How to make money doing laundry from home

By Jennifer Smith · October 1, 2026

The short version: with a washer, a dryer, a smartphone and a few free hours, you can take wash & fold orders from people near you. On suds you set your own price per load or per pound, and the rate you set is the rate you're paid. The platform fee is added on the customer's side. You pay for your own detergent, power and water, so price with those in mind.

Who this works for

Laundry is steady, local work. It suits people who are home anyway: parents between school runs, retirees, people with a flexible day job, or anyone who likes a tidy fold. There are no shifts and no quotas. You take the orders you want and pass on the rest.

What you need

• A washer and dryer at home. On suds you sign up from your residence, and your location has to match your proof of address.
• A smartphone for the sudsHQ app. You sign in with your phone number and a text code.
• A driver's license for the ID scan and a live selfie check.
• Proof of address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, lease or government letter.
• A bank account connected through Stripe for payouts.
• A car, but only if you offer pickup & delivery. Drop-off-only is fine: customers bring the laundry to you and collect it.

You're a sole proprietor, which means you run your own small business. You choose your prices and hours, and you're responsible for your own taxes.

How you get paid

This is where laundry apps differ most, so it's worth reading closely.

• You set the price. Per load, per pound, or both, plus minimums, a priority (faster) rate, and your own add-ons such as Oxi Boost or Hanger Service.
• You keep 100% of it. The platform fee is added to the customer's total, never taken out of your rate. Add-on services and tips are yours too.
• Pickup & delivery pays extra. If you offer it, the flat $9.99 pickup & delivery fee goes to you.
• Payouts come through Stripe. They're free on the 1st and 15th of the month, or daily for $0.99 a transfer.

Before you accept an order, sudsHQ shows you the job and your payout. If a bag turns out heavier than the customer estimated, you weigh it, tap Adjust Price, and the customer approves the new total before you start.

The costs to plan for

A load of laundry isn't free to you, and an honest price covers what it costs:

• Detergent, softener and dryer sheets
• Water and electricity (or gas for the dryer)
• Bags for returning folded laundry
• Fuel and time, if you do pickup & delivery
• Wear on your machines

Add these up for a typical load, decide what your time is worth, and set your rate from there. Because suds doesn't take a cut of your rate, the price you choose is the number you work with.

Getting your first orders

Customers on suds can send a request to every provider nearby (a broadcast, where the first to tap Secure Order gets it) or pick one provider directly. A few things help you win both:

• Fill in your profile. A clear display name and a short "About you" go a long way.
• Keep your Services switch on during the hours you can work, so broadcasts reach you.
• Be on time and careful. On-time, well-rated work earns Pro Points and moves you up the levels.
• Tell people you know. Neighbors who book you directly become regulars.

Your privacy is protected: customers see your display name and your area, never your home address, until you accept their order. You can also hide your photo until someone books.

How to start

1. Download sudsHQ, sign in with your phone, and choose Laundry Pro.
2. Confirm you're at home, verify your identity, and upload proof of address.
3. Set your display name, prices and hours, then submit for approval.
4. Connect your bank through Stripe and switch Services on.