Moves and renovations have a way of knocking out the laundry room first. The washer gets disconnected days before the movers arrive. The new house has hookups but the machines won’t be delivered until next week. The remodel that was supposed to take two weeks is now in week five, and the dryer is sitting in the garage.
Meanwhile, moving is one of the dirtiest jobs a household ever does. Here’s how to plan laundry around it so you’re not living out of a suitcase of dirty clothes.
Before the move: get ahead
- Wash everything before you pack it. Packing dirty clothes means unpacking dirty clothes, and they’ll smell worse after a week in a box.
- Clean bedding and curtains now. It’s far easier to send them out before they’re boxed than to deal with them in a new house.
- Pack an “open first” bag with clean clothes for a few days, towels and one set of sheets per bed.
- Let the washer drain and dry for at least a day before it’s moved, so it doesn’t leak or grow mildew in transit.
- Sort before you pack. A move is the perfect time to clear out what you don’t wear. Good-quality pieces can be consigned with Rire&Co.
During the move: expect a gap
Between disconnecting the old machines and getting them working in the new place, most households go several days without a washer. If you’re buying new appliances, delivery and installation dates can push that out further. Moving days also create piles of sweaty clothes, dusty towels and moving blankets.
Laundry pickup is made for this gap. Leave a bag at the door of whichever house you’re in, and it comes back clean and folded. No hunting for a laundromat in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
During a renovation: protect your clothes
- Drywall dust gets everywhere, including inside closets. Bag or cover clothes in rooms near the work.
- Keep paint clothes separate. Fresh paint and stain can transfer to other laundry.
- Plan for the whole project, not the estimate. Remodels often run long, so set up a laundry plan that works for weeks, not days.
- Clean curtains and upholstery covers afterward. They hold onto dust long after the contractors leave.
Selling your home? Staging needs clean linens
If your house is on the market, every showing needs made beds, fresh towels and an empty laundry room. Sending laundry out keeps baskets out of sight and lets you leave quickly when an agent calls with a showing.
New to Acworth?
Welcome. The Elementals Laundry is a family-run dry cleaner and laundry on Cobb Parkway, and we pick up and deliver across Acworth, Kennesaw, Cartersville, Woodstock, Dallas and nearby areas. We can handle your everyday laundry, dry cleaning and alterations while you settle in. Our counter at 3330 Cobb Pkwy NW, Suite 344, is open Monday to Friday 8 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM.
Common questions
Can you pick up at my old address and deliver to the new one? Add both addresses and dates in your order notes, and call us at (770) 975-0739 to confirm.
Can you clean curtains? Yes. Curtains, bedding and other household items can be cleaned. Pricing depends on the item.
Do I need a contract? No. Use pickup only for as long as you need it.
Wondering if pickup is for you long-term? See who actually uses laundry pickup in Acworth.
Mid-move or mid-remodel? Schedule a pickup with The Elementals Laundry and take laundry off your list.