If I was going to recreate the laundromat, I wanted to do it right. It was go big or go home.
While some tend to complain about tasks they don’t enjoy, others decide to change them, make them more enjoyable and efficient—essentially, make them better. Morgan Gary is one of the latter.
Frustrated by the inefficiency of the typical laundromat experience, Gary turned her MBA thesis project into a sustainable business. With a mission to create the first eco-focused laundromat in Portland, Ore. Spin Laundry Lounge was born. Gary is committed to using only efficient, environmentally friendly products and machines. “If I was going to recreate the laundromat, I wanted to do it right.”
Gary’s goal for Spin was to do something good for the environment and the community. Spin provides a clean, safe place for people to do the necessary task of laundry, using the fastest and among the most energy-efficient machines money can buy. Customers can take advantage of the complimentary environmentally friendly laundry soap that is free of harsh dyes and chemicals, while enjoying a cup of coffee, local organic food, beer, or wine. Even the to-go cups and containers are compostable, further evidence of Gary’s dedication to reducing our carbon footprint.
Gary’s future business plans are focused on Spin’s commitment to community, Gary hopes to find more ways to give back. Currently Spin washes, folds, and delivers clothing donations to local shelters. Her next initiatives include loosely matching the left behind socks and donating them to the Portland Rescue Mission, as well as donating children’s clothes to the Portland Public School’s Clothing Center. “I love being involved in the community and I hope that that’s an area that we can grow and really make a big difference.”
In just a little over a year since opening, Spin has certainly changed the idea of doing laundry for its customers. It’s a place where people actually want to stay a while, for friends and neighbors to come together and feel that they’re a part of something that’s also doing good, not just for the Portland community but for the earth.
Photos by Jared Moossy