Plus Pro Interview Tactics to Help You Hire Like a Boss

Hiring the right laundromat attendant can be the difference between a thriving, community-loved laundromat… and one with one-star Google reviews that make you cringe. If you’re serious about building a million-dollar laundromat, you’ve got to get serious about hiring.

Here’s your ultimate interview guide to not just fill a position, but find a team member who will elevate your business, protect your brand, and serve your customers with care.

🔍 First, Let’s Talk Interview Strategy

Before diving into questions, here are a few laundromat-specific interview tactics you should be using:

✅ Conduct interviews inside your store.

Let them see (and feel) the environment they’d work in. Watch how they react to the space, the machines, and the people.

✅ Interview at least two candidates back-to-back.

This gives you a comparison point and helps you identify who really stands out.

✅ Use a trial shift or shadowing session.

You’ll learn more in one hour of side-by-side folding than you will in 30 minutes of smooth-talking.

✅ Assess their hustle and hospitality.

You want friendly, but you also want fast. Look for signs of a strong work ethic and comfort with multitasking.

🧠 The Top 25 Interview Questions to Ask a Laundromat Attendant

These questions are grouped into four sections to help you uncover key traits like reliability, customer service, accountability, and hustle.

Section 1: Character & Work Ethic

1. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond at work.
2. How do you stay focused during repetitive tasks like folding laundry or wiping down machines?
3. What motivates you to show up and give your best every day?
4. Describe a time you had to work without supervision. How did it go?
5. If you saw a team member skipping tasks or being careless, what would you do?

🧠 Pro Tip: You’re not hiring for charisma, you’re hiring for consistency. Look for stories that show discipline and integrity.

Section 2: Customer Service & Communication

6. How do you handle upset or difficult customers?
7. A customer says their clothes were damaged. What’s your first step?
8. Can you give me an example of how you made someone feel welcomed at a previous job?
9. How would you explain how to use one of our machines to someone who doesn’t speak English well?
10. How do you keep a positive attitude on a stressful or busy day?
    
    

🧠 Pro Tip: Look for someone who smiles while they answer. Customer-facing roles require emotional intelligence and kindness under pressure.

Section 3: Cleanliness & Task Management

11. Walk me through how you’d clean the folding tables and sanitize the machines.
12. If you’re halfway through cleaning when five customers come in at once, what do you do first?
13. How would you prioritize your tasks during a typical shift here?
14. What’s your approach to laundry stains or special requests?
15. Are you comfortable lifting heavy laundry bags or using commercial equipment?

🧠 Pro Tip: You want someone with a methodical mind and a get-it-done attitude. Watch how they process priority juggling.

Section 4: Reliability & Culture Fit

16. What kind of schedule are you looking for?
17. Do you have reliable transportation to get to work on time?
18. What does “being dependable” mean to you?
19. What are your long-term goals, and how does this job fit in?
20. How do you take feedback or correction on the job?

🧠 Pro Tip: You’re looking for someone who takes ownership, not someone who’s just filling hours for a paycheck.

Bonus Curveball Questions (To See How They Think)

21. If a customer left $40 in the dryer, what would you do?
22. What would you do if the power went out in the building?
23. If a washing machine started leaking all over the floor, what’s your next move?
24. If we gave you $100 to improve our store, what would you do with it?
25. What do you think makes a laundromat feel welcoming?
     

🧠 Pro Tip: These are gold. You’ll see how they problem-solve, how they think about the business, and whether they share your values.

🧺 Pro Hiring Tips for Laundromat Owners

Here’s how to take your hiring from okay to elite:

1. Hire for attitude, train for skill.

You can teach folding. You can’t teach integrity or work ethic.

 
2. Set clear expectations up front.

Let them know what “success” looks like in this role: fast turnaround, clean machines, happy customers.

3. Check references, even if you’re in a rush.

Ask previous managers: Would you hire them again? That one question reveals everything.

4. Role-play real situations.

“How would you handle this?” beats “What are your strengths?”

 
5. Protect your brand like it’s your baby.

Because it is. That attendant is the face of your business.

👊 Final Thoughts: Don’t Settle

The right laundromat attendant can be a game-changer. They keep the place clean, make customers feel like family, and protect your investment when you’re not around.

Use these questions and tactics as your hiring playbook. And remember: every hire either builds your dream or breaks it. Choose wisely.

🚀 Ready to Build a Dream Team?

If you want help building systems for hiring, onboarding, and training rockstar attendants who actually stick around, Laundry Advisors has your back. Our membership includes plug-and-play interview checklists, onboarding templates, and weekly coaching to help you scale your store with confidence.

👉 Join the Laundry Advisors Community and hire smarter, grow faster.