Your Equipment

You are responsible for purchasing your own equipment and we do not require any specific brands. Many small appliances are still experiencing stock issues, so its a good idea to shop around and see what is in stock and is the best value.

You must have:

Steam Ironing Station 

Steam Ironing Station with water reservoir. See examples at: http://www.harveynorman.com.au/vacuum-laundry-appliances/irons-steam-stations/steam-stations.

These produce much higher steam output which produces better and faster results. Traditional irons will not be suitable. Brands like Laurastar, Tefal and Phillips rate very highly. Key things to look for when purchasing a steam iron are higher steam output, larger water capacity and a good warranty.

You will need to maintain your iron regularly by draining or flushing the boiler or anti-calc, check your manual for cleaning guidance. It's a good idea to do this at the start of each ironing day before you turn it on (as once it is hot you can't clean it). If you don't clean it regularly you'll find black liquid will start to come out which you don't want to happen when ironing a client's clothing! Use filtered water if possible to avoid anti-calc buildup.

We do not recommend a press or steam garment iron. A press is designed for flat items only (like sheets) and is not suitable for hand finishing items (like business shirts), they also take up a lot of space.

Large Ironing Board 

Extra large quality ironing board. You will be using it a lot so it is worth getting one that is wider and longer. Invest in good quality covers for your board and have several that you can wash and rotate as they will get dirty with lots of use. Lots of padding is important so that patterns from the board underneath do not come through to the clothing and linen.

Some of the more expensive irons (eg Laurastar) sell an all-in-one iron and board where the board has air that blows/sucks to help you iron. These are excellent and produce very professional results, however they are very expensive ($2000+) so will depend on your budget.

Washing Machine 

Front Loader is generally the best type of washing machine as it is cheaper to run, has more comprehensive settings, better for smaller spaces, water and energy efficient, gentle on clothes and creates shorter drying times.

Washing capacity is the most important factor to look for, the bigger the drum the more you can fit in it. If your budget allows, we'd recommend 9+kg, which should fit most blankets/doonas. You can start with something smaller, but you may find you need to go to the laundromat for larger volumes.

Many contractors decide to add a second washing machine over time (if space and plumbing allows) so that you can fit more washing jobs into one day.

We do not recommend washer and dryer combo machines, as the cycle time is very slow to complete a job.

Dryer 

Heat Pump Dryers are the most energy efficient type of dryer and don't create hot air or moisture and we think they are worth the investment as you will save on energy bills over the long term.

Drying capacity is essential with 9+kg recommended, and you may want to consider adding a second dryer as you grow to allow for faster drying times across multiple jobs. It is important not to overload the drum or your items will not dry correctly.

Regular maintenance including emptying filters is important and should be done after every load.

Most modern dryers will have sensors to determine how long a load needs to completely dry. Keep in mind if you put different types of items together (eg sheets and clothing), the sensor may not work effectively.