The Wishy Wash Laundromat

Do you pickup and deliver in my area?

• In northwest Washington DC we have service in the Connecticut Ave - Wisconsin Ave - Mass Ave corridors south to Calvert St NW.
• We also have service along the Georgia Ave, 3rd Street, and 16th Street corridors in Maryland and upper northwest DC as far south as Missouri Ave/Military Rd.
• In Montgomery County, we service Silver Spring and Takoma Park, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Wheaton, Aspen Hill, Olney, Laytonsville, Montgomery Village, the Kentlands, and most of Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Bethesda.
• We sometimes adjust our routes, expand them, and do pickups outside our normal areas, especially for very large orders. Please call 301-928-1965 or e-mail to see if we can service your address.

What is the turnaround time from pickup to delivery?

• We have one delivery vehicle and run two main routes: one in upper northwest D.C. on Tuesday and Friday; and one in Montgomery County on Monday-Thursday.

• Depending on your location, we can often pickup and deliver your laundry "off schedule" a little quicker than shown, and usually we can provide speedier service for first-time callers who have a large laundry backup to get caught up.
• You also have the option of dropping off and picking up your laundry at The Wishy Wash if you need faster turnaround (same day or next day service, for example).

* Currently limited to a few large commercial accounts

How do I set up a Pick-up & Delivery account?

• Call 301-928-1965 between 8:30am - 5:00pm, or leave a message anytime, and we'll return your call as soon as possible to answer your questions, set up an account, and determine a pick-up/delivery schedule.
• If you leave a voice mail, please include your address or a simple description of your location (e.g., "... near the intersection of Connecticut Ave NW and Jocelyn St").
• You can also e-mail info@wishywash.com to ask questions or leave information. We check e-mail once a day, early in the morning, so please use the telephone if you need a quicker response.

NOTE: Our delivery service is based on routes, so if you need same day or next day service, it's usually faster if you drop off your clothes at the Wishy Wash.

Do I have to be at home when you pickup and deliver?

• No. In fact, we usually don't take new customers who have to be home when we pickup/deliver. To become a regular pickup/delivery customer, you usually need to provide us with access to your clothes without your being there. We make exceptions for commercial accounts, customers with very large orders, or customers who are "always home."
• These are the most common options that our customers provide:
  • An easily accessible area, like a porch, front stoop, carport, back yard, etc.
  • Access to the lobby of apartment buildings with front desk attendants, where customers can leave and retrieve laundry orders. [The management staff at some buildings do not accept laundry, so please check before choosing this option.]
  • A key or alarm code to access apartment buildings that don't have an attended front desk, in which case customers leave their laundry in the lobby or outside their apartment door.
• A key to access customers' apartments, so we can pickup and deliver inside the apartments.

We understand that providing access to your apartment might make you uncomfortable, but over the last seven years we have accessed dozens of apartments hundreds of times without incident.

How do you calculate the charges?

• We remove items from your bag that are not priced by the pound (e.g., comforters, mattress covers, blankets, some duvets, etc.), then we weigh your remaining clothes on a legal scale checked annually for accuracy by a serious looking guy from Maryland's Dept of Agriculture. We calculate the per-pound charges and add them to the charges for items priced separately.

At the laundromat: We accept cash, credit cards, and debit cards for orders you drop-off and pick-up yourself at the laundromat. We do not accept checks.

For pick-up & delivery service: We set up a payment method when you start your account with us. We accept credit and debit cards for personal and commercial accounts, and we accept checks from commercial accounts.

• Pick-up & Delivery customers set up an account at The Wishy Wash that includes a credit card or debit card number that we charge after processing laundry and drycleaning.
• We e-mail invoices in PDF format that itemize charges and payments. Invoicing by e-mail is free.
• We limit access to credit card information to the Wishy Wash owners, we do not share any customer information, and there is no credit card information in the invoice we send via e-mail.
• Pricing for pickup/delivery is higher than pricing for dropoff and pickup at the laundromat.

Do I call each time I need laundry service?

• You can, or you can go onto a schedule. Probably 90% of customers use a once weekly pickup/delivery, 5% get a pickup/delivery every other week, and about 5% call or e-mail whenever they need service.

Silmyt "La Fantastica" logging in the day's laundry pickups.

