grew up in a poor household, but I feel like it’s important to teach your children how to do these “menial tasks”. I’ve met some wealthy, young people who just don’t know how to take care of themselves or handle simple household tasks. One couldn’t even figure out how to boil water. Even if you’re able to afford letting someone else do you chores, I feel it’s still beneficial to show your children how to do these things at least a few times in their life. Of course nowadays they can look things up online but I think they are good skills to have to be a well rounded person.
I totally agree with this – but it really only takes a few times to teach someone how to do laundry. Thanks for chiming in Wendy!
I have a washing machine that is in my storage still in the box straight from the store and never been used. When I found that I could have my laundry washed and folded nearby for just 1/100 of the price of the washing machine, I figured that my machine could rest there until it finds a better home. I’ve also saved on laundry detergent, water and electricity bills, but mostly I’ve saved on time! You should try it for a couple of weeks, who knows, you might be a bit addicted to not washing and folding your laundry ever again :)
Hmm. I found this article web-surfing and am definitely not the intended audience so I will be nice.
I think outsourcing household chores sets a worse example for children than the author admits. Those, both adult and child, who aren’t expected to clean up after themselves generally make bigger and more frequent messes. Mopping in an emergency isn’t much of a life skill, but taking thoughtful care of one’s belongings is.
These are not mutually exclusive. My housecleaner comes weekly, but my kids have chores including daily bed making, setting and clearing the table, caring for the cat and picking up their stuff. If any thing, it makes them accustomed to a nice home, which we wouldn’t have if it weren’t for outsourcing.
The bottom line is you can’t get ahead professionally if you spend all your time on tasks for which you are overqualified. Rich people — no matter how they came to their money — aren’t arguing on this board for the value of doing menial tasks.
I totally saw your point in the beginning – making life easier for yourself and freeing up some valuable time. While this post is aimed at single mothers, I’ve noticed several comments coming from married people and people with no kids at all, so this blog may not necessarily apply to them.
I am a single mother, so totally understand the main idea of this. However, after reading all of these comments, especially this one by you Emma, I must interject my disagreement with some of your reasoning.
First of all, there are successful, even famous, people who do their own laundry. Here is a link that I have not researched to verify, but I’m willing to bet it’s at least fairly accurate:
https://laundry.about.com/od/laundrybasics/ss/Celebritycleanlaundry_8.htm#step-heading
Secondly, telling people to outsource tasks they are overqualified for…..I don’t even know where to start with that one. Just about everyone can be considered “overqualified” for doing laundry. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it! You said your kids are still expected to make their own beds and clean up after themselves, but it can be argued that they are “overqualified” for those tasks, don’t you think? I don’t want to be rude, and am still very interested in reading more of your suggestions, etc., but insinuating that you are too skilled at more complicated tasks that make doing laundry somehow beneath you is something I take issue with.
Hiring others to do the menial labor that you don’t care to spend time on does seem a little entitled. Teaching your kids that it is ok to not have to do things for themselves seems to be encouraging them to expect this from others; to expect others to hand things to them and do things for them just so they don’t have to, which breeds selfishness. Everyone should know how, and be used, to doing their own laundry, cooking their own food, and cleaning their own bathrooms. Not only is the cost out of reach for a lot of people (and yes, I understand your economic argument, but it’s a weak one at best, unless you already have enough money to begin with), but entering adulthood with little to no life skills is not something I would recommend.
Your continuous argument that it’s not possible to be successful if you have to spend your own time and your own money doing your own housework? Sounds a bit snobby; just sayin’.
I don’t necessarily think you are lazy, as others have stated, and there is some validity; I do, however, think some of your points are a bit far-reaching.
Paying someone to do your laundry, that doesn’t need dry cleaned or have special needs, just seems lazy to me.
Name me one very successful person who does their own laundry. See a coorrelation?
