Your strategy for laundry on str

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Your strategy for laundry on str

Ben Tharpe
Member since 2022 路 11 posts 路 1 vote

Hi, guys. I appreciate all replies. So I have 2 STRs. Drying linens and towels is definitely the slowdown. Both of my STRs are 4 bedroom/2 bath with duvet covers for the comforters. So when all 4 beds are used, there is a considerable amount of laundry. The dryer is definitely the slowdown. Both units have a brand new large capacity washer and dryer. I also buy things that are labeled as "fast drying".

My cleaning lady has left damp towels/linens a few times now which would cause mildew and unpleasant smelling laundry if I didn't catch the mistake. 

I just want to see how you all handle laundry with your cleaning crews especially on 4+ bedrooms. I would love some advice on this matter. Thanks so much for your time.

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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker 路 Cody, WY 路 Member since 2010 路 28k+ posts 路 41k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Ben Tharpe:

Multiple sets of everything, then you take it off-site to launder and swap out every turnover.

We have four sets because sometimes a Tenant will get a set dirty and want to put on clean sheets. If we take two sets home to wash, we still have two sets to leave with the next guest.

Tips: We have a large laundry bag for each room, hunter orange so we can see them easily, and each one is labeled with a permanent market. This ensures the linens for each room stays together and we never have to sort.

This link is for the bags I use. We mark them with a black permanent market so it's easy to read. They are HUGE and even the largest loads only fill it half way, so you may want to consider a smaller size: https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...

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  • Jon Martin
    Member since 2022 路 1k+ posts 路 1k+ votes
    3y

    Struggling with how I will handle this as well as I approach my launch, and mine is a 2/1. My best guess is that having spare sets of everything that the cleaners flip immediately, then they go off-site to a commercial laundromat or use a fluff n' fold service.

    2Reply
  • Kenneth GarrettPro Member
    Investor 路 Florida Panhandle/Illinois 路 Member since 2016 路 4k+ posts 路 3k+ votes
    3y

    I have three sets of everything.  Because of the short time on turnovers (6 hours) my cleaners will take the one dirty set home and do laundry there and bring it back the next cleaning.  They will try to do some laundry, but usually there is just not enough time to get all of it washed and dried.  They only have a couple hours or so before they go off to other units.

    5Reply
  • Brooklyn McCarty
    Investor 路 Member since 2022 路 1k+ posts 路 754 votes
    3y

    Have multiple sets and have your cleaner do laundry off site so it鈥檚 ready to go when they arrive 

    1Reply
  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor 路 Greer, SC 路 Member since 2014 路 13k+ posts 路 17k+ votes
    3y

    I have the cleaners do laundry onsite with super capacity machines. It is tight getting it all done. This is a 3/2

    We also have a 6 bedroom cabin and the laundry is taken off site with clean laundry brought during the cleaning.

    Sounds like you may have to go this route.

    1Reply
  • Ben Tharpe
    OP
    Member since 2022 路 11 posts 路 1 vote
    3y

    Thanks for everyone's replies so far. Maybe going to 3 sets with off site laundry cleaning is the best and possibly only good solution. Curious if anyone else has an alternative way. 馃檪

    0Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker 路 Cody, WY 路 Member since 2010 路 28k+ posts 路 41k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Ben Tharpe:

    Multiple sets of everything, then you take it off-site to launder and swap out every turnover.

    We have four sets because sometimes a Tenant will get a set dirty and want to put on clean sheets. If we take two sets home to wash, we still have two sets to leave with the next guest.

    Tips: We have a large laundry bag for each room, hunter orange so we can see them easily, and each one is labeled with a permanent market. This ensures the linens for each room stays together and we never have to sort.

    This link is for the bags I use. We mark them with a black permanent market so it's easy to read. They are HUGE and even the largest loads only fill it half way, so you may want to consider a smaller size: https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...

    The DIY Landlord Book4.7247 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    6Reply
  • Scott K.
    Member since 2020 路 223 posts 路 233 votes
    3y

    Some tips I've learned over the years hosting 6+ bedroom properties with 5 hour turnovers.

    You must have multiple sets of linens/towels. Preferably 3.

    Gas dryers >>> electric dryers.