What time should I put out my clothes for pickup?

• Please have your clothes ready for pickup not later than 8:00am, especially if you live close to the laundromat (which places you earlier on the schedule). We have only one delivery vehicle, and we are the most popular pickup/delivery service for laundry in the DC Metro area ... which means we have to start our routes early.

Do I have to label my bags with my name and address?

• No, we use a color-coded numbering system to identify each of your bags, whether you get pickup/delivery service or drop off your clothes at the laundromat. Your numbers track your order while it's in the bags, in the washers, dryers, and laundry carts, and in the clean bags that contain your finished order.

Do I have to attach an inventory form to my laundry?

• No. We track your clothes by weight, not by the item. We weigh your clothes before we process your order and again after we finish it to be sure we're returning the same volume of clothes that you gave us - so you don't have to fill out an inventory form.
• But ... you can add an inventory form if it makes you more comfortable, or if you just want to draw our attention to a few items in your laundry. If you do decide to inventory your entire order and want us to do likewise, we can add a 10 cents per pound surcharge.

What happens if I go on a trip, just don't need a pickup, or forget to put out my clothes on my scheduled pickup day?

• You can cancel pickups by sending e-mail to info@wishywash.com up to the evening before the scheduled pickup day, or you can call the delivery number (301-928-1965) up to the time our vehicle starts for your neighborhood.
• If we come to your residence on a scheduled pickup/delivery day and there are no clothes, or we can't access your clothes, or we can't deliver your clothes, then we charge a $10 'Empty Run' fee to help cover the costs incurred. If you miss a pickup, we will come to your house again on the next scheduled pickup day, unless you reschedule with us.
• If you have two consecutive empty runs, we remove you from the fixed schedule, but you can still call or e-mail whenever you need laundry service.

Do you mix my clothes with other peoples' clothes?

• No. Unlike some laundromats that offer wash-dry-fold service, we always put your clothes in your own washers and dryers, just as you would do. We label each washer, dryer, and laundry cart with your identifying information.

Ana retrieving a WDF order.

What kind of soap, bleaches, and softeners do you use?

• Soap: We use two premium quality detergents that are made for commercial laundries; one contains oxygenated bleach and the other doesn't. We use the first detergent almost exclusively, and the second detergent when we can't use oxygenated bleach. Compare these detergents (which cost $40 - $50for 50 pounds) with soaps that many laundromats use for wash-dry-fold that cost about $14.95 for a 50-lb bucket. We never use cheap soap at The Wishy Wash.
• Bleach: We use oxygenated bleaches (e.g., Oxyclean, Clorox 2) almost exclusively in order to avoid "accidents" from chlorine bleach. We rarely use chlorine bleach because the oxygenated bleaches do such a superior job without danger of damaging clothes.
• Softener: We use Downy softener or vinegar (safe, natural) in washers and Bounce softener sheets in dryers.

Julie, Jenny, Massiel (front)

What constitutes "normal" processing for Wash-Dry-Fold orders?

Washers

• In the washers we use a premium quality detergent that contains oxygenated bleach.
• We use cold water on colored clothes and hot water on whites.

Dryers

• We use Bounce softener sheets
• We use the 'high' temperature setting for most loads, medium or low heat for fabrics with self-esteem issues.

Can I elect other than "normal" processing?

• Yes, we make cards for pickup/delivery customers that list their preferences. Some people prefer non-allergenic laundering products, some prefer Downy liquid softener instead of Bounce softener, etcetera. You can describe your preferences when you sign up for service or adjust them at any time by calling 301-928-1965 or e-mailing info@wishywash.com.
• Customers who drop-off orders at the store just need to describe their preferences to the attendant taking the order .

Can you "drip dry" or "flat dry" delicate clothes, such as sweaters?

• No, we don't have any capacity in the laundromat to drip dry or flat dry items. When we find items in customers' WDF bags with instructions to drip dry or flat dry, we wash them in cold water and air-dry them on no heat. If you decide to send these items in your laundry, it's always best to separate them in a plastic bag with a note directing our attention to the special handling.
• For best results, we recommend that you dryclean items that need to be drip dried or flat dried.

What if I need non-allergenic soap or softeners?

