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A Complete Guide To Using Laundry Services In Singapore (2020)

Updated: Jun 16, 2021

Part I: Introduction


Many of us understand the value of maintaining good hygiene - not just when it comes to cleaning our bodies but also the clothes that we wear. Clothes can pick up and accumulate a lot of dust, germs, and bacteria as we go about our daily routine. Not only are dirty clothes unpleasant to wear but they may also present health hazards due to harmful bacteria clinging onto them. That’s why it is so important to do laundry regularly so that we’d always have clean clothes to wear.


Even though washing machines and dry cleaners have reduced the time and effort that goes into washing clothes, doing laundry remains one of the most time-consuming and neverending household chores. Besides, if you are not careful, you can easily make a mistake like adding too much bleach that will ruin your clothes or putting in clothes made from delicate materials that may get damaged during the wash.


With many Singaporeans leading a fast-paced lifestyle, not all of us have the luxury of doing laundry properly. That’s when engaging a laundry service may come in helpful in ensuring that we have clean clothes even amidst our busy schedules. As such, if you are interested in knowing more about laundry and dry cleaning services in Singapore, this article is for you.


laundry service in singapore
Laundry Services in Singapore


Part II: Laundry Services In Singapore



How Do Laundry Services Work?


There are 2 types of laundry services in Singapore: self-service ones (also known as laundromats) and those run by professional launderers. As its name suggests, self-service laundromats are shops in which the customer operates the washing machines and dryers by themselves. The machines are coin-operated and the customer also has to use their detergent and fabric softeners. For those who are busy, laundromats may not be the best choice. So, how does a professional laundry service in Singapore work?


At the very least, your dirty laundry should be washed, dried, and neatly sorted by a professional laundry service. The launderers will inspect your clothes before washing to determine the condition and material type. After that, they will decide the best treatments to use and how long it will take to clean and dry them. Most laundry service also offer spot-cleaning and stain removal services. This is especially good for stubborn stains that do not go away even after going through a wash.


As the customer, the most you have to do is to drop off and pick up the clothes. For some laundry services in Singapore, you may not even need to do that as they offer pick up and delivery options as well! Besides laundry services, these laundry companies may provide other services such as dry-cleaning, carpet cleaning, and curtain cleaning - which will be further elaborated on in the later sections.


3 Good Reasons Why You Should Use A Laundry Service


The main reason why most people use a laundry service is the convenience that it offers. As mentioned earlier, doing laundry takes up quite a lot of time. From sorting out the clothes, mixing the detergents, setting the wash cycle to drying them and folding them, it is estimated that humans spend at least 5 hours per week on laundry. Not to mention the amount of labour that goes into it, it is no wonder that laundry services are getting increasingly popular in Singapore. By just dropping off and picking up your clothes, you are virtually done with laundry for the day (or week)! When you have a busy schedule, using a laundry service is especially beneficial. Besides the convenience of it, here are 3 other good reasons why you should consider using a laundry service in Singapore:


use laundry services in Singapore

  1. Attention to care and detail With a professional laundry service, you can expect that your clothes will be given the utmost care and attention. Laundry experts will ensure that your clothes are appropriately sorted and that the correct detergents are used to clean them. Best washing methods will also be employed so that your clothes are gently washed and be free from stains. Not only will you receive clean clothes, but this will also maintain the quality of your clothes - so that you can enjoy wearing your clothes longer. For fabrics that often require specialised care, such as silk and wool, a professional laundry service is particularly useful.

  2. Cost savings It is no secret that using a washing machine takes up a lot of water and electricity. Factoring in other costs of buying an iron, washing detergents, fabric softeners, and other washing equipment, it is safe to say that a lot of money goes into maintaining the cleanliness of our clothes. With a laundry service, you can easily reduce those costs - especially your water and electricity bills. For those who cannot afford to buy a washing machine, laundry services are often the cheaper and faster alternative.

