During the rainy season, laundry services are in high demand.

(VLO) Busy lives lead many people to choose laundry services because they save time. Service prices range from 7,000-15,000 VND/kg depending on the type and material of the clothes; the cost of handling items with complex designs, high-quality materials, or event clothing can range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of VND per item.

In addition to offering a wide range of laundry services, the shops also provide pick-up and delivery services, saving customers valuable time.

During the rainy season, laundry and dry cleaning services, as well as laundry equipment maintenance, also experience a boom.

"The more it rains, the more customers we have."

In GS Hau Ly shop (Ward 1, Vinh Long City), there are 3 washing machines and 2 dryers operating at full capacity, and the empty space above the shop is also used to air-dry clothes, mosquito nets, blankets, etc.

Ms. Ly Thi Xuan Hau, the shop owner, said: "On rainy days, the number of customers is more than double that of normal days. Most customers are students, workers, service staff, and families... who do not have the means to buy a washing machine or have limited living space and little time, so they cannot wash and dry their clothes at home."

If customers are unable to bring their clothes to the laundry, I will come to their house to pick them up and deliver them back, free of charge. On weekdays, I have 20-25 customers, and during the peak rainy season, this can reach 30-35 customers per day, averaging about 10kg of laundry per customer, with service prices ranging from 7,000-15,000 VND/kg depending on the type of laundry.”

Having worked as a garment washer for nearly two years, Ms. Xuan Hau says it takes about 3-4 hours for all the steps, from sorting clothes, hand washing, machine washing, drying, heat drying, spraying with fragrance, folding, and delivering to customers.

"For the GS service, before processing by machine, items must be handled manually, then sun-dried or air-dried before heat drying to ensure maximum dryness."

Overall, the work is quite easy, but requires careful attention to avoid missing or damaging customers' items. Because each item has different colors and materials, it needs to be handled separately for effective cleaning; each customer will have different requirements for detergent and fabric softener.

"Each order is not only processed individually in separate machines but also dried and stacked in separate areas, ensuring that the goods reach customers clean and fresh-smelling," Ms. Xuan Hau shared.

Busy sorting clothes by color and material, Ms. Le Thi Chung, owner of Phuong Chung laundry shop (Ward 9, Vinh Long City), said: "Because I have a loyal customer base, my shop operates steadily regardless of the weather."

But on rainy days, the number of customers is slightly higher than usual, with an average of 2-3 kg of laundry per customer, and up to 6-7 kg per customer during peak periods. Because of the continuous rain, customers call me every 2-3 days to pick up their laundry from their homes and return it to me after the job is done. I usually choose laundry detergent that is safe for all ages, and fabric softener that leaves a long-lasting fragrance and doesn't cause the colors of the customers' clothes to fade.

The cleaning fee is 15,000 VND/kg for items under 5kg, 12,000 VND/kg for items from 5kg to under 10kg, and 10,000 VND/kg for items over 10kg. For items like mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets, shoes, wedding attire, etc., the fee is 15,000 VND/kg or more depending on the item; customers who bring their own items to the shop will receive a 10% discount on the total order.

Nguyen Truc Quynh, a third-year student at Vinh Long University of Technology and Education, shared: "When it rains, clothes take a long time to dry, they smell bad, and they wrinkle easily."

"I work part-time outside of school hours, so I don't have time to wash my clothes. I usually use GS's service because they send staff to pick up and deliver the laundry, which is convenient and affordable, and my clothes are washed clean and smell nice."

Demand for washing machines and dryers has increased significantly.

To meet the demand for quick and convenient laundry for consumers, in addition to existing washing machine and dryer models, brands such as Aqua, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Toshiba, etc., have introduced models that integrate both washing and drying functions into a single device.

The demand for washing machines and dryers increases sharply during the rainy season.

A salesperson at Dien May Xanh (Ward 3, Vinh Long City) said that due to the heavy rain, the demand for washing machines and dryers has increased sharply, with an average of 5-10 customers visiting each day to inquire about information.

Currently, the system is running a "Rainy Season - Huge Discounts" program with up to 50% off on many electronic, refrigeration, and household appliances...

Mr. Nguyen Tan Tai, owner of Tan Tai electronics store (Thanh Duc commune, Long Ho district), said: "Entering the rainy season, the number of customers coming to buy GS equipment doubles compared to normal days."

Accordingly, brands like Panasonic, Samsung, Toshiba, Aqua, LG… offer a diverse range of designs, with both front-loading and top-loading washing machines incorporating many modern features, quiet operation, touch screens, and more.

Top-loading washing machines cost between 4-5 million VND/unit, while those with inverter technology cost over 6 million VND/unit; front-loading washing machines cost over 10 million VND/unit.

Household dryers are priced from 5.5 to 12 million VND per unit, with either vented or condensation drying functions; display models are offered at a 30-40% discount compared to new units, provided they are still under manufacturer's warranty.

According to Mr. Tai, consumers should carefully consider choosing washing machines and dryers that suit their living space and usage needs. Although front-loading washing machines have many modern features and save space, their complex structure and maintenance and repair costs can be three times higher than other models.

The GS "2-in-1" integrated machine saves time but is quite complicated to use; the entire system may stop working if one of the two functions fails, and maintenance costs are higher than conventional machines.

Besides that, washing machine and dryer cleaning and maintenance services are also thriving during the rainy season. "During the rainy season, customers tend to use their washing machines continuously, so there is a need for drum cleaning and component maintenance."

"Therefore, my technicians are constantly working, sometimes serving 9-10 customers per day during peak weekends. The cost of cleaning the upper door motor is about 300,000 VND/motor, and the front door motor is 500,000 VND/motor, depending on the actual conditions," Mr. Tai said.

During the rainy season, laundry often becomes more difficult due to the humid weather. Whether choosing a professional laundry service or equipping yourself with a professional washing machine and dryer at home for convenience, consumers should choose a service provider that guarantees safety; and purchase washing machines and dryers from reputable supermarkets and stores, ensuring products have quality certifications, energy efficiency labels, and warranty policies to protect their rights during use.

Text and photos: THAO TIEN

Source: https://baovinhlong.vn/kinh-te/202409/mua-mua-dich-vu-giat-say-dat-khach-4457d8d/