Washio
Washio was a Los Angeles-founded on-demand laundry and dry cleaning service that picked up, cleaned, and delivered garments via doorstep valet logistics across multiple major US cities and Toronto, operating on a pay-as-you-go transaction model targeting busy urban consumers before being acquired by Rinse.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Washio does
Washio was an on-demand wash and fold laundry and dry cleaning service founded in 2013 in Los Angeles, operating a direct-to-consumer model in which customers scheduled doorstep pickup of dirty laundry via mobile app or website, after which branded valets collected bags, transported them for professional cleaning, and returned the items folded or pressed within days. The underlying technology was a proprietary mobile and web scheduling platform with real-time valet tracking, photo and itemized inventory confirmation, and evening pickup windows (typically 7pm-10pm), which functioned as the operational backbone of a logistics-led service rather than a software-led platform.
The product surface spanned two core offerings: Wash & Fold, priced per bag (full bag for ~2+ laundry baskets, flex bag for ~1 basket) with cold-water separation and optional free hypoallergenic detergent; and Dry Cleaning, priced per item with a standard 3-4 day turnaround, expert stain treatment, and pressed-on-hanger returns in protective garment bags. Both were sold on a pay-as-you-go basis with no subscription requirement, supplemented by a refer-a-friend program and recurring $20 first-order promotions. The revenue model was transaction-fee per pickup, with customer concentration risk structurally low given the long tail of individual consumers in urban metros.
Washio expanded from Los Angeles into San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Austin, Washington D.C., New Jersey, and Toronto, and was consistently listed among the leading players in the on-demand laundry service market alongside Rinse, Laundrapp, FlyCleaners, and Laundryheap. The company raised approximately $16.8M in venture capital across four rounds in 2013-2014 from investors including Canaan Partners, ACME Capital, Signatures Capital, Pear VC, AFSquare, and AME Cloud Ventures. Washio was subsequently acquired by Rinse, with getwashio.com now redirecting to rinse.com/getwashio and the customer base migrated to the Rinse platform, ending independent operations.
Washio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Washio
- Legal name
- Washio
- Website
- https://getwashio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Washio was a Los Angeles-founded on-demand laundry and dry cleaning service that picked up, cleaned, and delivered garments via doorstep valet logistics across multiple major US cities and Toronto, operating on a pay-as-you-go transaction model targeting busy urban consumers before being acquired by Rinse.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Washio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- On-Demand Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services
- NAICS
- Drycleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin-Operated) (812320), Drycleaning and Laundry Services (8123)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Residential Pickup & Delivery Wash-and-Fold (HSAJACAA)
Keywords
Where Washio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Washio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- On-demand Laundry Services: Fee-for-service model for laundry pickup, cleaning, and delivery. Services include wash and fold (by weight/bag) and dry cleaning (by item). Revenue generated per transaction with no subscription requirement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Wash & Fold service with bag-based pricing |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Dry Cleaning with per-item pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Washio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Washio operates an on-demand laundry and dry cleaning service that picks up customers' clothing from their doorstep, professionally cleans and folds or dry cleans the garments, and delivers them back. The service targets busy urban consumers in major U.S. metropolitan areas and is accessed through a mobile app or website with scheduled evening pickup windows and real-time valet tracking.
Product overview
Rinse operates as an on-demand laundry and dry cleaning service platform offering two primary offerings: Wash & Fold for everyday laundry care and Dry Cleaning for professional garment care. Both services feature pickup and delivery logistics managed by Rinse Valets, with scheduling available seven days a week, item tracking with photo inventory, and a satisfaction guarantee. The company serves customers across multiple U.S. cities and Toronto through its mobile app and web platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wash & Fold
- Dry Cleaning
Companies that use Washio
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Washio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Washio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- RinsemajorWashio customers were redirected from getwashio.com to Rinse (rinse.com/getwashio). This indicates Washio was acquired by or entered into a strategic partnership with Rinse, one of the leading on-demand laundry and dry cleaning services. Existing Washio customers appear to have been migrated to Rinse's platform for continued service.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Washio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cleanly: Cleanly is a US-based on-demand laundry and dry cleaning pickup/delivery service operating in major urban markets. Directly comparable to Washio in target customer (busy urban professionals), service offering, and app-based booking model.
- Laundryheap: Laundryheap is a global on-demand laundry and dry cleaning pickup/delivery service operating across the US, UK, and international markets. It is one of the named key players alongside Washio with a near-identical service model.
- Laundrapp: Laundrapp is a UK-based on-demand laundry and dry cleaning pickup/delivery service explicitly named alongside Washio in market research as a key player. Same product offering, app-based booking, and valet logistics model.
- FlyCleaners: FlyCleaners is an on-demand laundry and dry cleaning pickup/delivery service explicitly listed alongside Washio as a key player in the same market research. Competes directly in the urban consumer laundry category with similar service mechanics.
- Rinse: Rinse is the closest direct competitor to Washio and ultimately acquired Washio. Both offer on-demand wash & fold and dry cleaning pickup/delivery in major US metros via mobile app, with similar valet-based logistics models and pay-per-use pricing.
- Press Cleaners: Press Cleaners is a US on-demand dry cleaning and laundry pickup/delivery service operating in multiple metros. Closely comparable to Washio in service mix, target customer, and digital-first booking experience.
- Mulberrys Garment Care: Mulberrys is a US dry cleaning and wash-and-fold service with pickup/delivery in select urban markets. Overlaps with Washio on both core service lines and customer demographic, with comparable professional cleaning positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Tide Cleaners: Tide Cleaners is the consumer-facing retail dry cleaning and laundry service from P&G. It is a broad incumbent in the same category as Washio, leveraging the Tide brand and physical retail locations in addition to pickup/delivery.
Emerging players
- Hamper: Hamper is an emerging US on-demand laundry and dry cleaning service with app-based scheduling and pickup/delivery. Competes in the same category as Washio with a focus on urban markets and similar transactional pricing model.
- Dryv (formerly Wash.io competitor): Dryv is an on-demand laundry and dry cleaning pickup/delivery service in select US markets. Comparable to Washio in service offering and target customer, though smaller in geographic footprint.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Washio social profiles
Digital presenceWashio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Washio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Washio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Washio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Washio
What does Washio do?
Washio operates an on-demand laundry and dry cleaning service that picks up customers' clothing from their doorstep, professionally cleans and folds or dry cleans the garments, and delivers them back. The service targets busy urban consumers in major U.S. metropolitan areas and is accessed through a mobile app or website with scheduled evening pickup windows and real-time valet tracking.
Is Washio a public or private company?
Washio is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Washio founded?
Washio was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Washio based?
Washio is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Washio make money?
One revenue line is on record: on-demand Laundry Services.
Who are Washio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cleanly, Laundryheap, Laundrapp, FlyCleaners, Rinse, Press Cleaners and Mulberrys Garment Care. Tide Cleaners is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Hamper and Dryv (formerly Wash.io competitor).
Does Washio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Washio.
What industry is Washio in?
Washio's product category is On-Demand Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAJACAA, Residential Pickup & Delivery Wash-and-Fold. Its NAICS code is 812320.