PHledger · SmartWash · Boroondara first · Optional platform, pilot open
Order your laundry online in Kew and Hawthorn — then 24/7 unattended stores, then premium care.
Stage one is the platform: order wash-dry-fold, dry cleaning and doonas online from local partner laundromats — and retrofit existing coin laundromats into cashless, unattended stores that the platform runs centrally. Then we open our own 24/7 unattended stores on the same platform, and add premium garment care through smart lockers. In Chinese or English.
01 — The problem
Boroondara's laundromats still run on $1 coins
Coins only
Most local laundromats take $1 and $2 coins only, with no change machine and no card or phone payment.
Nothing is online
You can't see if a machine is free, book a wash-and-fold or pay for dry cleaning online — you walk in and hope.
Closed at night
Shops close between 9:30 pm and midnight. We found no confirmed 24/7 self-service store in the area.
Pickup is expensive
Mobile laundry services charge a pickup fee plus a A$60–70 minimum per booking.
02 — Boroondara today
About 18 laundries across 12 suburbs — almost all offline
We mapped the laundromats, laundry services and dry cleaners in and around the City of Boroondara from public listings (October 2026). Details are still being confirmed in person.
~18
laundromats, laundry services & dry cleaners mapped
0
confirmed 24/7 self-service stores
1
self-service laundromat listed in Kew 3101 — the biggest gap
~A$6
per kg for wash-dry-fold at a local store
Coverage, first to last
- 01 Kew
- 02 Kew East
- 03 Hawthorn
- 04 Hawthorn East
- 05 Camberwell
- 06 Canterbury
- 07 Balwyn
- 08 Balwyn North
- 09 Surrey Hills
- 10 Mont Albert
- 11 Glen Iris
- 12 Ashburton
03 — Three stages
Build the platform, run the stores, then add premium care
Stage 1 · Q4 2026 – Q2 2027
Ordering platform + store retrofit
Two things in one platform: online orders fulfilled by partner stores at a mark-up, and retrofitting existing coin laundromats into unattended, cashless stores that the platform manages centrally.
- › Order wash-dry-fold, dry cleaning, ironing and doonas online (中 / EN)
- › Pickup & delivery across Kew and Hawthorn, then all of Boroondara
- › Retrofit kit for existing coin machines: 4G controller, smart lock, cameras, help screen
- › One console for every retrofitted store: machines, prices, doors, refunds, alerts
- › Pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, WeChat Pay & Alipay — no coins
- › AI support in Chinese & English for orders, faults and refunds
Stage 2 · Q2 – Q4 2027
Self-operated stores
Self-operated stores funded by the platform: our own 24/7 unattended laundromats — first in Kew, then near Swinburne in Hawthorn. Rough budget A$250–400k per store for new machines and fit-out, to be quoted.
- › 8–12 kg and 18–25 kg washers, stack dryers
- › Automatic detergent & softener dosing — nothing to bring
- › Smart-lock entry, CCTV, remote help screen
- › Live machine map, reserve and pay by phone — no coins
- › Doona & bulky-item cycles
- › Store doubles as the pickup hub for online orders
Stage 3 · 2028
Dry cleaning & premium care (own hub)
A platform-funded, self-operated processing hub with professional machines and trained staff, serving 24/7 smart lockers in our stores. Rough budget A$200–350k for the hub, to be quoted.
- › Drop off in a store locker any time, pick up in 48 h
- › Professional wet cleaning for wool, silk, down and most “dry clean only” items
- › Hydrocarbon dry cleaning (no perc) for garments that cannot get wet
- › Steam finishing, pressing & suit care
- › Photo check-in for every item, tracked to the locker
- › Premium self-service cycles (wool, down) on suitable machines
04 — Stage 1 scope — retrofit existing stores
Turn a coin laundromat into an unattended store, managed by the platform
Most Boroondara laundromats already have good commercial machines — what they lack is cashless payment, remote control and night-time security. We keep the machines and add a low-cost kit. A controller wired to each machine's coin input sends the same pulse a coin would, so it works on most commercial washers and dryers without touching their programs.
