Latest news with #TheLaundryLady
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
‘Uber for laundry' arrives in NZ
When Susan Toft was a new mum, she'd walk past piles of laundry every day and feel that familiar sinking feeling – too much to do, not enough time. Laundry was one of her least favourite tasks, and when she became a working mother of a toddler, it became even more of a chore. While she struggled with work/life balance, the spare room was a dumping ground for mounds of clean washing, while dirty clothes piled up elsewhere. So, backed by a successful career in marketing, Toft founded The Laundry Lady on Australia's Gold Coast in 2012 to take care of both ends of the problem – finding a job that allowed her to work around her family while also getting the laundry done. Toft became the original Laundry Lady and the company has since thrived in Australia. It's now entered New Zealand and is expanding nationwide, with mobile laundry services available in Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Wellington, Palmerston North, Taranaki, Tauranga, and Hawke's Bay. More locations are on the way. 'It's like Uber for laundry,' Toft says. The concept is simple. As a client, you book a laundry-washing slot via and a Laundry Lady – or Lad – comes to pick up your bundle. They wash, dry, iron, fold, and return it. It doesn't just suit domestic users – families, couples, individuals, or people with disabilities or mobility challenges – but in Australia, small to medium businesses such as hairdressers, gyms, physios, sports clubs, bars and cafes, property managers and aged care facilities have found it a boon, too. What is it about laundry that makes it so discouraging a household chore? It's the visual clutter; it's the many different stages it gets stuck in; it's the fact that it is literally never-ending. 'It just takes up so much time,' Toft says. 'And I think if you can outsource that and make life easier for yourself then you should. It's putting a value on what your time is worth. In this day and age we don't have to be wasting our time doing the never-ending laundry.' And, she adds, you have a lot more clothes to wear when you start outsourcing their cleaning. Indeed, doing so is on the rise. The New Zealand laundry care market is anticipated to grow by US$37.2 million with a compound annual growth rate of around 4.7% throughout the 2025 to 2030 forecast period. That's part of a growing post-pandemic trend of outsourcing services, all made easier by contactless technology; automated and app-based laundromat services are growing too. But in the case of laundry, Toft says the usual solution – the local DIY or managed laundromat – is limited. 'You can certainly go to the laundromat and do it yourself, but then you've got to stand there and wait,' she says. 'And it costs almost as much as getting it picked up. Large commercial providers tend to only do pick-ups on certain days of the week, it's not as fast a turnaround, and you get your stuff washed with other people's.' With The Laundry Lady, you type in your suburb, see who's available, book them in straight away, and pay online. You can also customise the service with options like line-drying a special garment. Laundry Lady now has around 1000 residential and small business customers across New Zealand, supported by a growing team of 25 local Laundry Ladies and Lads. In Australia, that team has grown to more than 300. 'If someone's looking for that work-from-home model it works very well for them,' she says. 'They can be earning anywhere between $300 to $3,000 a week consistently, depending on how much they want to work. For customers it's great as well, because they like to know they're supporting locals.' Potential Laundry Ladies and Lads don't need special commercial equipment to get started. A car, a washing machine, dryer, and steam iron station are all they need, though Toft says people often add extra machines in their garages to increase their business as word spreads. 'It keeps startup costs very low. People can join and get started earning money very quickly,' she says. 'It does take time to grow; it's not overnight that you have a full customer base, but that can work well if people are transitioning out of full-time work.' New Zealand is The Laundry Lady's first overseas expansion, with Canada and the UK next on the horizon. Toft ultimately wants to take the business 'as global as possible'. When she thinks back to her pile of home laundry that started it all, she says it's been an exciting ride seeing how her idea has grown. 'Especially how much it's changed people's lives,' she says. 'For our customers it saves them time in their day, and for our contractors they have this amazing flexible business. It's been wonderful seeing how life-changing that can be for them.'
