Moving can be a stressful life event. So stressful in fact, it makes the American Institute of Stress’s Stress Inventory List.

Between coordinating logistics and nervously watching movers handle fragile and prized possessions, any mover deserves a little diversion at the end. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top 8 most practical and considerate housewarming gifts!

1. New Doormat

Great for first-time homeowners, a new welcome mat is an easy gift to pick up. It’s almost a no brainer to have but you’d be surprised as to how many people overlook getting a new doormat after relocating to a new home especially after apartment life.

Get creative by adding a custom phrase that resonates with the personalities of the home’s occupants or keep it simple with a classic “Welcome”.

2. Wine Decanter with Glasses

A wine decanter is ideal for wine connoisseurs and friends who enjoy hosting parties and guests. After a handful of get-togethers, and especially after a move, it’s very likely that a wine glass or two needs to be replaced. You can never have enough glasses in the house so it’s a perfect gift idea to bring if you’re attending a housewarming party—break in the new house with a welcoming toast!

3. Plants or Flowers

An easy way to brighten up a new space and make it feel like home is by adding flowers or plants. A colorful and unimposing option (ideal if you are unsure of the new mover’s decor and esthetic), we recommend getting a nice flower arrangement.

If you want something that will last a bit longer and know your friends or family wouldn’t mind the added responsibility, then go with an indoor plant. Both plants and flowers can tie a room together and their mere presence can help alleviate stress.

4. Decorative Pillows or Blankets

There’s nothing like a soft blanket and comfy pillows. Help add warmth to the a new home by getting a soft throw blanket or a couple of couch or floor pillows. If you don’t know the color scheme yet, it’s wise to select a neutral color blanket. As always with gifts of personal taste, it’s courtious to include a gift receipt so your new mover can exchange your gift, if needed.

5. Robot Vacuum

If you’re working with a larger budget we suggest splurging for a robot vacuum. By letting the vacuum roam room-to-room, you’ll save your loved ones from an ongoing household chores and give them more time to do what they love. Take it from us, we’re experts in the realm of chore alleviation!

6. Knife & Cutting Board Set

We love this combination because it’s very likely something that no one else will bring, while also a helpful, and potentially beautiful gift. Because cutting boards are so easy to store, and extremely useful when hosting larger groups, it’s an item that’s okay to have multiple of. In terms of knives, if your loved ones already have a set there’s no harm and upgrading them to a sharper one. It’s also very practical for a housewarming party - easier to cut and prepare the snacks!
 

7. Aroma Diffuser

Help relieve post-moving stress with an aroma diffuser. An aroma diffuser uses essential oils and retains their therapeutic properties as opposed to diffusers or fragrance that burn them away. There are several options when it comes to color so you’ll be sure to find one that matches the interior decor.

8. Bluetooth Speaker

Bring the music to the housewarming party by getting your loved ones a Bluetooth speaker. Nowadays, you can pick one up for under $50 and even Amazon’s Alexa-compatible 3rd generation Echo is fairly affordable. With multiple uses, it’s one gift we can’t recommend enough.

These are just some of favorite housewarming gift ideas. All-in-all, it’s hard to go wrong with a gift for the heart. In the case of housewarming gifts, it really is the thought that counts.
 

Calculating Your Washing Machine's Capacity: The Magic Formula

Wondering how to obtain your washer's dimensions? Here is a simple formula you can use:

Volume in cubic feet = r * r * pi * d

Where:

• r = radius in feet = half of the diameter
• pi = ~3.1416
• d = depth of your machine in feet

To obtain the diameter, open your washing machine door and measure the distance from one side of the drum to the other, passing through the center. The radius is the diameter divided by two. The depth of your machine is the distance from the front of the drum to the back (or bottom, if you have a top load model).

How Much Can a Washing Machine Hold?

A standard washing machine usually holds 7 or 8 lbs of laundry, but professional machines can handle larger loads.

How to Load Your Washing Machine

Top Load Washer

Making sure your clothes are distributed evenly is crucial to ensure a thorough and efficient wash. Here are some tips to achieve that:

• Do not overload: Your clothes need to move freely during the wash cycle to be properly cleaned.
• Sort by similar weight: Group items by weight and fabric type. Where possible, wash heavier items such as jeans and towels together and delicates separately. This reduces the risk of fabric damage and allows for an even distribution of weight.
• Large items on the bottom: Sheets and towels should go at the bottom of the load, to create a stable base.
• Bulky items spread out: Blankets or comforters should be folded loosely and spread evenly around the drum. Avoid having them rolled up and on one side of the drum.
• Smaller items: Add smaller items on top of larger ones, avoid tangled straps or cords, and consider using a mesh laundry bag for delicates.