Per machine
- › 4G / Wi-Fi payment controller on the coin-pulse input
- › QR sticker: scan to pay, or reserve in the app
- › Current sensor to report running / idle / fault
- › Coin slot kept during changeover
Per store
- › Store gateway (4G router + NBN backup)
- › Smart lock: app or card entry, 24/7 access log
- › Cameras + recorder, motion alerts after hours
- › Help screen with video call to support
- › Optional: automatic detergent dosing
Platform manages
- › Live status of every machine in every store
- › Prices, off-peak rules and promotions per store
- › Remote start, refunds and credit
- › Door access, camera and fault alerts
- › Daily payouts and GST-ready statements
Where the hardware comes from
Recommended
China OEM controllers
≈ A$150–250 per machine, installed
4G Cat-1 / Wi-Fi pulse controllers from Shenzhen and Guangzhou makers, listed at about US$60–100 per unit on Alibaba. Our own firmware and platform over MQTT, so every store sits in one console. Needs Australian RCM (ACMA radio/EMC, plus EESS if mains-powered) registered by us as importer.
- › Lowest cost, platform fully ours
- › WeChat Pay & Alipay native
- › Allow 6–10 weeks for samples and RCM
Fast start
Australian SaaS (e.g. SpinPay)
A$0 hardware · A$1 per machine per day + GST
Local cashless app for laundromats, card payments through the owner's own Stripe account; its published plan waives fees on the first A$13,000 of monthly digital revenue. Quickest way to take a pilot store cashless while our own kit is certified.
- › Live in days, already compliant
- › Monthly cost grows with machine count
- › Data sits in a third-party system
Tap-to-pay
Global card terminals (e.g. Nayax)
≈ A$280–339 per reader + A$8–10 per month
Certified tap-card readers mounted on each machine, plus processing fees of about 2.5–6%. Best where customers expect to tap a card at the machine; can sit alongside our QR controllers.
- › Familiar tap experience
- › Higher hardware and fee cost
- › Needs integration to show in our console
Example: a typical store with 10 washers and 8 dryers (China OEM route)
| 18 payment controllers, installed | A$3,600 |
| Store gateway, 4G SIM, NBN backup | A$300 |
| Smart lock & access control | A$600 |
| Cameras & recorder | A$1,000 |
| Help screen tablet & mount | A$300 |
| Licensed electrician, testing, contingency | A$1,500 |
| Optional detergent dosing (10 washers) | A$1,500 |
| Total | ≈ A$7,300 (A$8,800 with dosing) |
The store owner pays for the retrofit
Kit at cost, owned by the store
The current owner pays for the retrofit kit at cost — about A$7,300 for a typical 18-machine store — and owns the hardware. We source it, configure it and install it with a licensed electrician.
3% platform fee
We keep 3% of machine revenue paid through the platform. No monthly fee and no mark-up on the hardware.
! Hardware prices are supplier listings and estimates from October 2026, before freight, duty and GST. Confirm each machine model's pulse interface before ordering.
05 — For customers
Order in a minute, get it back folded
- 01
Choose
Wash-dry-fold by the kilo, dry cleaning by the item, or doonas and bedding.
- 02
Book a pickup
Pick a 2-hour window; leave the bag at the door or with concierge.
- 03
Pay by phone
Card, wallet, WeChat Pay or Alipay. Weighed and counted items are confirmed before we charge.
- 04
Track it
Messages at pickup, when cleaning starts and when it's on the way back.
- 05
Back in 48 h
Folded or on hangers. Something wrong? Report it with a photo in the app.
06 — For laundromat & dry-cleaner owners
More orders, no extra admin
- 01
Your shop price
You're paid your normal shop price for every platform order — the platform's mark-up comes on top, paid by the customer.
- 02
Orders to your queue
See incoming orders, weights and items in a simple console; mark them ready for pickup.
- 03
We do the driving
Our drivers collect from customers and drop off at your shop, then return the finished order.
- 04
Go unattended
Retrofit your store with our kit and run it from the console — no coins to collect, alerts on your phone, open 24/7 if you choose.
07 — The machines
What each stage needs on the floor
Stage 1 runs on our partners' existing equipment. Stage 2 uses standard commercial laundromat machines. Stage 3 needs professional garment-care machines and a staffed hub — it is not something a customer runs alone.