It depends on WHERE in New York City you live. If you live in the less-than-affluent areas, you’re stuck with whatever crappy laundromats are within your delivery area. And trust me, they can be CRAPPY. The last three places I where I sent out my laundry, my clothes came back actually smelling stinky — worse than when I sent them out in the first place (the clothes, of course, that didn’t mysteriously disappear; at 28 bucks a pop, that occasional lost t-shirt or pair of underwear adds up real fast, too). I discovered the problem when I popped over to one of the places and watched the women “wash” the clothes; one of them actually braced herself against a table for leverage to jam the clothes into the front- loading washers — barely leaving enough room for water, much less soapy water. So is it “stupid” to want clothes cleaned properly? Even — dare I suggest it — pre-treated propertly — using the correct water temperatures — and dress shirts air-dried to prevent shrinkage — using natural (or even organic) detergents that aren’t as caustic as the pink crap they seem to buy by the 50-gallon drum?
Monday: Launder all the sheets from all three beds. (1 load)
Tuesday: Launder child #1 and child #2′s clothing. (1-2 loads)
Wednesday: Launder adult’s clothing. (1-2 loads)
Thursday: Launder towels. (2 loads)
Friday: Launder child #1 and child #2′s clothing. (1-2 loads)
Saturday: Launder adult’s clothing. (1-2 loads)
Sunday: Rest, or launder a load of delicates.
I have enough cloths, towels and bedding to last one to two weeks at a time. to wash laundry every single day is ridiculous. Oh, I don’t make a thousand dollars a day, so I do my laundry myself, in my very own Maytag washer & dryer. I also do my own dishes, I cook, and keep everything neat & tidy.
Your advise is geared more toward wealthy folks.
This seems like a post for being lazy. I myself work 50+ hours a week and my husband works 40+ but we still get home after getting the 2 kids from school, he goes and makes dinner, I help with homework, by the time dinner is ready homework is done. We then eat and the kids do the dishes, one is 8 the other is 11. If it is a laundry night which is only 3 nights of 7 then I do the 1 to 3 loads we might have depending on activities and by this time it is only about 8. If there is no laundry it is probably a night the kids have sports so we do that or relax as a family if nothing is going on. None of this requires any “outsourcing” of my personal responsibilities. That is what having and building a family is about, not paying someone else to do it for you. If you pay someone $25 dollars every week just to come out once or twice to get your laundry that is $1300 more I save a year then you because I take care of my family and myself. This was all done while I was going to school for nursing. Now outsourcing your life before you have a family and you live by yourself is more understandable, but you are by yourself and if you can’t take care of just yourself without help then…well then the title should be “You’re stupid if you can’t take care of yourself”. One last thing I forgot to touch on, idk where she got that just for herself it cost $10 a week for laundry bc I myself live in New York and it cost about $8 for a bottle o detergent that lasts a month for 4 people. So that comes out to a total of $2 a week in detergent and pennies on the dollar for the electric and water cost for just 1 load so about $3 a week for that so $5 a week to do your own laundry or $25 for someone else to do it and another $20 for a different person to pick it up? Just my thoughts as a successful mother of 2 who does it herself. :)
Yeah care.com is much better idea to get fixed any kind of services with in a some time and you can also inquiry for the services which you want in your area, which is more amazing,
Thanks Esi! Women take issue because it is not just about fresh panties and clean tank tops — laundry represents their sense of what it means to be a good mom, wife and mother. Tell her that it is a waste of time it cuts to the core of who she believes herself to be.
Exactly! This is the conundrum of first world middle class motherhood: do everything yourself and perfectly, and run yourself into the ground while doing it! Years ago when I was a university student, a family friend suggested that when I started working in my profession that I consider getting help at home. I was shocked. Years later, after marriage, a child, and divorce, I can honestly say she was right: that I have needed help from time to time even as a young single professional. She knew that high income earners tend to have lots of opportunities and responsibilities that require a lot of time, so it makes sense to hire help. I can honestly say that most of all of my friends and colleagues, married or otherwise, contract out at least some of the routine daily household chores so they can invest more in meaningful time with their children, rising careers, and charitable work. One of the things i have also noticed amongst a lot of professional people is that they insist that their children take on tasks, e.g. helping out at the office, volunteering, running errands at home, etc, so that they don’t take anything for granted. Great post.
“Here is my story. Share your own thoughts in the comments!”
:) Thank you. I will.
