Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Thinking of advertising to do people ironing, how much shall I charge??

35 replies

daisycat01 · 22/08/2007 11:06

I live in a medium sized village and lots of people here commute to London, so was thinking about getting some cash doing ironing!
I have a little boy at home so thought I could fit it in around him.
Not sure how to charge, was thinking per item, or even per box? Does anyone else have any ideas...and how much is reasonable?

Thanks

OP posts:
MrsWeasley · 22/08/2007 11:09

I know a lady who did this and charged £10 per basket but this was about 5 years ago

Slubberdegullion · 22/08/2007 11:09

My ironing lady charges £15 for an hour an a half. She gets through a full clothes basket in that time.

HTH

Original poster
daisycat01 · 22/08/2007 11:21

Well I was thinking of getting a load of boxes with lids (storage kinda ones) and saying that I will charge per box, so do you think £15 is fair. I also was thinking about charging per shirt, how much do you think would be reasonable, 50p???

Thanks

OP posts:
Slubberdegullion · 22/08/2007 11:29

I suppose the problem with doing it by box rather than time is that people with squish as much into that box as possible (creasing everthing to buggery in the process).

I was a bit worried when my lady said she would do it by time (in csae she was super slow), but she must be the fastest ironer in town...she gets all my stuff done in an hour and a half (unless there are big duvet covers in the pile..they she charges £18-20).

Original poster
daisycat01 · 22/08/2007 11:35

yeah that was my only worry, that I will end up doing loads for only £15.

OP posts:
hippipotami · 22/08/2007 11:36

Please don't iron people, they are a bugger to squidge flat and you may burn them

CountessDracula · 22/08/2007 11:47

Our local service does 15 items for £10 I think

EscapeFrom · 22/08/2007 11:53

Charge by weight - shirts extra.

slalomsuki · 22/08/2007 11:56

Mine charges me £2.75 per Kilo and I put mine in one of these big laundry bags. It doesn't matter whether its all shrits or all pillow cases ie easy to iron its the same price

Original poster
daisycat01 · 22/08/2007 11:56

Thanks for that advice...!!!!! although if you could just swoosh a jet of steam at yourself before you walked out the door and all the creases fell out that would be soooo much easier!!

OP posts:
Wheelybug · 22/08/2007 11:56

We pay £2 per shirt but have been feeling for a long time we are being ripped off but am too lazy to find another place. That's at a drycleaners though.

ozziewannabe · 22/08/2007 11:58

i pay £10 a bin bag, whether its shirts or bedding.

Original poster
daisycat01 · 22/08/2007 12:05

Well I think £2 per shirt is too expensive,

I was thinking £.50p per shirt and £15 per box.

If you are in the colchester area, I will do your shirts for you wheelybug!!

OP posts:
Wheelybug · 22/08/2007 12:19

Unforetunately not daisycat or I'd be straight over -- am on southwest London/surrey border.

peanutbear · 22/08/2007 12:21

why oh why are none of the ironong people in the north west

gess · 22/08/2007 12:22

I paid 15 quid a basket (in Devon) including about 5 shirts- she did it according to time, byut kind of guessed the first one, then based everything on that.

newgirl · 23/08/2007 13:56

i think your idea of a box would work because I think people would be so pleased to have someone to do it they would not take advantage

and if someone does take advantage withdraw the service from them - say you are too busy to do it next time - they would certainly have the same attitude if they did not like the way you ironed things - that way you build up a small client list of people you are happy to work for

i think it is a fantastic idea - good luck!

myjobismum · 23/08/2007 14:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

iamasurvivor · 23/08/2007 14:24

my local ironing service charges per item, but usually works out at about £8.00 for a large laundry bag full. also when they first opened they offered half price service for the first load for all new customers.
are you intending to pick up/drop off? because you should incorporate those costs in to your fees.

this is in the manchester area btw..

majorstress · 23/08/2007 14:32

I pay my cleaner £7 before tax and give her all the ironing, she's slow but careful. It takes her about an hour for 6-7 men's shirts, she does the week's worth (messy family of 4) in 2 hours then spends an hour or so cleaning the house. We are in London, outer.

I wouldn;t mind doing it myslef but it's something most cleaners can do reliably without major explanation.

Furzella · 23/08/2007 14:54

Our local florists does a black bin liner full for £15, which I think is v good value. We're in SW London.

dizzydo · 24/08/2007 12:52

Whereabouts is that Furzella?

littlemissbossy · 24/08/2007 12:53

I pay £20 plus £2 collection and delivery for a 24 hour service

littlemissbossy · 24/08/2007 12:53

I'm near Harrogate, North Yorkshire BTW

dizzydo · 24/08/2007 12:54

wheelybug I pay £1.50 and thats to wash as well as iron. You are being ripped off.