    Highest capacity, newest washer/dryer you can get.

    For my next project with 9 bedrooms I'm considering getting 2 washers, 2 dryers.

    4Reply
  • Eliott Elias
    Investor 路 Austin, TX 路 Member since 2021 路 9k+ posts 路 5k+ votes
    3y

    I ask my guests to put all laundry in the washer and start it up. 

    0Reply
  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL 路 Member since 2022 路 3k+ posts 路 3k+ votes
    3y

    We have our cleaners handle it.  We have 3 cleaning vendors and several in house employees and here is how they approach it (all units have multiple sets):

    In house cleaners - clean in unit.

    Vendor 1 - Take home

    Vendor 2 - Clean in unit

    Vendor 3 - Have extra staff to run linens to laundromat

    It is a matter of preference or logistics - would you rather spend your time waiting in the unit, waiting at laundromat, or working at your home at night.

    [email protected]813-563-0877
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    2Reply
  • Erik Stenbakken
    Investor 路 Nortnern Colorado 路 Member since 2020 路 170 posts 路 131 votes
    3y

    This is a time vs. money vs. materials problem. Three variables. 

    Answers vary depending on how you answer what's most important. Answer could be 

    A) Your time vs. Vendor handles it (laundry and/or providing linens)

    B) Material: Buy more backup sets of towels/linens. 

    C) Equipment: Buy more/bigger/faster washing & drying units

    Mix and match till you hit the sweet spot that works for you. Keep in mind, what may work for this situation may change if you scale/expand. 

    3Reply
  • Lauren Kormylo
    Rental Property Investor 路 Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE 路 Member since 2019 路 1k+ posts 路 1k+ votes
    3y

    I have a 4 bedroom with 6 beds. My cleaners take it all home to wash, and return at the next clean. I have 3 sets of everything.   

    2Reply
  • Ben Tharpe
    OP
    Member since 2022 路 11 posts 路 1 vote
    3y

    I really appreciate everyone taking the time to answer this for me, as well as the rest of the community. I know a lot of people must struggle with this issue so hopefully lots of people benefit on this discussion. Thanks!

    0Reply
  • Brian Barch
    Member since 2022 路 272 posts 路 253 votes
    3y

    We pay cleaners by the hour. We have 3 sets of bedding.in some instances, cleaner will run to laundromat, however that鈥檚 seldom. But if she does, it鈥檚 simply part of the hourly rate, which is super reasonable

    1Reply
  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA 路 Member since 2016 路 8k+ posts 路 7k+ votes
    3y

    Just to add to the info, we have 2 queens, 1 king and 4 twins. Laundry is done on site.

    Our cleaner will do towels first as even though we have plenty, it is the one thing that needs to get done first.

    We have 5 sets of king and 8 sets of queen. 4 sets for the twins. Each. Our cleaner will take some home sometimes or put the sheets in a hamper for the next time there isn't a back to back.

    2Reply
  • Leslie Anne Morris
    Real Estate Agent 路 Smoky Mountains, TN 路 Member since 2022 路 1k+ posts 路 984 votes
    3y

    We employ a drop off / take away method. So always swapping out dirty for clean and never trying to do laundry on site. 

    2Reply
  • Taylor Stow
    Attorney 路 New Orleans, LA 路 Member since 2017 路 38 posts 路 19 votes
    3y

    @Leslie Anne Morris for your drop off method, where do you have the drop offs happen? Is there some box outside the home it鈥檚 dropped off into? How do you keep the sheets fresh in the box?  If it gets dropped off inside the house, how do you avoid guest interruptions?

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor 路 Scottsdale Austin Tuktoyaktuk 路 Member since 2021 路 4k+ posts 路 4k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Nathan Gesner:
    Quote from @Ben Tharpe:

    Multiple sets of everything, then you take it off-site to launder and swap out every turnover.

    We have four sets because sometimes a Tenant will get a set dirty and want to put on clean sheets. If we take two sets home to wash, we still have two sets to leave with the next guest.

    Tips: We have a large laundry bag for each room, hunter orange so we can see them easily, and each one is labeled with a permanent market. This ensures the linens for each room stays together and we never have to sort.