Read through all comments after reading, IMHO, your enlightened post, Emma. (“Stupid” seems to have been the best/worst choice!) lol
I actually enjoy doing laundry. It’s peaceful work, akin, IMO, to tending a garden. (Which I also enjoy but to do either well takes more than the machines one might utilize.)
I appreciated your wanting to give your housekeeper the option of taking on your household laundry – acknowledging her financial need. Something NO ONE noticeably commented on.
What I don’t get is, why, if you can afford to pay for such services, wish to prioritze time as you’ve outlined… anyone would take issue?
These charts are great for those who life efficiently and have a lot to manage in a busy world. I’m sure this article has given readers hours they didn’t know they could save. Thanks.
I did send my laundry out for awhile but where I live it is almost impossible nowadays to find an affordable and reliable service that won’t destroy our clothes! I live in NYC in Harlem. At one time there was a place that would do your laundry on every other street corner for a fair price and our laundry always came back pristine. All of these places are now GONE because the cost of doing business in NYC makes it impossible for small businesses offering practical and pragmatic services to stay in business. Now we do it ourselves. It’s more affordable I guess and there is something very zen about washing clothing. And it’s also something children should learn to do ( my kids help out now with the laundry. They fold and put their own clothing away– neatly!. They are 9 years old.) I don’t like the idea of them thinking that basic maintenance stuff is below them. It also teaches them to take care of their things. That’s an important lesson.
Yes, Manhattan/NYC prices are insane and it is causing serious problems all over the place. Can you have a housekeeper do it for you?
As for “I don’t like the idea of them thinking that basic maintenance stuff is below them. It also teaches them to take care of their things. That’s an important lesson.” I agree with this — but at the same time my kids, for example, don’t know how to shovel a walk because we live in a co-op where the super or his assistant do that. That is just the type of lifestyle we live, and I am ok with that.
If I lived in the city, I’d consider outsourcing laundry. It doesn’t make sense to do it here in the ‘burbs when there’s a washer & dryer in my house.
The overall point you’re trying to make is sound, though. I should outsource the yard work when there’s a bunch of lawn services in my area. But I can’t bring myself to do it. I do outsource the stuff that has to be done only occasionally – plumbing work, painting, etc. By the time I go to a big box home improvement store, hunt for what I need, wait in line to pay, and drive back home, I’ve easily lost an hour right there. Might as well outsource it to someone who can do the work better and faster than me.
that’s right
This is such an utterly first world middle class problem. Another reason why the middle class is shrinking in their earning power, bcs they outsource everything. I have a problem having someone else do my laundry – never cleaned the way I like and spending a fortune for someone to do a mediocre job on ironing. I do not spend money on laundry or dry cleaning (only large coats go to cleaners). I do understand the value of freeing up time, but I NEVER do laundry or iron in the middle of the day. Laundry goes in washer at night on Fri, air dries on Sat outside (goes in drier on wet days) and Sun late when I am watching one of my series, I can do the basics in 40 minutes flat. Sure sometimes I wish I had someone do it, but no one could do the kind of quality work I prefer – it helps to have a hubby who does his equal share of the housework or child rearing. So I get it, if you are a single parent and can afford, and can live with how others do your laundry – by all means do it. More power to you. I will continue to enjoy my perfectly white sheets ironed and towels folded just so, and that gives me great pleasure.
This post has been circulating for two years now, and what I’ve come to understand is that women — usually unconsciously — simply repeat their childhood models of what it means to be a mother, wife and woman — “My mother and grandmother scrubbed the refrigerator every week, that is simply what women do.” All of us — myself included — battle notions ingrained in us since birth about how to do things — raise children, care for a home, be a romantic partner. But as adults it is up to us to take a step back, assess what is really important to us and use our time accordingly. No one on their deathbeds ever says, “You know, I am so glad that I spent all that time scrubbing the house,” or “The one thing I’m really proud of if conquering the folding of fitted sheets.” A friend’s mother — who just turned 80 — recently said to her, “I wish I’d been a more fun mom — I was always so worried about keeping the house clean!”
