scroll top

5 reasons why you need to hire someone to do laundry ASAP

We earn commissions for transactions made through links in this post. Here's more on how we make money.

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:

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:”

google-maps-usa-image

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:

Examples of professional cleaning services found through Bark.com.

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:

Messages received on Care.com from housekeepers.

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.

Laundry services on Thumbtack.

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:

  1. Play checkers with your kids.
  2. Host a dinner party.
  3. Have a glass of chardonnay while watching Handmaid's Tale.
  4. Hit the gym.
  5. Go to yoga, Zumba or Pilates.
  6. Go for a jog, hike or power walk with a friend.
  7. Finish your degree.
  8. Get a new degree or job designation that will give you a new direction and earning power in your career.
  9. Take steps to launch that new dream business.
  10. Grow your business. Or, find a great work-at-home career to start.
  11. Find cool, quick ways to make money from home.
  12. Attend a networking event.
  13. Take an online course.
  14. Network online via LinkedIn, professional associations, Facebook groups, following up on email communication or setting up meetings.
  15. Call your parents.
  16. Teach your kids how to jump rope.
  17. 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.
  18. Cook as a family.
  19. Fire up that online dating site or app, if you haven’t. (Here's my list of best dating sites for single moms.)
  20. Go on a date.
  21. Read. A book. An actual real, paper book. Fiction even! (Here's my list of the best books for single moms.)
  22. Have sex.
  23. Listen to podcasts.
  24. Get a massage.
  25. Give a massage.
  26. Work in the garden.
  27. Declutter your home like a mad woman. Go nuts! Feels so good!
  28. Get sun on your body. Even in the winter, just some sun on your face and hands is amazing.
  29. Bath. Take a great, long bath. 5 Tips for Self-Care Sunday
  30. Nap.
  31. Catch up with that best friend or cousin who lives far away.
  32. Visit loved ones.
  33. Write birthday cards, and send them!
  34. Thank-you notes!
  35. 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.
  36. 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.
  37. Volunteer. Animal shelter, teen center, nursing home.
  38. Mentor someone. Officially, through a program at work or in your community, or informally offer your guidance to someone you know.
  39. Listen to a friend who needs to be heard.
  40. Create something. A craft, a poem, song or essay.
  41. 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.
  42. Library. When was the last time you hung out at the library?
  43. Help a friend reach her dreams.
  44. Go to a service where you worship. Or, if you’re in the market, find a new house of worship.
  45. Do a new activity with your kids — learn to rollerblade or pogo-stick together. Take a community college class on woodworking or CPR.
  46. 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.
  47. Attend live performances – music, theater, dance. Free outdoor summer concerts, college and high school productions, Broadway or community theater.
  48. Stroll the streets of a neighborhood or town you’ve never visited.
  49. Visit a travel site, and brainstorm and daydream and drool – then budget!
  50. 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.

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.

How much should I pay someone to do a load of laundry?

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?

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.

158 Comments

I must REALLY be stupid then! First off, I use my own version of that (dry) laundry detergent recipe going around. It truly saves me a bundle. I’ll still buy Gain dryer sheets from Dollar Tree, but that’s usually enough that way.
I DID have a washer and dryer, but they finally wen ton the fritz.
I get the whole sorting and folding. I’d love to hire someone just to do that. In fact, at one time, I did! She came in once/week for $15, took all the laundry, folded, hung, etc. It was great. She even put clothes together for my toddler, so she could pick out her own outfits! So cute!
So yeah, by the time I did all that, we were probably back up to the $25. I guess she’s right … except I wish I’d had my own laundry detergent back then. I love it these days!