    This link is for the bags I use. We mark them with a black permanent market so it's easy to read. They are HUGE and even the largest loads only fill it half way, so you may want to consider a smaller size: https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...

    Brilliant!
    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor 路 Scottsdale Austin Tuktoyaktuk 路 Member since 2021 路 4k+ posts 路 4k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:

    I have a 4 bedroom with 6 beds. My cleaners take it all home to wash, and return at the next clean. I have 3 sets of everything.   

    How do you keep your laundry from getting mixed in with other STR laundry when it's taken off site?
    0Reply
  • Adam Martin
    Rental Property Investor 路 Member since 2020 路 1k+ posts 路 1k+ votes
    3y

    I don't have a str but we recently stayed in a cabin and they asked us to put the towels in the washer before we left and left tide pods.  While there is some backlash in asking guests to do chores this really wasn't a big deal and only took a couple of minutes but probably saved over an hour for the cleaners. 

    0Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker 路 Cody, WY 路 Member since 2010 路 28k+ posts 路 41k+ votes
    3y

    Use bags that are clearly marked by address so it doesn't get mixed with anything else. Dump the laundry, and the bag, into the washing machine. That keeps it all together so you can put the laundry right back into the correct bag.


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    3Reply
  • Mike Shemp
    Rental Property Investor 路 Stewartsville, NJ 路 Member since 2016 路 419 posts 路 280 votes
    3y

    We don't provide linens or towels at our short-term rental at the beach, and are booked year round.

    We put it in our house rules that guests must bring their own linens, pillows, and towels, and it's also in the rental agreement and check-in message.  In 5 years we've only had 1 person arrive that didn't read it, and they just went to Walmart and bought bedding.

    Hope that helps.

    Mike

    4Reply
  • Andy Whitcomb
    Investor 路 Black Diamond, WA 路 Member since 2016 路 123 posts 路 127 votes
    3y

    This is definitely one of the biggest bottlenecks, and we've tried several different methods over the years at our various properties.

    Long story short, we use a delivery/drop off service. 

    Here is a more detailed outline of what we do for our rural property with 3 cabins:

    1. We only have queen beds and a few daybeds (twins). Queen beds have all white linens and daybeds have light grey linens. This is so our cleaners can easily spot which is which. All towels are white except for washcloths, which are dark grey so makeup doesn't stain them.

    2. We buy WAY more than we need off all towels and linens so we have significant backstock.  We have it all organized and stored in a heated storage shed that is easily accessed by cleaners at all hours, without disturbing guests.

    3. We have a company who will swing by twice a week, pick up the dirty laundry from the shed and drop off the clean. This was a bit of a trick for us to set up because we are fairly rural. We ended up paying an extra delivery charge for being out of their "service area". But it's worth it to us. We pay around $1500/mo for this service in total. 

    4. We do have washer and dryers at the cabins for guests to use, but we don't do our laundry on site any. more. 

    1Reply
  • Leslie Anne Morris
    Real Estate Agent 路 Smoky Mountains, TN 路 Member since 2022 路 1k+ posts 路 984 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Taylor Stow:

    @Leslie Anne Morris for your drop off method, where do you have the drop offs happen? Is there some box outside the home it鈥檚 dropped off into? How do you keep the sheets fresh in the box?  If it gets dropped off inside the house, how do you avoid guest interruptions?

    In most cases the cleaner is just bringing the clean sets back during the next turn. 
    2Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant 路 San Diego / Phoenix 路 Member since 2021 路 12k+ posts 路 15k+ votes
    3y

    It takes us much less time to do the cleaning than the laundry. So it just makes sense to have extra sets of everything. The dirty laundry goes off-site to be washed and returned. Each property has multiple sets of sheets and towels on-site. Constantly refreshed....Makes it so easy....

    3Reply
  • Chris Henry
    Savannah, GA 路 Member since 2022 路 34 posts 路 14 votes
    3y
    Quote from @John Underwood:

    I have the cleaners do laundry onsite with super capacity machines. It is tight getting it all done. This is a 3/2

    We also have a 6 bedroom cabin and the laundry is taken off site with clean laundry brought during the cleaning.

    Sounds like you may have to go this route.


     Do you know the actual capacity of your washer/dryer? 

    0Reply
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