As for: “This is such an utterly first world middle class problem. Another reason why the middle class is shrinking in their earning power, bcs they outsource everything.” Could not disagree more.
Effective delegation of tasks you are overqualified for or can outsource is critical to getting out of poverty, moving from middle to upper-middle class, or growing a small business or giant corporation. To start: If you want to get out off welfare you need to gain professional skills through formal education, training, or start a small business — all of which requires hiring child care for those with young children. You only stand to gain income and and earning potential if you outsource tasks for which you over-qualified for (housekeeping, if you are a professional person) and replace those hours with a higher-paying contract work, or investing in your career so there is an actual ROI on that investment. There is zero inherently wrong with outsourcing if done consciously.
As I wrote in the post- – if you love laundry — knock yourself out. But I’ll be there are lots of other things you also love doing even more and wish you had more time for. Just sayin.’
I wrote it in the post, but when I have this debate in person, people always stop short when I point out that no one who is considered a traditional professional success (in that they have a big and lucrative career) does their laundry or scrubs their own toilets. They figured it out. And for not so very much money every week, each of us can figure it out, too.
As for your admonishment that as a single mother it is somehow permissible for me to live with sub-standard laundering because I don’t have a spouse, well, I will give you the benefit of the doubt that your comments were not intended to be condescending.
I feel your comments run true as I do the laundry for the wife n 2 boys and my life after work is cleaning, laundry and kids.
What is a diplomatic way to ask the stay at home wife to do more at home besides cooking n kid duties for school?
House is neglected during the day when she is free.
You need to have a real conversation with her as an adult: “I understood our arrangement was that I would earn the money and you would take care of kid and household duties. That isn’t happening and I feel resentful. If this isn’t working for you anymore, how can we change things? Maybe it is time for you to go back to work.”
re: “To these lame arguments, I counter: ‘Do you feel guilty for using a dishwasher, instead of cleaning every grimy ork and sippy cup by hand?’ ”
This would be a good argument if you were talking about washing clothes by hand. After all, do you have someone come to your apartment and take your dirty dishes away?
I’m sorry you are having such a hard time, Michael.
My ex decided to end the marriage – not me. Thank you for your interest in my story.
I agree with this. The whole “Do you feel guilty for using a dishwasher, instead of cleaning every grimy ork and sippy cup by hand?” is kinda lame Emma.
My arguement is “I waited so long to live somewhere that I have my own washer and dryer, so I would feel guilty outsourcing it.”
I also argue about outsourcing my laundry because of this: I make $13 an hour (before taxes), thus a $25 charge is 2 hours worth of wages for me. I have no children, so I probably wouldn’t have to get the laundry done out more than once every 2 weeks, but still, that’s a bit of an expense for me. And sadly, doing the laundry itself isn’t the issue at all. I still would have to do the part(s) I hate: 1) separating clothes into mine and my fiance’s (one of the banes of same-sex couples who are the same size, whose clothing is who’s?) 2) hanging things up in the closet, and 3) sorting and matching the socks (I refuse to let a service do this because they don’t do it RIGHT. I abhor it when one of my socks is baggy and the other is tight around my ankle! Just because they are both white doesn’t make them a pair!!
However, there ARE tasks I would *LOVE* to outsource, I just can’t find anyone who can/would do them! I wish I could hire someone to come and clean the catbox on a bi-weekly basis. I would pay $50 for that! Or someone to THOROUGHLY clean my bathroom on a monthly basis. The only places I’ve found who will do that want to charge $200 per visit, and when I’ve had them do it (I tried 2 different places) they did a very lackluster job that I ended up having to redo anyway.
That is my problem too – if I am going to have to redo someone’s job so you the payer are satisfied – then outsourcing is pointless. Being a perfectionist has its high price. I hate cleaning my bathrooms, but I do know, no one would scrub them the way I do, or leave me satisfied.
I used to get annoyed when I went out to eat (I’m told I am an excellent cook). The quality was never good enough. The prices were outrageous. The service or atmosphere never stood up. But when I chilled out life became so much better. I was an enjoyable dinner companion. I was able to enjoy the evening for what it was — time spent with interesting people, getting a break from my routine and cooking (as much as I love it, everyone needs a break), trying new things and exploring life. I became a more open, joyful and happy person. I was trying to control the entirety of New York City’s restaurant industry, but all I really needed to control was my own bad attitude.
