Everybody wants to do WNF these days.
Self-service laundromats, gig workers on different platforms, individuals doing it in their homes, etc. People are starting up platforms to get clients and then outsource the work.
I see them all the time in our laundromat processing their orders.
They're just slinging clothes like Mel with the hash at Mel’s Diner. What I don’t see in all that slinging is a process/system.
Wash and fold services are prone to errors without the right systems in place.
I’ve heard of some business owners using the assembly line model or assigning one attendant to handle an order from beginning to end as ways to reduce mistakes and increase accountability.
Both of those can work, but I’ve found that having a written log of what is going on with that order reduces mistakes.
It all started with us writing on the back of the order ticket throughout the WNF process.
You know what I’m talking about. Flip it over, machine numbers, weight, who is working on it, etc. Then slap some tape on it and put it on the machine.
It worked for a while until I noticed the inconsistencies with what was recorded on them and they looked so sloppy after a while.
Not good.
So I created our WNF slip. Angel music starts playing 😉
Using this wash-and-fold slip became the most efficient and effective way of catching and addressing errors and stopping them before completing an order.
Our wash and fold slip has 5 main sections that serve as checkpoints and allow us to track important details throughout the process.
Beyond preventing mistakes, it helps us:
- Ensure process consistency
- Track team contributions
- Maintain historical records
- Ensure quality assurance
Thinking about, the thinking of laundry:
If your processes don't evolve over time, is your business growing?
Now let’s talk about what we put in each section.
Section 1: Preload
This section includes key details about the order such as:
- Special Instructions
- Bag Types
- Number of bags
- Bag weight (even if you don’t price by the weight, it’s still good to know)
- Name of attendant who loaded the machine
- Tag number
- Due time
Section 2: Processing
Here’s where we document details like:
- Did you spin and check the washer?
- Are there wet clothes in the bag?
- Are there socks and underwear in the net bag?
- Who loaded the washer?
- Who loaded the dryer?
- What are the washer, dryer, and cart numbers?
Section 3: Folding and Packing
This section records and confirms details including:
- Who folded the laundry
- Who packed the laundry
- Final weight (for us, this should be within ¾ of a pound of the initial weight, unless there are wet items)
Section 4: Specialty Items
In this section, the attendant circles items that we charge extra for such as:
- Comforters
- Blankets
- Pillows
- Coats
- Rugs
- Mattress covers
- Animal beds
- Sleeping bags
wash-and-fold
The final section is just a quick checklist to make sure the order is ready to go.
- Lavender put in the bag
- Packed in customer’s bag
- Bag is packed in a square shape
- Order racked
- Customer texted
- Entered in drop-off tracker
- Entered into Slack
Our wash-and-fold slip prevents errors by requiring the team to check for accuracy and quality every step of the way. If a mistake happens, we can review the slip to see exactly where it happened and fix it without the client ever knowing.
There’s no need to reinvent the wheel by creating your own slip. You can download and edit our Wash and Fold Slip Template here to get started.
That's all I got for you today.
Waleed
✌️🏴☠️
P.S. Are we connected on Linkedin?
Echoing the wisdom of H. James Harrington
Measurement is the first step that leads to control and eventually to improvement. If you can’t measure something, you can’t understand it. If you can’t understand it, you can’t control it. If you can’t control it, you can’t improve it.
Thanks for reading this edition of Wash Weekly. I hope you enjoyed the topic this week. If you didn't, we'll try it again next week.