I know a lot of people that outsource a lot of things but for me, the cost is not worth it. If you are organized you can do the bulk of everything and not even notice it. Have a crockpot or a pressure cooker? Dinner can be prepared with little to no effort. Laundry is one of the easiest tasks, as you can put a load in the washer in the morning, when you return home throw in the dryer and fold it while watching TV at night and put away. You don’t have to do all your laundry in one day which does suck up a whole Saturday if you let it pile up. Mowing the lawn does not take much time and instead of going to the gym one morning or evening after work, mow the lawn instead. I pick one task each evening to do around the house like one day, clean the bathrooms. Another day, I vacuum and mop, etc. etc. etc. If you space it out and do it on a regular routine, you are not spending all your time doing chores and if you keep up on it, it takes little to no time at all to do it all. Oh, and another tip is when you do actually cook a meal, make a double portion and freeze half of it for later. Then on many nights you can come home and throw dinner in the oven with no effort and it is ready to go. I spend one hour a day keeping up on the house and all the chores. All the money I would be paying someone to do it all for me, can go into a savings account for myself to do something fun with. I even have a garden out back and grow the bulk of our food and groceries to get us through the year and always have fresh & homemade foods on the table. The only thing I would outsource is things like pressure washing the house, and doing all our double storm windows every spring both inside and out, etc. etc. I was raised old school and you never hired someone to do what you can do yourself. It taught us kids to do a multitude of things and be self reliant. How are your kids ever going to learn to do this things if it isn’t by example?

My daughter and I along with our linen and towels only have maybe three loads of laundry a week as long as I stay on top of it. So to me personally I would rather do my own laundry than spend $25 dollars and have some else fold up my unmentionables. I do enjoy your other ideas.

My thoughts exactly. I don’t want anyone folding my unmentionables nor even seeing what they look like. Does that make me retarded?

Oh, by the way, I hope I don’t offend anyone by the use of the word retarded. I was just trying to find a word that could also mean stupid, but actually on thinking about it I chose the wrong word. Sorry if I offended anyone.

Not sure what the big deal is about doing laundry it’s not like you wash it by hand, you throw it in the washing machine, go watch TV, it buzzes, you throw in the dryer, you go watch TV, once done you take it out and you fold it up during commercial breaks. What a superficial and lazy lifestyle. Obviously you didn’t get wealthy by working hard. Did you pay someone to take your exams in college also?

Here’s a trick I love taught by my mom. Take washed clothes and put in dryer for 10 mins. Then sometime in the next few hours, hang up to dry. They’ll be dewrinkled with nearly no effort! A simple grab off the rack a day later, and quarter fold, and done. No ironing needed. Works with nearly every material.

——–

If I’d outsourced everything I’d have liked to outsource, it’d have cost a tidy sum each month.

Instead when I hit life’s hard winds (significant, disabling illness), I still managed to have enough tucked away not to go bankrupt, nor borrow from anyone, nor eat cat food (instead I switched to organic and it helped with my health issues. That was my permitted splurge.).

I’m glad I was frugal. It’s a matter of trade off. How much effort is it costing?, how much more money does it cost?, what else would that money go to (and saving account is one important place.)? Maybe it’s about getting a machine installed in your house, teaching the kids to grab their clean clothes.

Then decide.

I’ve met plenty of people who work hard, are healthy, and are in much worse financial condition than me. Financial health is also important to one’s ability to relax, feel and be healthy, and avoid eating food only your cat would purr about.

interesting how you call that lazy, but every idea you just contributed included back in front of the TV. To me, that is the epitome of lazy. I’d prefer have someone else do it, I’ll get off the couch and do something else productive. I work damn hard, so why waste my free time lazying away in front of the TV to kill time doing tasks that aren’t that expensive to off-load. TV haha Wow.

