The Spin Out Podcast: Meet Debbie, One of Our Star Laundry Partners
- Jun 15
- 2 min read
In our latest podcast episode, I sat down with Debbie, a dedicated Laundry Partner based in Melbourne who joined the family in 2023. Serving Melbourne Southeast and Cardinia, Debbie has already earned the title of Laundry Partner of the Month and is a vibrant force in our community. From her life in the UK to her unique daily multitasking routine, Debbie shares what it’s really like to run a successful laundry business on her own terms.
From School Crossings to Fresh Folds
Before becoming a Laundry Partner, Debbie was a stay-at-home mum, later pivoting to end-of-lease cleaning and then taking on a role as a "lollipop lady" (school crossing supervisor) at her son’s school. When she stumbled upon a Facebook ad for The Laundry Lady, she saw an opportunity to earn extra income while keeping the community job she loves.
"I was looking for something that I could do around the crossing. I didn’t really want to give it up because I love it... It was so hard to try and find a job just in school hours."
Her daily routine is a masterclass in time management:
Mornings: Helping kids cross the road safely.
Afternoons:
Picking up laundry, washing, drying, ironing, and balancing a couple of regular business bookings.
Heading back to the school crossing for the afternoon shift, followed by delivering the freshly cleaned clothes on her way home.
Overcoming the Ironing Hurdle
When Debbie first mentioned the idea to her husband, he was skeptical. "But you don’t really enjoy ironing," he pointed out. Debbie’s reply? "It’s different when you’re getting paid for it!" Today, she keeps the ironing boredom at bay by catching up on The Laundry Lady podcast, The Spin Out, or watching English TV shows with her mother, who moved out from the UK to live with her. Her mum even pitches in with sock-pairing and folding, making it a true family affair.
Debbie’s Top Laundry Secrets
Living in Australia has taught this former UK resident a few new laundry tricks, which she was happy to share:
"Sunshine is great on those stubborn stains that you can't get out," Debbie notes. If a stain is proving difficult, a little time under the Australian sun can do wonders.
For greasy patches, Debbie swears by pre-treating the fabric with a quick squirt of standard dishwashing liquid before throwing it into the wash.
Why Choose the Laundry Life?
For Debbie, the best part of being a Laundry Lady is the absolute flexibility it provides, allowing her to care for her family, keep her crossing job, and work out of the comfort of her own home.
For anyone sitting on the fence about applying, Debbie has some simple advice:
"I would say if you’ve been looking into it and you’re not sure, just go for it... You get out of it what you put into it. You put the work in, and you’ll get the work coming in. Just do it. I love it."
Want to hear the full conversation, including the hilarious story of how Debbie once got trapped behind a customer's electric security gate? Listen to the full episode of The Spin Out on your favourite podcast platform!
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