How Much Does a Wash and Fold Laundry Service Cost?
If you came here searching for ‘How much does laundry cost’ well you are in the right place. However, before diving head first into how much you need to spare to plan your budget around this, let’s first understand why it is the right choice to leave your laundry to the experts.
We all want our clothes, bedding, rugs and fabrics to be pristine, hygienic and well pressed. But then there is also the hassle of maintaining a full time job, managing that long commute to the office and back, planning your dinner around, ensuring you are taking your vitamins, finding some time to call your family or spending quality time with your significant other.
Of course, there is also some time you need to spend with your friends, enjoy that harmless drink over banter and laugh worries away. But there are only 24 hours in the day and you also need your beauty sleep. In addition, that enormous guilt is weighing on your conscience as you look disappointed with yourself in the mirror seeing that load of laundry in the corner imagining it giving you a side eye. You have been wanting to do it for nearly a week but just can’t find the time.
We understand. We have all been there. That’s why we are here for you at Laundry Gopher. In order to fix your laundry woes, the first step is to find out the laundry service cost near you.
Let our experts quickly break down the costs for you so you can plan your budget accordingly.
What does Laundry Service offer?
Usually most laundry services operating near you offer a series of interconnected services related to ensuring your clothes are impeccable. These include:
- Laundry Wash and Fold Services
- Dry Cleaning Services
- Laundry Pickup and Drop Services
- Self Service Coin Laundromat
- Commercial Laundry Services
- Specialty Cleaning Services
When you decide to hire a laundry service provider, it usually is considered the basic laundry wash and fold service. Let’s get deeper into what the basic wash and fold service includes:
Online Scheduled Pickup
You can arrange for a pickup by downloading the laundry service provider’s app or by registering for an account directly on their website. In our case, you can download the Laundry Gopher app and schedule this pickup online.
Sorting
Once the load reaches the laundry attendants they sort your clothes based on the type of colors, fabrics and care instructions. We do this to avoid mishaps like colors bleeding or getting damaged during the washing process.
Washing
Professional laundry service providers use commercial-grade washing machines and appropriate detergents to wash the clothes. It is important to note that at this stage the laundry team strictly adheres to the fabric care instructions on the label.
Drying
At this stage, the clothes are dried by sending them to industrial dryers which have just the right combination of the temperature setting and the duration of exposure. Overdrying may lead to damage or shrink your clothes and we don’t want that. The dried laundry is weighed again to determine the per pound charges of the load service.
Folding
After the clothes are dry, they are first inspected and then neatly folded ensuring they are pressed, packed and stored.
Packaging
The now washed and folded laundry is placed in bags ready to be delivered to you.
Online Payment
This is a quick and easy step done directly through the app using a credit or debit card where you make the final payment for the service at the time of delivery.
Note: Special Requests
Sometimes customers request a particular type of detergent, fabric softeners or hangers or perhaps hand washing. Most laundry services accommodate these requests but in case of specialized clean or tough stain removals there could be an additional fee. Always clear up with the customer rep about the breakup of the charges so you can plan things well.
Now that you know what is involved let’s get straight into the pricing.
What is the Average Cost of Wash and Fold Laundry service?
Each laundry service provider has a minimum order price defined. This ensures maximum efficiency and value for both the customers and the laundry service business.
At Laundry Gopher Chicago, here is how we do things:
Weighing
The rate is defined using a ‘per pound’ unit. This is determined after weighing your clothes when they are clean and dry – at the end of the service. The minimum order by this weight standard should amount to $36. Most laundromats actually charge anywhere in the range from $40 to $65 for the minimum order. In fact, we are one of the cheapest dry cleaners in the Chicago area.
This minimum amount ($36) is considered as the combined pricing meaning it is inclusive of all services for that specific load which could include dry cleaning, special request or anything else, in addition to the basic wash and fold.
However, in certain cases as in the case of Special Items, the pricing tends to vary.
Special Item Laundry Service Pricing
Each laundry service provider will have his own definition of what constitutes ‘special items.’ At Laundry Gopher our special item pricing begins from $2.50 the exhaustive pricing list includes:
- Per Pound Pricing for Wash & Fold Special Item – $1.75
- Comforter/Blanket/Duvet (full, twin) – $20.00
- Comforter/Blanket (queen, King) – $30.00
- Dog Bed (small) – $10.00
- Dog Bed (regular) – $15.00
- Pillow (depending on size) – $6.00
- Bedspread – $12.00
- Cushion Slipcover – $7.00
- Chair Slipcover – $14.00
- Sofa Slipcover – $20.00
- Mattress cover – $10.00
- Laundry Bag (by request) – $6.00
- Double Wash – $2.50
- One Day Turnaround – $2.50
- Emergency Wash/Fold Next Day – $2.50
- Missed pickup/delivery – $12.00
Again the minimum order principle applies here as well, if your laundry load included special items only, the minimum order that we would take would need to amount to at least $36.
This is the exhaustive list of special items for Wash and Fold services; however, it makes sense to know that Dry Cleaning prices for regular items and special items also varies.
What are the Dry Cleaning Services Prices?
Same principle for the minimum order $36. However, the per pound rate of the items varies. The minimum per item rate begins from $ 3.25. Remember, we are the cheapest dry cleaners in the Chicago area.
Laundry Gopher Dry Cleaning Prices
Let’s drill down to the pricing list quickly.
- Shirt – $3.25
- Pants – $6.75
- Comforter/Blanket/Duvet (full, twin) – $20.00
- Comforter/Blanket (queen, King) – $30.00
- Jeans – $8.00
- Blouse – $6.75
- Dress – $12.00
- Dress/Jumpsuit – $12.00
- Shorts / Skirt – $6.75
- Suit – $19.75
- Suit Jacket / Sport Coat – $13.00
- Sweater – $7.00
- Tie / Scarf / Belt – $5.00
- Vest – $4.50
- Aprons – $3.25
- Chef Jacket – $6.00
- Coat (depending on size/material) – $15.00
- Pullover – $6.75
- Robe – $5.00
- Sew Button – $8.00
- Small Tablecloths – $9.00
- Large Tablecloths – $12.00
- Extra Large Tablecloths – $16.00
- Hemming – $14.00
- Down Comforter – $35.00
- Duvet Cover – $20.00
- Sheet – $7.00
- Pillowcase – $3.75
How do I prepare for my first Laundry Service pickup?
Select a laundry service provider that offers free pickup and drop service for your clothing. Most laundry service providers now offer their own platform such as Android, iOS apps or an account on their Website.
In our case, you can download the Laundry Service app available in both iOS and Android versions. Then schedule a pickup. Gather your laundry and sort it if some of your items need dry cleaning or any other specific requests. Labels come in handy for this. Place them in a plastic bag or a pillow case and share with us. As a regular, you can request our laundry bag at a nominal fee to make things easier for you.
That’s it. Then wait for a confirmation before the pickup. Whether it is from home or office, our representative will reach you at the scheduled time. Hand over your laundry and rest easy. Wait for 36 hours until your laundry is cleaned, sanitized and crisply folded and delivered to you in pristine condition.
Right before your laundry is delivered to you, it is weighed to determine the weight (the total pounds) and you are billed accordingly. At this point, the fees for special requests are also included in the final invoice. Make the payment online on our app using your credit or debit card and you are all set.
If you are searching for a wash and fold or dry cleaning service provider in the Chicago area, we would be happy to assist you. Schedule a Pickup on our app or simply give us a call on 773-217-0847.