While the article is interesting the whole thing sets off on the wrong foot by calling people stupid for doing things a different way. With a large family it would be prohibitively expensive to outsource laundry. Laundry service is not common where we live so it would involve nearly four hours of driving our big passenger van just to drop off then go back and pick up the laundry. I can account for utilities, detergent, and washer/dryer maitenence just in what it would cost me in gas and vehicle wear and tear. Even with a high end gigantic capacity machine I’m still coming out way ahead money wise washing everything myself. All total it amounts to a savings of at least $50/week (and that’s low balling if it) even when taking into account the cost of the machines. I’m able to do my 2-3 hours of active laundry time each week in short 10 minute tasks that I can accomplish while doing other things. I can talk with the kids after school while folding. I can start dinner and toss in another load of laundry while waiting for the water to boil. Time spent on laundry isn’t even noticeable. Sure, sending out laundry is an option for some but I’m certainly not stupid for doing it myself and it’s outright offensive that your suggest it.

I came across this somehow… and honestly cant really picture that type of life. I work, raise kids, shop all the mom stuff which includes 5, yes 5 loads of laundry a day. I put in the washer, hang iron, daily, all with only the help of a 4 year old who has been taught to hang, and put the undergarments in drawers. While I’m not single, my spouse works out of town and even if he was here, when it comes to domestic work…10 years of marriage he has never washed a load of laundry, cooked a meal, washed dishes (two years my dishwasher was broke) Not sure I would know what to do with my nights if I wasn’t washing clothes interesting anyways to see how others live.

“Not sure I would know what to do with my nights if I wasn’t washing clothes” says it all — I’d love for you to fill those hours with something meaningful – reading, taking a course, exercise, watching wonderful movies, building friendships, learning a new language, anything but laundry!

I stumbled across this article while looking for a laundry service in my area actually.

I totally agree with you, Emma, and I think the whole point of this is lost on people. It’s simple economics. The opportunity cost of an activity is the next best alternative of your time/money/etc. If you are spending 3 hours a week doing laundry, or housework or whatever, you are giving up 3 hours you could be spending taking a class or spending time with your family or growing a business like you mentioned. Is 12 hours a month worth $100? I can make more money in that 12 hours than I would pay out, so yes.

I think people missed the point. It’s not about entitlement, it’s about working smarter and utilizing time better rather than working harder. Your time is precious and if you could be doing something more constructive than laundry, send that shit out. Don’t be content with mediocrity. My job as a woman is not to clean up after people or to do my partners laundry. I choose to work smart, not hard.

Why would I wash clothes at all, worn clothing is for poor people! I never wear the same thing twice, and my old clothes go to charity cases.

I should be writing a blog about how low income mothers spend their money. It would be way more fascinating and informative. I am baffled that people need to read a blog to come up with these solutions.

Hi Emma

My name is Alanda willis im kind of getting off topic but im 22 years old and i have kids of my own. I really need your advice on getting rich though i want them to live a better life then i ever had if i give you my number will you call me i need a mentor that can guide me in the right direction. I know you have better thing to do specially cause you dont know me but if you just find some time i will really appreciate it. Please dont judge me

My grandma, even with having no children around–just her and Grandpa—sent their restaurant/diner (and they had a few “rooms for rent”) laundry to a service, in their small town—even their personal laundry. Everything came back sparkling clean. She passed away when I was fifteen. I never knew her to own a washer/dryer. I and my three siblings lived with them for a few months after my mother passed away. Only then did we go to a laundromat, that was less than a block away, across the alley from her house. I used a laundromat for several years when I first got married. I hated it, for the most part. But I had a great place to go, so I could get all OCD on my laundry, like I like to do. I’m one of those people who loves (or used to) doing laundry and ironing. I’M the person you would be lucky to get to do your stuff, so I would think you would want to meet me (and hire me), lol. Trouble is, I grew up doing the family laundry (my Dad’s stinky work clothes and snotty hankies). I don’t want to handle other peoples’ laundry; just my own family’s. As I get older, and we live a simple life, I find myself thinning out the clothing that we have to the bare essentials. I occasionally have granddaughter’s clothes to wash and they get just as dirty—if not dirtier—than boys (we live out in the country and there is lots to do outside). I just started a new job and I’m glad I have a “dress code” to abide by that keeps it pretty simple: khakis and nice shirts.

