Chinese Laundry Inc.

the laundry was dropped off promptly and packaged super nicely, but there was 3 issues I had with the actual job that I have never had at other laundromats: 1. I sent in my duvet cover, and it came back missing one of the buttons. 2. For a lower price, I've had other wash and folds pair/fold my socks together 3. I received back a sock and a pair of underwear that was definitely not mine, which I didn't love touching, but also, if you're losing someone else's laundry, what about my own?

Today was the end of an era. I've been taking my shirts to this Chinese laundry for decades (there is none near me since the early 90s). One of those great old places, cluttered, no names spoken, just a permanent, hand-made mark inside the collar. I was N. I'd lost my ticket so often they just told me to use my mark. I'd get my shirts washed and folded (not dry cleaned). They'd come back neatly folded, with paper inserts, handed to me in a brown paper package tied up with string. It was, indeed, one of my favorite things, since it reminded me of my dad, who'd drop off and pick up his shirts every Saturday when I was growing up. (His mark was POR.) In fact, several shirts I regularly bring in used to belong to my dad. Also, the folded shirt fit perfectly into my backpack, so I could bike to work or elsewhere and put on a non-sweaty, clean shirt upon arrival. It was, I believe, 85 cents when I first started going there. it went up.. and up... and up... the price hit $3.50 before the pandemic. Then the young, American-born nieces took over, while the old Chinese couple started working only part-time. The young gals modernized everything. Added a computer. After 27 years, they knew my name. No more clutter. No more old New York charm, either. They replaced the cruder but effective sandwich sign out front. It had large red letters announcing to half a block away that this was the hand-laundry place. Now there's a tattoo-like drawing of a dragon and small, typeset letters below it you can only see from few feet away. Today, for the third time,the young girl at the counter wanted my information, the mark of N apparently confounding her. Then I noticed the new price list. The price was now $4.50. Seriously? Sigh. I paid the now very inflated price for my final package of shirts, took back the eight I'd brought in, and told them I'm sorry, but that's simply too much, and our relationship has come to a conclusion. There's a laundromat in my neighborhood that offers half that price for laundering and folding shirts. No brown paper, probably no paper inserts. Certainly no charm. I suppose I should master ironing. But for now, I'll try out that local laundry.

Excellent wash and fold service. Very streamlined. Free pick up and drop off delivery. Usually same day service. Your detergent preferences are in their system. They give you tags with your address to affix to your laundry bags. Using them for a few months and happy. As of writing cost is $1.50 per pound.

Best place to do your laundry. The staff is very helpful and nice.

I seriously did not know it was possible for my clothes to feel this good. And the people who run it are wonderful. Do be aware, though, that the charge is much higher if you pay with a credit card. So be prepared to either bring cash or run out to an ATM, which is what I did. But it is SO worth it, because this was literally the best my clothes have ever been, even better than new. And a vast majority of it is Merino wool. ❤❤❤❤❤

Excellent communication and they do a nice job with dry cleaning and sewing /tailoring . The laundry prices are outrageous however . I had a large bag sent ( 37lbs ) My usual place would of been 44 dollars ; Chinese laundry charged me 84 dollars ! It’s 2 dollars per lb ! That is robbery .

Little care is given to laundry, and washing quality is poor. One of the sweater that I took there to have it washed still had stains on it after washing, and the item was damaged in the process. Prices are on par with market for the area, and even though Juliette just next door has a higher cost per pound (but lower price for small amounts), I would recommend going to Juliette rather than to use this service.

Their drop off service is of high quality. They fold clothes neatly and professionally, and repair them at a reasonable price and standard. I am very lucky to find a shop with such considerate service 。