Free laundry service for those doing it tough launches in Bunbury

A new laundry service offering free washing and drying for those doing it tough launched over the weekend. Doors Wide Open celebrated its new Orange Sky laundry pod on Saturday morning, which comprises a shipping container filled with washing and drying machines. The service will be volunteer-run at Doors Wide Open every day, with some volunteers also putting their hand up to run the pod on weekends. Orange Sky operations specialist Lisa Sprylan said the introduction of a laundry pod in the South West had been a long time coming. “This bad boy is about one-and-a-half tonnes, so it’s a bit hard to just pick it up and put it on a trailer,” she said. “In the past we’ve been known for our more mobile vehicles, but as we’re getting bigger and moving into the regional areas we’re looking at other asset types because those vehicles can be expensive to maintain.” The large laundry pods were initially created for disaster relief — primarily for the Eastern States during flooding — when people became homeless overnight and needed a way to keep their belongings and clothes clean. The pods have now been spread across the country to help those doing it tough during the cost-of-living crisis. Doors Wide Open staff member Mish Holzknecht said she was thrilled with the pod’s Bunbury instalment. “We’re over the moon,” she said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better thing to happen right now ... it’s going to help us out so much. “I’ve even put my name down to volunteer to run the machines on a Saturday, only because I’ve wanted something like this here for so long.” The laundry pod will be available 10am-2pm Mondays to Fridays, with volunteer services over the weekend to be scheduled.