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

missspeedy23

mrsspoon wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

I have a tefal pro express steam generator iron which is great. I saw some steam presses going quite cheap on ebay and wondered if they would save me time, I might have to invest in one!

I sometimes think it's my own perfectionism holding me back. I feel I haven't done the job properly if I haven't ironed both sides of the sleeve (for example) - even if I turn it over and it looks ok on the other side, I still like to go over it!

I do seem to spend a long time going over the same bit which I need to make a concious effort to stop. I run the iron over the same spot probably 3 or 4 times, even if it's fine the first time.

Miss speedy - when ironing fitted sheets do you iron the crease into the sheet (where you've folded it)? Do your customers mind that? I haven't tried it yet, but I'll give anything a go to speed up the process!

I've just had my Morphy Richards steam generator iron delivered - it's brilliant!! Can't imagine how I managed without it now!

I only tend to iron one side of t-shirt sleeves - shirts I do both (or maybe not with my new iron!)

Yes I iron the crease into the sheet - the way I see it is that once I've folded it the crease will be there anyway! No-one has said anything about it and I do it for all my customers (all repeat ones).

I only really use my press for bedding/tea-towels/napkins etc as I end up with more creases than I start with for shirts! The one I've got is not very big so can't cover as much surface area as my ironing board but the pressure seems to have a better effect and it does seem to be quicker.

missspeedy23

How do you return your folded items to customers?

One of my customers sends her ironing in a wicker basket, which I return it in, but all my other customers send theirs in bin liners so I currently use a basket I've got of my own and let them take their ironing out and take it back with me. I'd like to give my regular customers something they can keep but can't decide what to get and what is cost effective. I've seen some large bags with flat bottoms but not sure if the clothes would stay flat and not crease or not.

jib2010

Hi , the checked laundry bags you can get for around 99p have the flat bottoms and I use those for regular customers. Any folded bedding fits in the bottom perfectly and doesnt move about and i asked my custmers if they found them better and they said yes. Also you can write their surname on the side in permanent ink and they zip up so no spillages in the back of your car/van.

missspeedy23

jib2010 wrote: »

Hi , the checked laundry bags you can get for around 99p have the flat bottoms and I use those for regular customers. Any folded bedding fits in the bottom perfectly and doesnt move about and i asked my custmers if they found them better and they said yes. Also you can write their surname on the side in permanent ink and they zip up so no spillages in the back of your car/van.

Great, thanks - where do you get them from?

bobby_75

Hi ,

I am new to this, just wondering once you get some regular customers and you would like to take out some holidays what do you say to your customers? Just before I start such a bussines ,as i have son and his grandma lives abroad and we do go and visit her Xmas time and in the summer.

I love ironing and would be a perfect solution doing it at nights while son is sleeping and getting paid for it

Thanks x

missspeedy23

bobby_75 wrote: »

Hi ,

I am new to this, just wondering once you get some regular customers and you would like to take out some holidays what do you say to your customers? Just before I start such a bussines ,as i have son and his grandma lives abroad and we do go and visit her Xmas time and in the summer.

I love ironing and would be a perfect solution doing it at nights while son is sleeping and getting paid for it

Thanks x

Hi, we've just been on a week's hol and I just put a note on my receipts for the 3 weeks before to let them know. No-one had a problem with a week's break - I just had twice as much to do when we came back

If you love it, go for it - it's a good additional income.

jib2010

Hi missspeedy in reply to the laundry bags, you can get them at local hardware stores, the pound stores and bargain stores etc.

Funky_Mum

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone uses the trouser clips etc? And if you use the metal hangers do you use anything to pad the hanger?

bobby_75

Hi Missspeedy23

thank you for your reply.
Can you give me any tips how much to charge?
I was thinking £15 per black bin liner of up to 20 items or should I say 25.
I am in Kent medway area, no idea how much to ask for and I find it a bit lenghty process counting one by one item in front of customer.

thank you

missspeedy23

bobby_75 wrote: »

Hi Missspeedy23

thank you for your reply.
Can you give me any tips how much to charge?
I was thinking £15 per black bin liner of up to 20 items or should I say 25.
I am in Kent medway area, no idea how much to ask for and I find it a bit lenghty process counting one by one item in front of customer.

thank you

Hi, I charge by the kg as I find that the simplest way to charge. Some people charge per basket or per item etc so it's entirely up to you.

I charge £3 per kg for 48hrs service and £4 per kg for 24 hours service. I say a minimum charge of 5kg, which is roughly a loosely filled bin liner, so £15 for a bin liner is about average. Only thing is if they send a bin liner of bedding, could weigh a lot and take a while, for £15! One of my customers has told me I'm too cheap but I looked at some other services round us and found this to be the average charge. My customers are happy with paying this.

I also offer a 25% discount on every 10th order. I would say to have a look on Yell.com for other ironing services round you and even ring a few up posing as a customer, that way you don't under or over price yourself!

You're welcome to look at my website to see what I charge and my terms & conditions etc - pressed-to-perfection.co.uk (won't let me post a link!)