I’m a SAHM, so cleaning and taking care of kids is kind of what I chose to do with my life, but when there is a job that I just don’t want to do or can’t do, outsourcing is great! My nephew used to mow our lawn, but then there was always some reason why it wasn’t getting done. Now we pay a service, and all I have to do is put out a check once every two weeks. Such a relief!

The only place I disagree with you is in saying that you don’t need to teach kids to do chores. For whatever reason, I did very few chores growing up. Maybe my mom felt it was her job to clean the house (despite being a single, working mom), maybe it was easier to just do things herself rather than try to make us do it. I do know that there were these underlying expectations that a) I was going to be a career woman, and not spend my life on the drudgery of housework; and b) the things I did need to know were obvious and simple and didn’t need to be taught.

Both of those assumptions were huge mistakes. Even before I quit my job to stay home with the kids, I felt lost and unprepared to take care of myself, much less a family. As I learned to do even basic tasks, I made frequent mistakes that eroded my self-esteem and made me feel like I would never figure things out:

* More than once, I flooded our kitchen because I kept forgetting which soap was for hand-washing dishes and which soap went in the dishwasher.

* I LITERALLY blew up a microwave because I’d been told that you could cook eggs in the microwave, and didn’t know you couldn’t boil them in the shell. And I was 9 months pregnant and standing in the kitchen when it blew up, so lucky I wasn’t injured!

* I caught the toaster oven on fire because I didn’t know you were supposed to clean it out on a regular basis.

* I ruined MANY of my husband’s expensive work clothes while I tried to figure out laundry. I had this idea that you had to read the label on each piece of clothing and ONLY wash things together if they had the exact same instructions. So I got overwhelmed, gave up, and just started washing everything together (setting both the washer and dryer to “normal”), even things that should have been dry cleaned.

The worst part was how stupid I felt all the time, especially when people would tell me things were “common sense.” It’s not common sense if you have NEVER had to clean or cook for yourself! For years I refused to even make dinner for my family unless it came from the grocery store’s freezer section and had explicit instructions on the package, because I hated trying to decipher the instructions in a cookbook or wondering how I was supposed to know if the meat was cooked all the way through.

(And BTW, I have heard many stories from other women who chose to be SAHMs when that was not the expectation their families had set for them. Even when you’re not talking about baking fancy cakes or making your own clothes, or whatever, there is a learning curve when you go from someone else taking care of everything to everything being your job.)

So, yes, I do think you actually need to teach your kids to do basic chores. Even if you can afford to outsource your laundry, and usually do, your kids will probably have to do their own at some point and you should do them the courtesy of teaching them how.

I completely agree with you doing your own laundry sucks every last bit of it, thanks for the post i really enjoyed reading it :)

I’m sure this post has been living longer than you imagined. And there are quite a few folks that have some less positive way of communicating and aren’t able to envision your message. I get it prioritizing where you and how you spend your time is important. You can build a career, be with your family, make more scratch, enjoy the quiet, make a joyful noise. I don’t outsource as you do bit I recognize the value and impact in can have or your life or situation. Apparently, there are a number of people that haven’t found Zen with this concept. Their comments are entertaining but the disrespect they throw your way is alarming. Calling someone a fat lazy cunt shows that person is incapable of supporting their argument with logic or reasoning. Thanks for sharing it all.

It’s part of the territory of putting an opinion out there — it really is about creating a format for discussion — it’s about them, not me :) thanks for your support and reason.

Here at Dropofflaundry.biz we only charge $1.00 per pound for drop off laundry. That is washed, dried, and folded , buy the time you buy soap, softener and or dryer sheets you cant hardly do it for $1.00
Your time is definitely worth something.

i place a smart tv near the washer and dryer so everytime i do the laundry i just stay over there and watch while waiting for the laundry and watch whole folding

Apart from all activities laundry is always critical job. Doing own laundry is seriouly stupidity while we have options for professional laundry near our city.

