Start an ironing service... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

irchy_mum

I'm seriously considering starting an ironing service -I much prefer it to housework, one thing that concerns me though is peoples different perception of what is well ironed?
I'm pretty sure my ironing is good enough ( I bought a steam generated iron to have the perfect! finish), but I'd be mortified if someone told me it wasn't up to scratch:o . I also live in a small village in Northants and when I've mentioned ironing to friends I always get the impression that people aren't prepared to pay & would rather do it themselves.
Sorry to sound so negative, but I just don't know what peoples expectations are?
Anybody in NN29 postcode area looking for a paranoid ironing lady-PM me, pleeeaaasssseee;)

irchy_mum

Just bumping this thread, my friend has taken up my offer of ironing for her on a weekly basis at 50p per adult item & 25p per childs. She says she will recommend me..........
Think I'm going to put some flyers up in local PO, Pre-school & shops (very small village)& see how I get on.

nra02ejm

Just had a call regarding the ironing service (outside specified hours but never mind lol) and got my first customer dropping off a load of ironing in the morning yay. Seriously excited now...maybe i shouldn't be admitting this. Patience does pay off in the long run it would seem. She may only be a one off but its a start yay

irchy_mum

nra02ejm wrote: »

Just had a call regarding the ironing service (outside specified hours but never mind lol) and got my first customer dropping off a load of ironing in the morning yay. Seriously excited now...maybe i shouldn't be admitting this. Patience does pay off in the long run it would seem. She may only be a one off but its a start yay

Well done!I 'd be excited as well
I've just put a free ad on the netmums.com notice board -just waiting for my phone to ring now!

picklepick

well done erika, im really pleased for you! lets hope its the start of many xxx

gingersmum

Hello Everyone

Excellent thread. I have been really inspired. I have a couple of questions.

Do you all have vans for delivery? Or can it be managed in a car?

How do you deliver your ironing to customers? ie in a basket/box/bag?

Do you have certain pickup/drop off days?

Do any of you work in customers homes?

picklepick

hi gingersmum

i origninally started out as just ironing but i now have a fully fledged cleaning company aswell so iron in customers homes. what did u want to know?

Stephb1986_2

Hi gingersmum

we have 2 vans now at first we started with a small rascal van! and built up from there really.

we ask our customers to provide hangers for the stuff they want hanging the rest we can fold like jeans and tshirts the can send it in a basket or a bin bag if they send it in a bin bag and we have to fold we have scented bags in different smells we get the large and the small ones and with a permanant marker put the address on the top of the bag.

We do certain areas on certain nights now, but because we have 2 vans i collect it one night and then the following night it gets dropped off in the other van while i collect in a different area.

No we never work in a customers home its health and saftey for one if you get electrocuted in their house its a bit funny isn't it. Plus you have your own equipment ect ect.

We have been running 6 years now! without a problem.

TBH if people have a problem with the stuff not coming out too great then why are they sending it to you if they can get it any better?? they know what its like and thats why they send it.

You can only do your best and we aint miracle workers at the end of the day. If they use a standard household iron and iron their own stuff there is no chance they can get it to a standard that you would with a steam generator iron.

The only problem you could have is people with washer/driers in one if its in there for too long theres no chance of shifting the creases we ask people if they have one and if they do can they leave it slightly damp.

People who dry it on radiators too for days on end or people who leave it on the washing line for what feels like months too. But like I said if they can do better let them.

If there are any more questions feel free to pm me or leave a message here

Steph xx

irchy_mum

Stephb1986 wrote: »

TBH if people have a problem with the stuff not coming out too great then why are they sending it to you if they can get it any better?? they know what its like and thats why they send it.

You can only do your best and we aint miracle workers at the end of the day. If they use a standard household iron and iron their own stuff there is no chance they can get it to a standard that you would with a steam generator iron.

Steph xx

I'm so glad you said that Stephb1986, my main concern(once it all takes off:rolleyes: )is what people expect, my 1st customer (friend)gave me her stuff & there were a couple of 100% cotton shirts that were completely screwed up & creased to bu**ery in the bag!!! I told her next time to hang them straight after washing, they were a nightmare & it really made me think twice about ironing for others, I know I can do a good job BUT what if someone expects perfection?????

Stephb1986_2

If they expect perfection they should buy new shirts! if they haven't washed them with fabric conditioner and dried them right then thats not your fault is it and they cant be expecting you to do something with it if they can't!

We get it all the time and no one has said anything but thats because they know what its like! you can only do your best!

Quite a few times we had to wash one ladys order it was over 100 items we used our own water, electric, soap powder and fabric conditioner never charged her extra and she never even gave us a tip! no thanks or nothing!

If everyone used fabric conditioner and washed like us we wouldnt have a job.

Good luck

Steph xx