  3. Flexible schedules With more laundry services offering pick up and delivery options, it is much easier to schedule laundry into your routine. No longer do you need to worry about the growing pile of dirty laundry in your room when you can easily contact a good laundry service and ask them to pick up your clothes. When it comes to delivery, you can even choose how soon you need your clothes to be ready. If you have ever fitted your routine around laundry, this delivery option is the best solution for you!


What Is Dry-Cleaning And Why Should You Use it?


For laundry services, the most common means of cleaning clothes is to use water and detergent. For dry cleaning, it entails using liquid solvents instead of water. As such, a dry cleaning machine looks similar to a washing machine except that a liquid solvent is pumped into it instead of water. Natural fibres such as silk and wool benefit from being dry-cleaned as they can often become distorted and even lose colour when exposed to water and heat. With dry-cleaning, there is less chance of clothes shrinking, losing their shape and colour.


dry cleaning services in Singapore

Dry-cleaning has been around for quite a while - dating back to the Roman era when ammonia was used to clean wool togas to prevent shrinkage. Over the years numerous liquid solvents, such as kerosene and even turpentine, have been used for dry-cleaning. As these were highly flammable solvents, the early 1930s saw the development of non-flammable alternatives. These were chlorine-based solvents called perchloroethylene (Perc) or tetrachloroethylene, which are still used today by professional dry-cleaning services.


While a traditional laundry service involving water and detergent works just fine for most fabrics, dry-cleaning offers a gentler alternative. As little to no water is used during this process, dry-cleaning is often considered to be more environmentally-friendly. Besides, have you ever tried to remove a stain from your clothing only to damage the fibres? You no longer need to worry about that when you use a dry-cleaning service. This is because dry-cleaning service often comes with spot cleaning and even minor stain removal while still ensuring the structural integrity of your clothes.


In addition, dry-cleaning is not just for clothes but for other household items such as bedsheets, carpets, and curtains as well. These items often sustain more wear and tear and hold on to more bacteria than our clothes. Dry cleaning them ensures that dirt and odours are removed properly while maintaining their longevity.


Subsequently, if you have delicate fabrics or household items that need to be thoroughly cleaned, using a dry-cleaning service is highly recommended.


3 Advantages To Getting Your Household Items Professionally Cleaned


Professional laundry services are not just for cleaning your clothes, but also household items such as bedsheets, comforters, curtains, and carpets. These are often bulky items that may not be cleaned enough if they are put in the washing machine. For carpets and bedsheets especially, they may have stains and odours that are more difficult to remove. In such cases, it would be more beneficial to use a laundry service instead. If you are still not convinced, here are 3 advantages that you will experience when you send your household items to be professionally laundered.


best dry cleaning Singapore

  1. Ensure you and your loved ones’ health Carpets are prone to collecting and storing large volumes of dirt - such as grease from footwear, liquid stains, food crumbs, etc. This creates a very conducive environment for dust-mites and all sorts of other microorganisms (like allergens) to thrive. Unfortunately, this may bring harm to human health such as breathing issues and allergic reactions. While consistent vacuuming and spot cleaning helps, dirt and dust still tend to accumulate in carpets and become difficult to get rid of properly. That’s when professional carpet cleaning can ensure that stubborn stains and odours are removed effectively so that your carpet does not end up risking human health.

  2. Maintain the longevity of your items Our bedsheets, carpets, and curtains are made from a variety of materials that may need specialised care and cleaning. For comforters that have filling inside, wrongly washing them can result in a lumpy-looking blanket - reducing its effectiveness and its lifespan. Due to the fabrics being used to make curtains, many of them may shrink when they are put through a machine wash or even become distorted. With professional laundry and dry-cleaning services, you can be assured that your household items will receive the correct treatments and care that will ensure their quality and preserve their lifespans.

