Surge in Laundry Demand Before Eid Holiday Keeps Laundry Services Stretched
DEPOK — As Eid al-Fitr approaches, laundry businesses across Indonesia are experiencing noticeably increased activity compared to regular operating days. Stacks of clothes in baskets, continuously operating washing machines, and queues of customers waiting for their laundry to be processed have become a common sight at numerous establishments.
This busy scene is evident at Klean Loka Laundry in Cilodong, Depok, where baskets of clothes fill the workspace. Multiple washing machines and dryers operate continuously to process the steady stream of incoming customer items. Outside, carpets are laid out under covered areas to dry quickly, whilst staff members wash shoes for customers.
The owner of Klean Loka Laundry, Aufa, confirms that the surge in laundry demand begins several days before Eid, with increased activity visible approximately ten days prior to the holiday. According to Aufa, this pattern has remained consistent during the business’s second Eid season since opening.
The increase in laundry volume does not occur suddenly but builds gradually in the days leading up to Eid, with quantities continuing to rise as the holiday approaches. Whilst prices remain unchanged currently, Aufa anticipates implementing price increases in the weeks immediately before Eid, a common practice among laundry businesses during this period.
On regular days, the laundry processes approximately 50 kilograms daily, but during the Eid period, this can increase to 100 kilograms per day. The surge has been amplified by several competing laundry businesses choosing to close before Eid, causing some of their customers to redirect their business to Klean Loka Laundry.
Beyond the increase in volume, customers also bring a wider variety of items. In addition to everyday clothing, many customers utilise the service to clean various household items that are not regularly washed, as part of their pre-holiday house cleaning routine. Beyond standard kilogram-based services, the laundry also handles individual items including shoes, soft toys, bed covers, suits, and carpets through its dedicated workshop.
Specialised services such as sofa and curtain cleaning, as well as baby stroller cleaning, have also become increasingly popular as Eid approaches, particularly as families prepare for holiday travels.
To manage the increased workload, Aufa maximises the use of existing machinery, with washing and drying equipment operating almost continuously throughout the day. The current capacity is already at maximum, with no room for additional machines. To maintain timely completion of orders, the business has extended operating hours by opening earlier or extending evening hours to allow machines to run longer.
In addition to maximising equipment usage, Aufa has also increased temporary staffing to accelerate the washing, drying, and ironing processes, ensuring all orders meet their completion deadlines.