Stage 1 — platform & retrofit
- › Ordering app & partner console
- › Scales, bag tags, pickup van & drivers
- › Retrofit kit per machine: 4G pulse controller, current sensor
- › Retrofit kit per store: gateway, smart lock, cameras, help screen
Stage 2 — self-service
- › Commercial front-load washers, 8–25 kg
- › Commercial stack & large tumble dryers
- › Automatic chemical dosing system
- › Smart lock, CCTV, help screen, store gateway
Stage 3 — premium care
- › Professional wet-cleaning washer & controlled dryer (e.g. Electrolux Lagoon, Miele WetCare)
- › Hydrocarbon dry-cleaning machine, closed-loop
- › Steam press, form finisher, spotting board
- › 24/7 smart lockers in each store
08 — Who it's for
Who orders in Boroondara
Students
- › Swinburne University, Hawthorn
- › Share houses and student apartments around Glenferrie
- › Chinese-language app & support
Apartments & busy families
- › New apartments at Kew Junction, Cotham Rd and Camberwell Junction
- › No room or time for a dryer
- › Weekly wash-dry-fold
Airbnb & short stay
- › Linen and towel turnover between bookings
- › Scheduled pickups
- › Linked with HomeStudio linen packages
Older residents
- › Laundry help at home, booked by family or carers
- › Doonas, bedding and heavy items
- › Linked with SilverConnect services
09 — Prices — order on the platform
Local shop price, plus a clear platform mark-up
The partner store is paid its shop price; the platform price includes our mark-up, which covers pickup, payment, support and the guarantee. Market prices are public prices found in Boroondara and nearby (October 2026). Platform prices are reference figures for the pilot.
| Service | Unit | Local shop price | Platform price | Platform keeps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wash, dry & fold | per kg, min 5 kg | A$6.00 | A$7.50 | A$1.50 (20%) |
| Business shirt, dry cleaned | each | A$6.00 | A$7.50 | A$1.50 (20%) |
| Trousers (dark) | each | A$11.00 | A$13.90 | A$2.90 (21%) |
| Suit jacket (dark) | each | A$16.00 | A$19.90 | A$3.90 (20%) |
| Coat / puffer (mid-length) | each | A$22.00 | A$27.00 | A$5.00 (19%) |
| Doona, double to king | each | A$45.00 | A$54.00 | A$9.00 (17%) |
| Self-service 9 kg wash, reserve & pay by phone | per wash | A$6.00 (coins) | A$6.50 | A$0.50 fee |
| Pickup & delivery | per order | A$14.50 + A$60–70 minimum (mobile service) | A$9.90, free over A$60 | Covers driver cost |
Customers
~20%above the local shop price
One price shown before you book. Items are weighed or counted at pickup and confirmed before you're charged.
- Wash-dry-fold
- Dry cleaning
- Doonas
Partner stores
A$0to join
You're paid your normal shop price for every order, weekly. Store retrofit kit paid by the owner at cost; 3% of machine revenue paid through the platform.
- Laundromats
- Dry cleaners
- Alterations
Included in the mark-up
- › Pickup & delivery booking
- › Card, wallet, WeChat Pay & Alipay
- › Photo check-in & order tracking
- › Chinese / English support
- › Re-clean or refund guarantee
- › GST-ready statements for partners
! Reference only — partner rates and platform prices will be agreed during the pilot.
10 — Our commitments
Unattended doesn't mean unsupervised
Honest prices
Customers see the platform price before booking, and partners know exactly what they're paid. We never list a shop as a partner without its written agreement.
Water and trade waste done right
Each store we open gets a trade waste agreement with the local water corporation, lint filters and the council permits it needs.
Solvents stay in the hub
Dry-cleaning solvent never sits in a self-service store. Stage 3 uses closed-loop hydrocarbon machines (no perc) run by trained staff, meeting EPA Victoria requirements.
Safe stores and fair refunds
Smart locks, CCTV with clear privacy notices, licensed electricians and plumbers, and refunds or re-cleans under Australian Consumer Law.
11 — Plan
From Kew to all of Boroondara
Phase 0
Nov 2026
Visit every laundromat and dry cleaner in Kew and Hawthorn; sign 2–3 partner stores; order controller samples from China and start RCM.
Phase 1
Q1 2027
Ordering platform live in Kew & Hawthorn; first 1–2 partner stores retrofitted and run unattended from the console.
Phase 2
Q2–Q4 2027
Platform invests in its first own 24/7 store in Kew, then Hawthorn near Swinburne; extend orders to Camberwell, Balwyn and Glen Iris.
Phase 3
2028
Premium care — platform-funded processing hub with wet-clean and hydrocarbon machines, smart lockers in every store.
Join the pilot
We're looking for 2–3 laundromats or dry cleaners in Kew and Hawthorn to fulfil platform orders, a landlord with a suitable shop near Kew Junction, and residents who want to try ordering. Tell us where you are and what you need.
! Optional PHledger platform, concept stage — features and prices may change during the pilot.