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Dealing with Massage Laundry Challenges

When I first went to massage school and dreamt of opening my own massage business, I pictured myself changing the world through my healing touch. But I never imagined the mountains of laundry that is left for me to do at the end of the day. Finding ways of coping with the massage laundry problem are essential.

“If you practice massage out of your home, buy yourself a separate laundry machine. It's tax deductible and will keep your household much happier. ” (about me)

Should you use a Massage Laundry Service?

While laundry services are definitely convenient, they do average out to be $2 to $3 per client. If you do it yourself, the cost will be dramatically reduced and will be about $.50 per client. However, keep in mind that it may be more cost-effective to pass it on to someone else so that you can devote more time to your customers.

If you hire a laundry service, you'll either provide your own linens or use theirs. If you use the service's linens, the cost will be more. If you furnish your own, you'll need twice as many than if you do your own wash, because the laundry will be done less often and half your sheets and towels will likely be in the laundry at any given time.

Massage laundry services make sense if you don't have a washer and dryer in your home or office and have to make trips to the laundromat (very time consuming). They are also well suited for practices that are very busy. If you're seeing lots of clients, then not only are you likely bringing in enough business (and therefore money) to hire a laundry service, but you might not have time to do your own laundry. You also will be generating a lot more laundry than you will with a small practice, so this is another good reason to hire a service.

How to Choose a Massage Laundry Service ?

If you decide to hire a laundry service, make sure you shop around a little bit. Different services charge different prices and the quality can vary dramatically. When comparing services make sure you adjust for whether the service requires you to use their sheets and towels or if they will sell you towels and sheets at wholesale cost. If you use the company's linens, be sure they provide quality sheets and towels you'll like. Ask to see samples and check them out before you make an agreement.

Massage oils can be difficult to remove from sheets and tells unless the service you hire has the proper chemicals. Make sure that the service has had experience with massage therapists' laundry and that they understand how to get it very clean. You don't want to be charged for stained laundry and you don't want to receive back stained laundry.

Drop it Off at the Laundromat

Another option, and perhaps cheaper, is to use your local laundromat as a cleaning service. Most laundromats offer the option of letting you drop off your laundry and having the laundromat itself do it, usually for a fixed price. You may have to supply the special detergent needed yourself to make sure that the oil residues on your sheets and towels are fully removed. However, this is still probably more cost-effective than a laundry service and certainly easier than doing your own laundry, especially if your practice is very busy. But you may want to try a few laundromats until you find one that can consistently getting massage laundry clean.

Doing your own Massage Laundry

If you choose to do your own laundry, it has its advantages. You have complete control of how many clean sheets and towels you have, and you also can make sure that they get as clean as you want them. You also know that you won't run out unexpectedly as well.

Even though the initial investment in a washer and dryer is costly, doing your own laundry is in the long run is substantially cheaper than hiring a service. You also have the convenience of having the machines in place at work so you can do quick emergency loads. It's much easier to do laundry during work while you are seeing clients. It means when you go home for the night you don't have to take a bunch of laundry with you.

In addition, if the machines are used exclusively for your business, they are a tax write-off. If you have them at home and also do personal laundry with them, then they are not. Even if you work out of your home, the 30% tax write-off may help you justify purchasing additional machines. If it means not having to fight over the washer with other family members, it is worth it.

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