  3. Enhance the aesthetics of household items As dirt and dust accumulate on carpets and curtains and bed sheets and comforters endure stains, they may become worn-out and even lose their luster. Not to mention that comforters and carpets will lose their softness and become rough over time. With professional cleaning, these items will retain their shape and colour for a longer time - thus improving the look and appearance of your home.


cheap laundry services in Singapore


Part III: The Cost of Laundry Services In Singapore



5 Things That Determine A Good Laundry Service In Singapor


Now that you have understood how advantageous alaundry and dry-cleaning service in Singapore can be, you may be itching to try one right now. Nevertheless, it is crucial to do your research beforehand so that you can choose the best laundry service that meets all your washing needs. Here are 5 things that can help you find a good laundry service in Singapore.


good laundry services in Singapore

  1. They own and operate their factory This may come as a surprise, but not all laundry services have in-house machines to do laundry. For some, after inspecting the garments, they will send it to an industrial cleaning facility to be cleaned properly. After that, it will be transported back to the laundry service to be organised and collected by the customer. The problem with this model is that it carries some risk of fabric damage and reduced quality. This is because industrial washing machines can carry loads of up to 120 kilograms and with that many clothes, it may be difficult to ensure its cleanliness and quality. As such, it is best to look for laundry services in Singapore that operate their factory of cleaning machines as they are more likely to have standard processes that will maintain the quality of your clothes and reduce chances of fabric damage.

  2. Proven track record of good service and experience It goes without saying that there should be an established track record of good service for a dependable laundry service. This can be determined through reading reviews and asking your friends and family about their experience with a certain laundry service. If there are more good reviews than bad, it means that the laundry service is reliable For many cleaning services, a good track record goes hand in hand with experience. The longer a laundry service has been operating in Singapore, the better they understand the needs and wants of their customers. Especially since people are less forgiving when it comes to ensuring cleanliness (as it directly affects our health and well-being), checking how long a laundry service has been around can be a good measure of its quality. This would also give you peace of mind about your clothes and household products being in the possession of professionals who understand how to properly take care of them.

  3. Reasonably priced Many of us may be tempted to look for cheap laundry services in Singapore to meet our budget requirements. However, it should be noted that the cost of a laundry shop’s services is highly indicative of its quality and workmanship. While the services should not be too exorbitantly-priced, cheap prices may mean that the company is offering inferior services that may not clean your clothes and household items properly or assure its quality. Especially for carpet cleaning and curtain cleaning services, and delicate fabrics, it is better to spend a little more on them to make sure that they get the care and attention to detail that they deserve.

  4. A strong loss and damage policy One of the most essential aspects that determine a reliable and trustworthy laundry service is how it compensates its customer if any of their items get lost or damaged during the washing process. It may sound a little counterintuitive as an experienced laundry service should ensure that all garments are taken care of properly. However, it is always better to be prepared for any unexpected situations. As such, when you are looking for a good laundry service in Singapore, do review their loss and damage policy to ensure if such an incident happens, there will be reasonable compensation.

  5. Timeliness of service Besides having their garments taken care of by experts, the main reason why many people choose to use laundry and dry cleaning services in Singapore is its convenience. Consequently, a good laundry service provider should be able to clean clothes as quickly and efficiently as the customer requires. This also ensures that they have fresh and clean clothes when customers need them. For even better service, you can look for shops that provide laundry delivery and pickup services! With such a feature, people with hectic lifestyles can easily schedule their laundry and don’t need to worry about letting it pile up until they run out of clean clothes.

Besides these 5 tips, another aspect that will help you determine a good laundry service is to support local homegrown businesses. As these laundry services are based in Singapore, they are equipped with the skills needed to maintain our clothes and ensure their pristine conditions in our tropical humid weather. Moreover, with more support, they can also hone their craft so that they can continuously offer the best services for their customers.


Laundry Services Pricing In A Nutshell


The infographic below lists some common laundry services and their pricing. As it can vary from company to company, do compare costs before deciding to settle on one.


laundry services prices

These are just the base prices of a good laundry and dry-cleaning service in Singapore. In general, the cost of cleaning your garments and household items are influenced by the following factors:


  1. Type of service Dry-cleaning is pricier than the usual laundry service (also known as wet-wash) because the machinery is more expensive and requires more specialised training to operate. Besides, laundry services also offer other value-added services such as laundry delivery and installing/dismantling curtains. Opting for these additional services will definitely increase the cost of your laundry.

  2. Type of material Some fabrics require more care than others and that will impact the price accordingly. Some garments may need to be dry-cleaned or others require spot cleaning before being put in the wash. This ensures that your garments are clean and remain the same quality as when you first dropped them off.

  3. The amount of labour required If your clothes happen to have embellishments such as sequins or buttons, it will probably be more difficult to clean them. Besides, clothes made from delicate fabrics such as silk and lace will need to be carefully cleaned so that it does not lose its shape or quality. Bulky household items such as comforters, carpets, and curtains are also more labor-intensive owing to their size and thickness. The above items may require laundry experts to spend more time and effort into cleaning them, thus impacting the price.

  4. How soon you need your laundry Most laundry services take an average of 4 days to complete washing your garments and household items. However, if you need them to be cleaned quickly and efficiently, it will definitely cost more. The laundry services will charge for how soon you need the clothes and how quickly they can clean them.


Washing Versus Dry-Cleaning: Which One Should You Use?


Increasingly, more garments are being labeled with ‘dry-clean only’ cleaning instructions. Even clothes made from cotton and linen are coming with such instructions even though they typically have been wet washed. As stated earlier, dry-cleaning is better at maintaining the quality, shape, and colour of clothing than a wet-wash. So, it would seem that it would be a better choice to send all your clothes to be dry-cleaned. Nevertheless, a normal wet wash is not without its merits either. If you are confused as to whether you should wet-wash or dry-clean your clothes, here are 3 questions to guide you:


dry cleaning and laundry services Singapore

  1. Does it have stains that cannot be removed by water? Our clothes often pick up the sweat and oils from our bodies and dust and pollutants from our surroundings. Fortunately, such stains can be easily removed with a little bit of detergent and water. Even simple food and liquid stains can be treated with such a mixture. However, for more stubborn stains that won’t seem to go away, dry-cleaning is the better option as the solvent gets deep into the fibres and removes the stains thoroughly.

  2. What kind of design and structure does it have? Clothing that has intricate patterns such as pleating, beading, and sequins are beautiful to look at but can be easily ruined if they are carelessly thrown into the wash. As such clothes tend to lose their shape once they are in the water, dry-cleaning will ensure that their structural integrity is maintained. Structured garments such as blazers with shoulder pads and neckties fall under this category as well. Some clothes are also treated with a special finish that can be ruined by water. As such, these clothes require dry-cleaning services to ensure that it does not become misshapen or ruined.

  3. What material is it made from? Clothes made from natural fibres benefit the most from being dry-cleaned. These materials include silk, wool, and suede. In addition, clothes made from synthetic fibres such as acetate, rayon, and polyester can last longer if they are dry-cleaned instead of being laundered. Do note that while silk and wool can survive a wet wash, the same cannot be said for suede. The treatments that go into making a suede garment can be easily undone by water, which is why experts always recommend dry-cleaning for suede items.


If you are still unsure, it is best to just contact a dry-cleaning service in Singapore and ask them. This is because they will have experienced experts who are well-equipped with the skills and knowledge to help you decide whether your clothes should be wet washed or dry-cleaned.



Part IV: Conclusion


Life may get busy with work, family, school, travel, and other social obligations. That's why we are always looking for ways to save us time on housekeeping - especially doing laundry. Just like any other skill, doing laundry properly and efficiently requires a lot of time and effort. Whether you do not have enough time to do laundry or require more specialised care, a laundry and dry cleaning service has the capacity to effectively meet all your washing needs. With less time spent on laundry, you can finally free up more time to spend with your loved ones or on your hobbies.


With our extensive range of laundry and dry-cleaning services, The Laundry Club SG aims to meet all your washing needs! Contact us today to find out more.

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