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Winter staple Aussies aren't cleaning enough: 'Do every two to three weeks'
When winter hits, there are a few things that we instinctively reach for. A thicker doona, cosy flannel PJs and furry slippers, for starters. For many Aussies, the advent of chilly weather also means that another essential is never far away and that it is the humble Oodie. These oversized blanket/hoodie combos have become a trusty crutch through winter, but there is one little issue that often gets overlooked. Given that the Oodie is something you eat in, sleep in, and even traipse to the supermarket in, how regularly are you washing these comfy wardrobe staples? As CEO and Founder of The Laundry Lady, Susan Toft is a laundry expert with gold standard advice on how to get anything clean. Appearing on Shark Tank in 2023, she told shark and Oodie founder Davie Fogarty that her business often washes Oodies, so she knows her stuff! Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle, Susan breaks down how often you should wash your Oodie and the laundry no-nos you should avoid when doing so. RELATED: Caravan couple's Bunnings solution to dry laundry in a small space: 'Perfect size' Off-grid camper's laundry act divides caravan owners: 'Still get the eye rolls' Kmart fans rush to buy $35 item that transforms household task: 'I bought two' According to Susan, the first trick is temperature and cycle. 'Use cold water on a gentle cycle. You can use a warm wash up to 40 degrees, but can get just as good results with a cold wash,' Susan tells us. 'The delicate fibres in your Oodie don't need aggressive washing. Think of it like washing a favourite woolly jumper.' She also advises washing your Oodie by itself because it's a big, bulky item that will nearly fill most domestic washing machines. If you're going to the trouble of washing it, you might as well give it the best chance of getting really clean! 'You also want to avoid washing it with items that have zippers, hooks, or rough textures that could snag the fabric,' she adds. In terms of detergent, Susan recommends a laundry liquid. 'Opt for ones that are approved for wool or silk. A small amount goes a long way. Too much detergent can leave residue that makes the fabric feel stiff,' she says. Interestingly, she also suggested skipping the fabric softener. 'It can actually coat the fibres and reduce their natural softness over time. The fabric is designed to be soft without additives,' she explains. Half the items in my closet tell me I should handwash them (but I rarely do), and the idea of wringing out a soaking wet Oodie in the sink does NOT appeal. Still, Susan says, if you really want to preserve your Oodie's cuddly texture, it's the best way. 'Hand wash in cold water using a large laundry tub, bucket, or even a strucket. This bulky item needs room to move freely in the water, but due to size, this option may not be possible for everyone,' she says. It goes without saying that the tumble dryer is a no no. The heat can damage the fibres and cause shrinkage so the expert advice is to air dry. 'Lay it flat on a clean towel or hang it from direct sunlight,' Susan tells us. Given this process doesn't actually seem as arduous as expected, it's now for the big question of how often you should do it? The answer might surprise you. 'If you're wearing your Oodie regularly, while snuggling up on the couch aim to wash it every 2-3 weeks, or when you notice it's lost that fresh smell,' Susan says. 'Unlike regular clothing, Oodies don't need frequent washing because it's worn over other articles of clothing rather than directly on the skin. You can stretch that 2-3 weeks longer if you're not wearing it every day.' Of course if you take your trusty Oodie out and or are just regularly wearing it outside you might want to throw it in the weekly wash. Along with the Oodie there are other cosy comforts dragged out of storage to make winter more palatable. The kids and the dog are usually the biggest fans of snuggling up in a blanket or throw but again, how much thought do we put into making sure they aren't also cuddling up to an army of bugs and germs in there? 'Heavy blankets and throws are often sent to the too hard basket, but they need regular attention, especially in homes with children or pets,' Susan says. She advises that in a pet and kid-free home, 2-3 months between washes is ok but add some furry friends to the mix and she ups the washing frequency to monthly—or more if they sleep on them. 'With young kids [wash] every 3-4 weeks because spills and accidents happen,' she says. "Plus, if there's sickness in the house and kids have been sniffing and sneezing on the lounge it's a good idea to do an extra wash afterwards." The first thing to do is check weight limits on your machine, as many heavy blankets exceed standard capacity. If it's ok, then pre-treat any stains before washing, and Susan advises using cold water and a gentle cycle to prevent shrinkage. SHOP: 💄 Aussie brand's 'near perfect' dupe of $70 cult product wows for half the price 🧽 Aussie mum's $6 solution to most hated household chore: 'It smells incredible' 😃 Aussie's multi-million dollar business idea after job rejection: 'Suddenly went viral' 'Air dry when possible,' she adds. 'The weight when wet can damage your dryer.' If the thought of washing your heavy blankets makes you want to hide under them instead, she suggests using a professional laundry service. 'Some items are simply too bulky, delicate, or time-consuming to tackle at home,' she says.
