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Category: Operations & Cleaning
By: Kevin O'Brien
Reply by Brittany Simmons:
I switched from in-unit laundry to a service 6 months ago. Here's the math: **In-unit laundry (before):** - Extra 1.5 hours per turnover × $25/hr cleaner rate = $37.50 labor - Electricity/water: ~$3 per load, avg 3 loads = $9 - My time checking quality: 15 min - **Total: ~$46.50 per turnover** **Laundry service (after):** - Pickup/delivery: $3 per bag - Wash/dry/fold: $1.50/lb, avg 25 lbs = $37.50 - **Total: ~$40.50 per turnover** The service is actually CHEAPER and saves my cleaner 1.5 hours (which she uses to deep clean more thoroughly). Plus the quality is more consistent — commercial laundering makes whites WHITER. The key is having 3 complete linen sets per bed: one on the bed, one at the laundry service, one clean backup at the property. That way you're never waiting for the service to deliver.
Reply by Tasha Williams:
In-unit laundry all the way for me. Reasons: 1. My cleaner is salaried (not hourly), so the extra laundry time doesn't cost me more 2. I can inspect linens myself for stains, wear, and replacement needs 3. No dependency on a third-party picking up/delivering on time 4. I can upgrade to fresh-smelling linens with specific detergent/fabric softener (branding touch) I invested in a good commercial-grade washer ($900) that does larger loads in shorter cycles. Cut laundry time from 3 loads to 2 per turnover.
Reply by Michael Thompson:
For properties far from a laundry service or in rural areas, in-unit is the only option. For urban properties with multiple laundry services nearby, outsourcing makes a lot of sense — especially if you have multiple properties. Instead of 3 linen sets per bed per property, you can pool linen between properties and have the service route deliver to whichever property needs it. The bottom line: if you host 20+ turnovers/month across multiple properties, a laundry service will save you money and time. If you have 1-2 properties with 10 turnovers/month, in-unit is fine.