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This is sort-of a followup to Thoughts about washing machines . The exciting conclusion to that thread is that we now have a washing machine.
Since we now have a washing machine, I think it would be rude to refuse it to guests, though not out of the question, I suppose.
So, two questions.
Assuming I let guests use the machine, would it be considered rude and/or strange to say something like - give us your clothes and we’ll load it in for you? I’m a little concerned about letting random strangers use a new and definitely damageable machine. E.g. clothes with metal attached or metal in the pockets could scratch the drum.
Advice on how to express this tactfully would be appreciated.
How much should I charge per load? Rs. 0 is probably not an option, because it’s subject to abuse. I was thinking Rs 50 per load. Is that too much, or too little? I realise it’s hard for people outside India to judge.
“We now have a washing machine for guest use. Please contact us for assistance.”
–Make sure the machine isn’t right out in the open where anyone can just walk up and use it… In a closet or similar space.
We (here in South Florida) allow guests to use our new washing machine, with assistance. We charge $5 per load (It’s a big machine that can take a complete set of bedding for a queen size bed, plus comforter). That’s a huge amount of rupees, I know… Here, a loaf of good bread costs about $3.50. So does a good cup of coffee in a nice coffee shop.
I don’t charge guests to use our washing machine. If you want to charge, I would charge a bit more than your local laundromat charges.
I’ve found that most guests ask us how to use the washing machine. Metal on clothes shouldn’t scratch the drum. We wash jeans with zippers all the time.
I insist that guests use our laundry detergent as scented laundry soap makes the next few loads smell. I don’t permit use of fabric softener for the same reason.
We put a washer and dryer on the caravan site last year and at £1 for 30 minutes, each machine is a little gold mine. The machines are cheap ones with no complicated programs, £540 for both, instructions on the wall and not had any problems with lots of different people using them.
Faheem, I recall your earlier thread but I can’t remember if you have a standalone STR or rent rooms in your house. Anyway, if you bought the Bosch large bit of kit, you need to take care of it, big time; they are not cheap by any means! I don’t think it is rude to refuse it to guests, as they might think you are a softie-pushover. Following having two women here for a week who had asked before arriving about laundry (I said yes…), they wanted to do a load after their first two nights. I say “load” advisedly; they brought their dirty laundry with them from Toronto! People will take the piss I’m afraid.
I have a washer and dryer which I let guests use for free if they are staying more than three nights. For guests staying less than that, I charge $2 per load in the washer, and $2 per load in the dryer. I tell guests that the laundry room is available to use daily between noon and 10PM.
It’s an honour system, really, I have a tin on the windowsill of the laundry room where guests can put their money.
Interestingly, I’m almost certain that every guest who has used the machines paid up in full, and I’ve never felt that a guest who doesn’t have to pay has used the amenity excessively. I’m also fairly certain that there have been a couple of guests who have chosen my listing over a similar listing nearby, simply because I let people use the laundry room!
@KenH, thank you for the suggestion, that sounds like good wording.
Actually, the machine is in the open, in the kitchen.
Boring historical note/digression: We currently have three washing machines here. 1) The new Bosch one 2) A really ancient non-working front-loading Racold one (purchased in the 80s or 90s, probably - Racold no longer even makes washing machines). 3) A top-loading Godrej one, probably purchased around 10 years ago. This one wasn’t working, but I mistakenly thought I could repair it. Some time and a few thousand Rupees later, I have realised that I was mistaken. To be clear, (2) and (3) weren’t purchased by me - I had nothing to do with them.
Anyway, the point of this digression is that there is a water hookup for both the Racold and Godrej machines. The Rocold hookup is in the kitchen, the Godrej one is in an alcove, really a bridge between two buildings (similar to the one leading to the guest room, but on the other side of the building), where we also hang clothes to dry.
So I suppose if the location in the kitchen is too public, then we could put it in the bridge, where guests are unlikely to come across it. But I’m hoping that guests will have enough courtesy not to use the machine without asking.
$5 is like Rs 324. Definitely more than I would consider charging over here. And the machine is 7 Kg. Fairly compact. I don’t know how it compares to yours.
Well, ok. The bit about metal scratching the drum is from the manual, though. I didn’t come up with it myself. And better safe than sorry. And washing machines aren’t all created equally. I think this one’s drum might be coated, or something. It’s not clear.
Yes Faheem, I am English, but with a thread of paternal Irish. Your Bosch was certainly good value. I think we have a different model in that it will take a larger load.
I’ve refined my policy following our last lovely guests and some of the posts here. These ladies had been in the country for over a week but not all spent with us, and were heading off to France and Belgium for a further week before flying home. They didn’t ask but it felt churlish not to offer them the laundry facilities before they left. And yes ok, I did it for them…
But I have had people take the piss, asking almost on arrival and my realising this would be, at best, a bi-nightly event for a week, whilst they sit in our kitchen for the duration. Our long stay channel swimmers are sent to use the launderette, which seemed to become some sort of a weird social event. Ho hum. In addition, energy and water costs are outrageous in the UK, and I guarantee it will be raining, with no chance of line-drying.
So I suppose it boils (pardon the pun) down to how people approach the matter, their circumstances and how long they have been here. Oh, and my mood on the day, given my allergy to a sense of entitlement!
Like you, my husband and I rent out single rooms in our home, and the average length of reservations is between 2 and 3 nights. We offer use of our washer and dryer for free, despite the fact I calculated the energy and detergent costs to equal about $1.75 per load. Given our nightly rate, which is between $75 to $95 per night, charging for use would feel petty. Your nightly rate, if I recall, is much lower, so I think it would be perfectly reasonable to charge for use of your machine.
In terms of the location, and people using it on their own, I would hope a sign above the machine stating firmly that it is not to be used without prior instruction would be heeded. I’d also put it in your house rules so you have something to fall back on with Airbnb in the unlikely event someone does damage the machine.
Like @Ellen, we don’t allow anything but unscented detergent and no fabric softener. That’s just a personal preference.
Yes, two coin meters take £1 or 20p and the heat generated by the machines warms the toilet/shower block. Makes me laugh in the colder months, campers will watch someone walk over with washing and then go for a shower an hour later when the machines have warmed the place.
Electricity is very expensive in India too. Much more expensive than the US in terms of purchasing power. But we don’t pay for our water, at the moment at least.
Indeed it is. Around USD 30-35 or so. Depending on length of stay and number of people (10% discount for a week or longer, and I charge extra for a second person up to a max of two people).
I note that nobody has attempted to address whether Rs 50 per load is reasonable, but I suppose it’s hard for non-Indians to say.
To date I haven’t actually charged anyone. Being typically British, I absolutely hate discussing money/cost of such… We’ve been so busy over the summer, I really haven’t had time to even think about it, other than send long stay swimmers to the launderette. So it’s been gut instinct on a yes or no basis, depending on which listing they are paying for/staying in, and people’s attitude towards using our facilities. I did make laundry available on our listings for a stay of 7 days over the summer but then had folk, who were staying a week, want to do laundry after two nights in the UK, after they had arrived from their home country. I mean, who doesn’t travel with clean clothes to start with?
Right. I’m going to shut up and drink wine instead.
Faheem, so sorry to be unable to comment on the Rupee exchange rate; I haven’t been to India for the last ten years but I am thinking about it!
