Operations

The pre-wash checklist every laundry shop should use before washing

By the Labahan team · October 18, 2026 · 4 min read

Most laundry complaints start before the machine is switched on: a pen left in a pocket, a red shirt in a white load, a torn blouse the customer “never noticed”. Two minutes of checking at drop-off and before washing saves you hours of explaining, and sometimes the price of a replacement.

When to do the checks

Split the work in two. A quick look at the counter, with the customer still there, catches damage and special requests. A careful check at the sorting table, just before washing, catches what is hidden inside pockets and folds.

The checks, one by one

1. Empty every pocket

Coins and keys can damage the drum and the door glass. A forgotten pen can stain a whole load. Tissue turns into white lint on every dark shirt. Check shirt pockets, back pockets, jacket inner pockets and the small coin pocket on jeans. Keep what you find in a small envelope with the stub number and give it back at pickup. Customers remember the shop that returned their ₱500 bill.

2. Close zippers and fasteners

Open zippers have teeth that snag knits and lace. Zip them up, hook bra hooks and close hook-and-loop straps (like the ones on jackets and school bags) so they don’t grab other clothes. Unbutton shirts and pants so buttonholes don’t stretch.

3. Turn items inside out

Turning dark jeans, printed shirts and items with logos or sequins inside out reduces rubbing on the outside surface, so colours and prints look new for longer.

4. Separate stained items

Look at collars, cuffs, underarms and the front of shirts. Set heavily stained items aside for pre-treatment, or offer stain treatment as an add-on. Tell the customer honestly if a stain may not come out, before you start.

5. Note existing damage and tell the customer

Holes, loose buttons, faded spots, broken zippers and old stains: point them out at the counter and write them on the stub. “May butas na po ito sa likod, sir” said at drop-off is information. Said at pickup, it sounds like an excuse.

6. Use mesh bags for delicates

Bras, lingerie, small baby clothes, socks and anything with straps go in a mesh laundry bag. It stops tangling, keeps hooks from catching and keeps small items from getting lost in a big load. One mesh bag per customer, never shared, so nothing ends up in the wrong bag (see how to stop mixed-up laundry).

7. Read the care labels

Check labels on anything that looks new, expensive, woollen, silky or brightly coloured. Watch for “do not wash”, “do not tumble dry” and low wash temperatures. If you are not sure what a symbol means, see our guide to laundry care label symbols. Set aside anything you shouldn’t machine wash and call the customer before doing anything with it.

8. Follow special instructions

Some customers want no fabcon (sensitive skin), a specific scent, hangers for polo shirts, or school uniforms ironed. Write it on the stub in a word or two and make sure it reaches the person who washes and folds. A request that stays at the counter is a promise you’ll break.

A checklist for the sorting table

Make it a habit, not a favour

• Same steps, every load. A checklist only works if it is done on the quiet load and the rush-hour load.
• One person, one load. Finish the checks for one customer before starting the next, so nothing gets mixed.
• Train new staff on it first. It is easier to learn good habits than to fix bad ones. Put it in your shop SOP.
• Post your policy. Let customers know you check pockets but aren’t responsible for valuables left inside, and that existing damage is noted at drop-off.

How Labahan helps

In Labahan Manager, you set your services and add-ons once (for example, stain treatment or an extra rinse), so staff can offer them at the counter and charge the same price every time. Each load gets a numbered stub and one tag per bag, and the app records which staff member received and released it, so you know who to ask if a check was missed.