1931 - Laundering and Dry Cleaning
Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences,
by Mary Brooks Picken
Laundering as a Business
185. If one has a small capital to install machinery (it need not be elaborate) and a means of conveying the clothes, a laundry business may be started; and if the field is a good one and the work receives close attention, it is bound to grow. As the business begins to pay for itself, equipment may be added from time to time. If one were contemplating such a project, the best plan would be to visit a number of commercial laundries, perferably the smaller ones, and, if possible, to work in one to gain experience.
186. Hand Laundries.—If one wishes to start business without an outlay of much money, one may specialize in fine laundering. Often the garments in the so-called "hand" laundries are washed very satisfactorily in machines and particular attention is given to them in the starching and bluing processes. All garments of course, are ironed by hand.
187. Commercial Laundering.—Laundering by the machine process may be started in a small way as mentioned. Usually all of the washing and most of the ironing is done by machines. All of the ironing in some large laundries is done by machines that are made especially to iron certain garments.
Service rendered by a commercial laundry comes under three heads; finished work, rough-dry laundering, and wet-wash service.
Finished work brings the clothes from the laundry ready to put away.
Rough-dry laundering means that the clothes are ready to be dampened for ironing.
Wet-wash service brings the clothes to the home ready to be put on the line for drying.
Flat work in laundry refers to bed linen, table linen, and like pieces. This is generally rated by the dozen or pound and at comparatively low prices.
188. Community Laundries.—More and more the idea of community laundries is becoming popular. Often a few families, perhaps three, equip a room in one of the homes with modern apparatus, secure some one as professional laundress, and in this way have all their laundry work done by the most up-to-date methods and by a great saving of time, money, and peace of mind.
In a surprisingly short time, a well-equipped home laundry begins to pay for itself. Consequently, it is possible for any woman who understands laundry work and who desires to make it a means of livelihood, to set herself up in business and in a short time have a home-laundry business that is thriving.
