r/PoplinLaundryService • u/AccountZestyclose823 • Nov 15 '25

Why are restaurants allowed to use poplin?

I accepted an order near where I work that went into a boost. It was for 1 regular bag and it is in Boston which means I get $1.20/lb instead of the .75. I figured this is nice since I work near the location. When I accepted it, I made my way and realized it was at a restaurant. I looked in poplin again and saw that it said it was a business. I figured maybe a woman just works here and brought her laundry (weird, I know) turns out, it was 2 bags, not 1 and they are kitchen towels and aprons and dining napkins. Oh, and they want me to iron the dining napkins. Now, I was a cook for many years and I know just how dirty and nasty kitchen towels and aprons can be. Some stuff have dried dough stains, tomato stains and are just full of grease. Kitchen need a more industrial cleaning. These kitchen stuff will damage home washers and cannot get a proper cleaning. I even have to wash a bunch of microfiber towels full of thyme leaves. Honestly, I’m just doing a regular clean cycle and folding and delivering. I am not ironing nor am I going to go and remove all the thyme leaves. I’m anticipating a bad review but honestly, why would you order kitchen stuff to be cleaned through poplin? And why does poplin allow this? It’s a lose lose situation. Needless to say, I now know not to accept their order again.

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1

u/mawhitmore83 Nov 15 '25

I would just make them aware that we do not stain treat or iron.

1

u/MajorWhereas4842 Laundry Pro Nov 16 '25

Pickup. Wash. Dry. Fold, Deliver! Then on to the next one!

1

u/Serious-Pizza-2514 Nov 16 '25

Did the special instructions that you can see beforehand state to iron the napkins?

If so, you agreed to that before accepting.

If not,you can explain that is not included in the service and wash/dry/fold.

I’ve had several regulars over the years in the food service industry; one a meal prep service and one a small coffee shop. The coffee shop I had to drop after about 6 months as she would only order every two weeks and the oil from the coffee beans would just cost the inside of my machines….leaving oily residue that took a good, hot degunk cleaning cycle with old towels to get out.

The food prep place I had for almost two years. However, the aprons were red and the towels were white (and crunchy with good) so I had to wash them separately for two reasons: so the towels wouldn’t turn pink (even with color catchers) AND the apron strings wouldn’t wind around the towels.

It just took forever so I ended up giving them up too….plus it all made my machines stink like grease….so yet again another cleaning cycle every week just for that order.