Side hustles can be a great way to bring in extra income, and with the economy how it is, plenty of people are looking for ways to make some extra money on the side.
But one woman’s excitement about her laundry earnings got a serious reality check when she saw what someone in a very different profession was pulling in. Which side hustle appeals more to you?
Woman Shares Laundry Side Hustle Reality Check
In a trending video with more than 3,900 views, Kentucky content creator Jamie Lynn Barnes (@jamie_lynn_barnes) shared a humbling moment that many side hustlers can probably relate to.
Barnes had been running a laundry side hustle and was feeling pretty good about her monthly earnings. But her enthusiasm took a hit almost immediately after opening TikTok.
“I was so excited about how much I’ve made in a month doing a side hustle of laundry,” she says in the video.
“And then as soon as I get on TikTok, I see they are called midnight ballerina now. I saw a female that posted how much money she made, and she made $7,000 in four days,” Barnes shared in shock.
Barnes is referring to strippers, using TikTok-friendly language to avoid content restrictions.
“And it just busted my bubble with how much money I’ve made in a month.”
The comparison hit hard. Whatever Barnes had earned doing laundry over the course of an entire month, this other creator had eclipsed in less than a week.
Barnes adds context about why she was reposting the video in the first place: her original take got blocked by TikTok’s content moderation system.
“My other video, I posted it, but they blocked it because I said the ‘s’ word instead of midnight ballerina,” she notes with a laugh.
What Laundry Side Hustlers Actually Make
So how much can you really earn doing other people’s laundry? The numbers vary, but it’s nowhere near $7,000 in four days.
According to The Penny Hoarder, laundry service providers typically make between $15 and $20 per hour. On platforms like TaskRabbit and Care.com, you can charge more as you build positive reviews. Laundry Care, one of the most popular platforms, charges clients around $20 per bag plus a $3 service fee, with providers earning in that same $15-$20 hourly range.
For context on monthly earnings, Femme Frugality profiled one provider whose daughter works about 25-30 hours per month doing laundry and pulls in around $2,000. The platform’s average provider works 7-12 clients for $120-$300 weekly with a 10-15 hour commitment. Top earners can make $500-$700 per week, but that requires 15-35 hours of work.
One laundry provider writing on Medium explained the appeal despite having a six-figure full-time job:
“There’s something relaxing about folding laundry.” The flexibility matters too—the actual washing and drying happens automatically, so providers can work it around other commitments.
But you need the right setup. Startup costs include a washer, dryer, transportation, laundry bags, and folding space. Some providers eventually invest in multiple washers and dryers to take on commercial clients, which can increase earnings but also comes with higher utility bills and equipment costs.
It’s solid supplemental income if you don’t mind the work. But it’s a far cry from making thousands in a matter of days.
Commenters React
“That’s some BS getting blocked,” a top comment read.
“Tic toc is a joke! I made one comment to someone and it was even bad and they banned me from dms,” a person said.
@jamie_lynn_barnes Hilarious! They blocked my other video so made another one and watched what I said 🤣😆🤪 #smallbusiness #woman #fyp #fypシ #fypシ゚viral
BroBible reached out to Barnes via TikTok direct message and comment.