Plastic liners from the pet store make this an easier task. Also flushable litter (e.g. pine pellets), with the litter box by the toilet, so you can scoop the poop right out daily. (Do keep the amount of litter you actually flush to a minimum, though.)
^ That was a reply to Mica about the cat litter, in case it wasn’t obvious..
Have you guys ever actually been behind the scenes at a full service laundry? Ew.
If u make $25/hr that’s a weeks worth of take home pay vs doing it yourself $25 vs $10 a weeks… And tbh it costs me $6 to do it every other week bc ill hand wash what I wore to work real quick when I get home before I get in the shower. I will easily save $1,000 dollars as opposed to having someone else do it for me, sounds like a vacation… Although I don’t have kids yet, I think paying them an allowance to do it is a GREAT idea
According to the infographic, men spend 7.5 hours and women 8.75 hours on household activities. Who has time for that?
People who’ve learned how to set and maintain boundaries with their careers to achieve a healthy work/life balance. Not everyone is a 60-hour-a-week wage slave.
Quit over washing your clothes and you can do your own laundry. I love the thought of not having my clothes washed in the same washer and dryer as so many others, Ick.
With one side of my mouth, I’m saying “Amen, sister!” and with the other side “My brat kid still needs to do her laundry.” (I wrote a book for launching young women called ‘Do Your Laundry or You’ll Die Alone: Advice Your Mom Would Give if She Thought You Were Listening.’)
Big aha: I don’t care how she gets it done. But clearly, your way is better. What we want for our daughters is exactly what you advocate. They should be able to put their energy in better places. So I’ll be passing this around. It will confuse people. But they can get over it.
” So I’ll be passing this around. It will confuse people. But they can get over it.”
Yes, so true. Read the comments – people worry their children will be adults unable to do laundry. Please. Kids are doing higher math in second grade. They can figure out how to work an effing Whirlpool washing machine in a pinch.
And yet, these wiz kids who can “figure out how to work an effing Whirlpool washing machine in a pinch” — never seen to be able to. I work with young professionals and I’m appalled at their lack of simple life skills.
I had to teach a couple of my hall mates how to do laundry in college. One even asked if the water would stain the clothes. And i went to an elite university! So, someone will be teaching them if mom and dad don’t :)
Btw, the author is not telling you what to do – she is sharing her experience and reasons why she is doing it.
If you take it personally – well then …
Plus, people from different countries – of course your lives are very different than ours.
But it has nothing to do with being/feeling elitist/entitled.
It is your perception on what you found on the internet/this particular blog.
You don’t like it – you’re free not to read it. You don’t have to share your opinion. But you did and it is a testament of respect the author gave YOU for not deleting your posts (cause she could).
All good, all part of the discussion. I find that when people are really irate it is because something they heard resonated with them. All part of the process!
We don’t make our own clothes!? We don’t bake our own bread, make yogurt, milk the cow, raise chickens (and kill them), raise our own potatoes! etc
(for the most part – although I have been known to make my own laundry soap)
Some people just don’t know what it is like to live in the city.
And for some people their time is worth doing these things themselves.
The best part – you get to decide!
Outsource – not outsource.
Everyone has a choice.
I am sure there are some rich people who do their own laundry.
I think this blog post goes hand in hand with the nail salon usage services.
There are people who would choose to get a weekly mani/pedi and do their own laundry, and there are people who would choose to do otherwise.
Great thing about having a choice.
And if you don’t like the usage of the word – stupid on this blog post – you too have a choice not to read it.
WORD!
Reading through all the posts we see two categories, those that enjoy laundry and those that despise it! Here is an idea. Those that despise can outsource and spend that valuable time making money elsewhere. Those that enjoy it can turn it into an income stream by plugging into an existing company that hires individuals to pickup, wash and fold, then deliver.
Everybody is happy!
What Tim said!! If you really love sorting, washing and folding, God bless. I think you are an alien, but whatever. The rest of us? Call Tim!