• Starting in May 2009, we contracted to have a premium quality hypoallergenic soap made specifically to satisfy The Wishy Wash's requirements. The new soap has a natural citrus aroma, contains no added perfumes or dyes, and does a great job of cleaning. We also use Downy and Bounce products that are free of perfumes and dyes. We might change brands without notice, but we will always use premium quality products.
• You also have the option of providing your own preferred brand.

Do you pre-spot stains?

• We will treat stains that we see if we think our stain treatments will be effective. It is almost impossible to remove some stains without special chemicals or repeated treatments (ink and severe grass stains are examples).
• Unless you agree to added charges, we do not pre-soak or rewash clothes containing difficult stains.

How do I know how many pounds of clothing I have? Is there a minimum?

• The minimum pickup/delivery charge is for about 14 pounds ($19.00). We can pick up fewer than 14 pounds, but we're still going to charge $19.00.
• For reference, white 13-gallon kitchen trash bags generally hold about 12-14 pounds of clothes. Jeans are heavier than t-shirts; t-shirts are heavier than lingerie, so the poundage can vary. The white bag Jenny is holding (at right) weighed 17.4 pounds. The big red bag that Yesenia is holding at the front of this picture held about 60 pounds.

What if I send Wash-Dry-Fold and drycleaning that together exceed $19.00?

• You have to meet at least one of the minimums - either the 14 pound/$19.00 WDF minimum or the $25 minimum for drycleaning. If you don't meet either minimum, we will add a 'Minimum Charge Adjustment' to the one that comes closest to the required minimum.

What IS covered by the basic "per pound" price?

• Our basic "per pound" price covers items that can be sorted into light-colored loads, dark-colored loads, and loads of white clothes. The basic price includes premium detergents & softeners; washing, drying, folding (matching as many socks as possible); and packaging in shrink-wrapped plastic bundles.
• For pickup/delivery customers, the pickup/delivery prices already include the cost of pickup/delivery (there is no additonal charge except the fuel surcharge).

What is NOT covered by the basic "per pound" price?

• We charge separately for items that can't be included in our sort of dark/light/white items (comforters, mattress covers, most duvets, sleeping bags, rugs, and cleaning rags, for example). These items are the ones we see most commonly, but there may be others that require separate handling and extra attention, and we price them by the item. Please tell us if you have these or similar items in your bag.
• We charge 'Cost + $3.50' for bathroom sets (rugs and toilet seat covers) accompanying a WDF order, which means you pay the price that our self-service customers pay to use the same washers and dryers - plus $3.50. As an example, the typical 'Cost + $3.50' price to do a set of bathroom rugs with seat cover is about $7.00.
• If an attendant determines that a separate washer/dryer needs to be used to process one or two items - an amount that falls far short of a full load in our smallest machines - then we will charge 'Cost + $3.50' for the extra processing.
• This is a good place to remind you that you are responsible for isolating items (in a plastic bag, for example) that could cause damage to other items in your laundry bag. When we see wet dishcloths or cleaning towels in a plastic bag, we don't know if they're just wet or contaminated with household cleaning products (in which case you should also include a note to let us know about the need for separate processing). Without a note from you, we might process something separately that doesn't need separate processing (more expense for you), or not separate something that should have been (possible damage to your clothes). If you don't leave us a note with instructions, then you agree to accept the results of our decision.

Is there a pickup/delivery charge in addition to the charge per pound?

• The charge per pound covers pickup/delivery and the cost of premium detergents, bleaches, and softeners.
• When fuel prices are $2.00 or more, we add a small fuel surcharge to help cover the increased costs while avoiding across the board increases in 'per pound' laundry prices.

How do I prepare my clothes for the first pickup?

• For the first pickup just put your clothes into plastic trash bags and leave them where we can access them. We will lend you nylon laundry bags if you elect a weekly or twice-monthly schedule, otherwise, continue to use plastic trash bags.
• You don't need to sort your clothes (but you do need to prevent wet dark-colored clothes from touching light-colored clothes - put the wet dark-colored clothes in a plastic bag). The attendants at the laundromat sort your clothes into whites, lights, and darks. They also separate other items that need to be handled (and charged) separately (e.g., rugs, comforters. blankets, cleaning rags).
• Do not put clothes that need to be line-dried or air-dried in your wash-dry-fold orders; put clothes that can't go into our dryers into drycleaning bags, instead.
• Be sure to put items that need to be drycleaned or washed-and-pressed into a different bag from your wash-dry-fold items.