1. Buying a car is outsourcing transportation
2. Paying for cable is outsourcing entertainment
3. Paying for a cellphone service is outsourcing communication
4. Shopping at a grocery store is outsourcing production, processing and delivery of food and other products.
5. Going to college is outsourcing education.

The list goes on and on…

People need to get off this high horse, claiming misguided nobility for doing things the hard way. The Industrial Revolution of the 18th Century was about moving away from antiquated, slow, inefficient and primitive means of production.

Keep wearing the “I’m better than you because I can do hard, boring, menial tasks better than you” attitutde as a badge of honor. The world is moving forward and leaving you behind, Amish Boy!

By the way, Third World people would laugh at your fake “hard worker” act. Dude, you use a washing machine and drier to do laundry. Third World people do it all by hand!

Lazy cunt. Not only do I do my own laundry, I hand wash it and hang it to dry. No wonder there are so many fat fucks in the USA. Cheeses fucking Rice I have never heard so many lazy cunts in one place. It’s like someone dropped a bomb of whiny miserable fat fucking soccer moms in here.

We just moved to a larger city because my company transferred me, and our new place has no hookups for our washer/dryer. Laundry has always been a big bone of contention in our marriage; finished laundry would sit on top of the dryer for MONTHS, with us just grabbing what we needed. It was awful.

I stumbled onto Wash/Dry/Fold services in our new city, and did the math. I drop it off and pick it up, because the cheapest place is conveniently located right by my office. I do about 20 dollars worth at a time, twice a month.

I don’t care that it’s 40 bucks a month; I’m thrilled I don’t have to do laundry. My husband is thrilled he doesn’t have to do it. That, to me, is worth it.

While I agree that there’s some serious condescension in the title of the article, the author’s right. Outsourcing a chore you don’t like or want to do will make your life easier. Granted, I’m NOT using my extra free time to build a business or anything; I just don’t want to do laundry. Period. What I do with that extra time is my business, and no one else’s.

So, if you don’t LIKE doing laundry and you can afford it, outsource it. If you enjoy it, or can’t afford it, keep on doing it. No one is right here and no one is wrong; it’s about what works best for you and your lifestyle.

Very informative. But i can’t help but feel that this is the reason why so many people are getting more and more lazy. Disney’s Wally hit it right.

My problem is not with the idea of sending laundry out. Indeed, I think this is a great solution, especially for a single parent.
My gripe is with the title of this blog entry and the aggressive tone against anybody who may not feel as the author does on this issue. I’m thinking the author is either just bad tempered or that she somehow feels the necessity to defend her choice but harbors a bit of guilt about it for whatever reason.
Whatever the reality is, the tone is off-putting and I wouldn’t be likely to take this person very seriously.

I love the idea of outsourcing monotonous everyday tasks. I’m chronically ill, I work from home, and I have limited energy. I’m not keen on wasting my time.

That unclutter.com laundry schedule was repulsive.

I seem to have a laundry routine that works for me. I do it once every 2 weeks, and have a closet system in place that allows for quick hanging, no folding.

But DISHES. Dishes are the bane of my existence. I’m definitely researching my options for outsourcing this incessant, mind-numbing task.

I’m reading this with interest, as I’m thinking of buying a neighbourhood laundromat that’s been for sale forever (I’m thinking I can beat the owner down a bit on price because of that).
This is not a wealthy neighbourhood, in fact much of the traffic at this laundry would be from university students living in basement apartments that homeowners/landlords have created from older houses. This is the typical demographic of a coin laundry customer, especially low-income single mothers.
What sort of services would attract a wealthier demographic, apart from pickup and delivery? Hand-washing and flat drying of wool sweaters? (Don’t know about you, but I can never find enough flat surfaces to lay them all out at home.) Hand-washing silks and other delicates?
Please give me feedback about what sort of things you’d happily outsource to a laundry even if you normally do the laundry at home!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *