washhero is Providing Clean Laundry to the Elderly and those Most Infected by the Pandemic
Every part of life has been or will be affected by what’s going on right now, even the access to clean laundry. There are over 178,000 citizens that are 60 or older just in Milwaukee alone, according to Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and there’s a huge percentage of that number who may not have their own washer or dryer, or aren’t capable to do their own laundry. There are also thousands of Milwaukeens who are in the same boat, so Milwaukee startup washbnb did a complete 180 and changed the focus of their business.
Originally, washbnb was founded in February 2020 to provide linen and laundry services for Airbnb hosts, but within a few weeks, the world had changed. Co-founders Daniel Cruz, Brian Mandelin and Cat Simpson switched their plans once Simpson pointed out how many people would be without laundry. Now, washbnb is offering a wash-and-fold laundry service, especially for the elderly and those with health issues in Milwaukee, under the name washhero, a new Wisconsin benefit corporation.
Cat Simpson (L), Daniel Cruz (Middle) and Brian Mandelin (R). (Picture provided by washbnb)
“The pandemic showed us a lot quickly,” said Cruz. “This really accelerated are thinking.”
Within five days, the founders created a website and found their perfect price point to charge per bag of laundry. They even found a local printing company to outsource their laundry bags that hold up to 15 pounds, which is a standard size of laundry.
washhero offers pick up and drop off with no face-to-face interactions. Their turnover rate is 48 hours from the time that they pick up the laundry bag to the time that they drop it back off. Cruz said they’re ensuring safety by following all sanitation guidelines for handling laundry from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding COVID-19.
Each laundry bag cost $20, with discounts available for orders of two or more bags. The $10 delivery fee is waived for those who are 60 years old or older or immunocompromised. washhero is also taking orders from those who are currently unable to pay and they’re accepting donations to cover the cost of washing those orders.
As of right now, washhero is a team of six, including the three founders and three employees.
A washbnb laundry bag can fit up to 15 pounds of laundry. (Picture provided by washbnb)
“washbnb is designed to create a lot of jobs. Jobs that pay a fair wage for the community,” Cruz said. “You can’t do laundry without people.”
The team is working on marketing to the right communities because they understand the people who need their service the most don’t live in Downtown or the Eastside. To help with this, washhero is looking to partner with local nonprofits and organizations who are directly involved with low-income or improvised communities.
washhero has a GoFund me with a goal of raising $50,000. To donate, click here. For more information on washhero, click here.