A laundry service for seniors collects dirty clothes and linens at the front door and brings them back clean and folded. For seniors living on their own, that means no more carrying heavy baskets to a machine.
Laundry and dry cleaning services that pick up and deliver are one of the options the National Institute on Aging lists for help with household chores.
Key Takeaways:
- Ask the older adult what they want before you set anything up.
- Check pricing, turnaround, and coverage for the address.
- A standing pickup day keeps laundry from piling up between visits.
What a laundry service for elderly parents handles
Bagged laundry waits at the door on a set day until a driver collects it, and it comes back washed and folded. The service takes a heavy chore off an older adult’s list, and off a family caregiver’s too. Our post on how laundry delivery services work walks through the basics.
When laundry help makes sense
Watch for changes at home, the NIA suggests in its guide to telling whether an older adult needs help. Is the person wearing clothing suited to the weather? Does the home look relatively clean and free of clutter?
Asking is the best way to know, the NIA says. Bring it up without sounding critical, then offer practical help. Its own example is setting up regular grocery deliveries, and laundry pickup can be set up the same way.
How to set up a laundry routine for a parent
- Ask what they want help with, and whether they’d rather keep any part of the chore.
- Check that the service picks up at their address.
- Compare per-order pricing with a monthly plan, based on how many bags they fill.
- Pick a regular pickup day, every week or every other week.
- Decide who books, the older adult or a family member.
- Keep dry cleaning in its own bag so it can be priced by the piece.
Plan before a lot of help is needed, the NIA suggests, so there’s time to learn what local services cost.
What OrangeBag costs and how a pickup works
OrangeBag picks up across Los Angeles, including Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Carson. We confirm the exact address when you schedule, and our page on laundry pickup and delivery in Los Angeles lists every area.
On pickup day, a driver collects the laundry from the door in any bag. Every order is washed separately at our Los Angeles plant, then pressed, fluffed, and folded by hand. Standard turnaround is 24 to 48 hours, with a text when the driver is on the way back.
Both ways to pay are on the OrangeBag pricing page, and all prices are subject to change.
- A la carte wash and fold is $2.65 per pound with no minimum, and each order adds a $9.95 service fee and $3.00 for delivery.
- Monthly plans cost $122 for two bags, $232 for four, or $336 for six, with those fees waived.
Dry cleaning runs from $7.95 for a shirt to $27.50 for a two-piece suit, though it isn’t currently offered in San Fernando Valley, Glendale, or Silver Lake. You can book online or in the OrangeBag app for iPhone and Android, which also tracks orders.
Laundry help for seniors FAQ
Is there free laundry service for seniors?
Try the Eldercare Locator first, at eldercare.acl.gov or 800-677-1116. The NIA says it can point you to local resources, including in-home help, and explain options for paying for care.
Your state or local government, or a nearby senior center, may also know of volunteers. A paid pickup service is the other route.
Does an older adult need a smartphone to book a pickup?
Not at all, since the booking form on our website takes about a minute and no account is needed to start. Before the first pickup, the account needs an address and a phone number for pickup texts. The app is there for anyone who wants it, and questions go to (866) 973-5666.
Does someone need to be home for pickup?
No, the laundry can wait in any bag at the door on the day you picked, and the driver collects it. It comes back to the door sorted and folded. Note any stains or special care instructions in the order when you book.
Set up the first pickup
Pick a day and leave the bag at the door. We’ll handle the rest and bring it back clean and folded.