Vickie showing a customer how to use our simple smart card system (no more quarters!)

What happens if clothes in my Wash-Dry-Fold order are damaged?

Before you contact us about damage. please consider that many factors affecting your clothes are outside of our control.

• We do our best to find and remove items from pockets, but we can not be responsible for items that you leave in your pockets or put into your laundry bag which damage clothes or become damaged themselves. Items such as pens, lipstick, crayons, oil, and many others can cause extensive damage to clothes in washers and dryers.
• We cannot guarantee against color loss and shrinkage or against damage to weak and tender fabrics; nor can we guarantee against color bleed-over from new clothes or clothes with poorly set dyes.
• We do our best to identify and remove dryclean-only items, but we can not be responsible for damage to dryclean-only items that you put into your laundry bag and we don't identify and remove.
• We can't be held responsible if your clothing is damaged by items you put in your laundry bag that were used with harsh cleaning products and should be processed separately (dishcloths and cleaning towels, for example). Be sure to isolate such items from the rest of your laundry (in a plastic bag, for example).
• We can not be responsible for normal wear and tear, pre-existing damage, severe soiling that requires special treatment, or "lost socks" and similar mismatches.
• Our company's liability with respect to any damaged article shall not exceed 10 times our charge for processing it.

Bottom line: You are responsible for what you put into your laundry bag. Please tell us if there are items in your laundry that require special handling or that you want to account for specifically on the invoice; otherwise, we accept your bulk laundry "as is" and you agree to accept it from The Wishy Wash "as is."

What happens if clothes in my Wash-Dry-Fold order are lost?

• Our processing is so tightly controlled that it is unlikely that we would lose or misplace items of your clothing. Regardless, if you think that you are missing clothes from an order, please contact us within a week of your order being delivered. We will check your work ticket for the weigh-in and weigh-out numbers, look through our lost and found, check with the attendant who did your order, and review our system of 16 surveillance cameras to confirm the presence or absence of items during the processing of your order.
• We do not accept claims for allegedly missing items that we can not verify, so you must notify us while our digital camera recordings are still accessible in order for us to confirm your claim.
• Our company's liability with respect to any lost article shall not exceed 10 times our charge for processing it.

Are pickup/delivery prices more expensive than if I drop off and pick up my clothes at the laundromat myself?

• Yes, as you might expect, pricing for pickup/delivery is higher than pricing for dropoff and pickup at the laundromat.

Jenny: "Thank God it's Friday!"

Can I get my clothes returned on hangers?

• Yes, we can put clothes on hangers for .10/hanger.

Do you match up pairs of socks?

• Attendants spend up to 15 minutes per order matching socks, which is enough to match all pairs in most orders.
• As you know, matching socks can be very time-consuming, so rather than increase prices to match every pair in very large orders, we include up to 15 minutes of sock matching in our basic price.

How does your drycleaning service work?

• We take your drycleaning and laundering that requires pressing to Sassy Cleaners in Rockville, MD. Consumer Checkbook magazine consistently rates Sassy as best in quality in the Metro DC area, and our experience with Sassy over the last three years bears that out. The quality of their work is exceptional.
• Our pickup and delivery prices for drycleaning are the same or less than Sassy's store prices, so for this great quality you pay about the same price you would if you dropped off and picked up the clothes there yourself - it's the best drycleaning delivery deal in the Metro DC area.
• We can pickup and deliver your drycleaning at the same time we pickup/deliver your wash-dry-fold order.
• Do not put your drycleaning or laundering that requires pressing into the same bag as your wash-dry-fold;if you do, we won't know you have drycleaning until our attendants open your wash-dry-fold bag, which will probably be too late to ensure on-time delivery of your drycleaning. Our goal is to get your drycleaning to Sassy on the same day we pick it up.
• The minimum order for pickup/delivery for drycleaning only is $25.
• NOTE: We do not accept pickup/delivery customers who only want to do 'shirt laundry.

The Wishy Wash processes 10,000 -12,000 lbs of clothes each month for customers like you, and we seldom hear a complaint. We work hard to do a good job for you, and we think you'll be very pleased with the results.