Front Load Washer

We also have you covered if your washing machine is front-loaded. All of the tips from top load washers apply, but take extra care to fill your load with one piece at a time to avoid tangles.

Why Is It Important Not To Overfill Your Washing Machine

In addition to preventing an optimal wash, running an overloaded machine strains the washer's motor suspension system and other internal components. This risks permanent damage and a reduced lifespan to your appliance. It can also lead to improper water drainage and airflow, allowing for mold or mildew growth. This can bring unpleasant odors to both your machine and your laundry. The wash itself will take longer, feature excessive vibration and noise, and inefficient use of energy, water, and detergent.

Forget About Capacity and Let Rinse Handle It!

If you don't have time to do your own laundry, you can turn to a professional to take care of your clothes.

Some cleaners have a 15 lbs minimum policy, so you'll need to make sure your laundry meets their requirements.

Alternatively, you could try Rinse and not worry about load sizes at all! Did you know that Rinse offers Wash & Fold service in addition to our Dry Cleaning service? Rinse Wash & Fold is priced per bag, so you just fill a bag and hand it off. 

Have laundry or dry cleaning to do?

Rinse picks up, cleans, and delivers 7 days a week. Amazingly awesome. Ridiculously simple.

Contact us at Rinse today to see our skill in action.

Series D Announcement

San Francisco, CA – February 20, 2025 – Rinse, the leading tech-enabled laundry service, announced it raised a $23 million Series D funding round, led by LG Electronics. This investment marks a pivotal moment in Rinse’s mission to make laundry more convenient, efficient, and accessible for consumers and businesses alike.

With a decade of experience revolutionizing the $40 billion laundry industry, Rinse has built a seamless, tech-driven service that eliminates the hassle of laundry for customers across major U.S. metro areas. This latest funding will propel Rinse into its next stage of growth, expanding its reach, investing in innovation, and strengthening its leadership position in laundry services outside the home.

A Growing Demand for Tech-Enabled Laundry Solutions

As consumer behavior continues to shift toward convenience-first, tech-powered services, Rinse is uniquely positioned to meet the demand for a modern, frictionless laundry experience. Just as food delivery, ride-sharing, and e-commerce have redefined their industries, Rinse is bringing the same level of innovation and convenience to laundry.

“The way people manage everyday tasks is evolving—consumers are seeking seamless, tech-enabled solutions that make life easier,” said Ajay Prakash, Co-Founder and CEO of Rinse. “Rinse was built to modernize an essential but traditionally inconvenient chore. With this latest investment, we’re well on our way to becoming a household name and the leader in all laundry outside the home.”

Fueling Growth, Expansion, and Innovation

Rinse’s Series D funding will support key initiatives, including:

• Expanding market reach – Scaling Rinse’s footprint in existing and new cities to serve more customers.

• Exploring omnichannel growth – Rinse plans to acquire laundromats, establish a physical presence, and expand its fast-growing B2B services.

• Investing in technology and operations – Enhancing platform capabilities to further streamline logistics and improve customer experience.

A Decade of Leadership and Strategic Growth

Founded in 2013 by Ajay Prakash and James Joun, Rinse started as a simple idea: make laundry effortless. What began as a small operation serving friends in San Francisco has grown into a nationwide laundry powerhouse, handling over 100 million garments and serving thousands of customers across 10 major metro areas.

Throughout its journey, Rinse has outlasted competitors and adapted to shifting market dynamics, focusing on sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and superior service quality. Today, Rinse operates with a team of over 100 corporate employees and 600 valets, all W2 employees, ensuring a reliable, high-quality customer experience.

The Future of Laundry, Powered by Rinse

With LG Electronics doubling down on its investment, Rinse is entering its most exciting phase yet. The company is not only scaling its consumer and business services but also eyeing global expansion, with Toronto set to launch later this year.

“This is more than just a funding milestone—it’s a validation of our vision,” said Prakash. “We don’t just want to clean clothes. We want to power laundry everywhere, making it effortless for individuals, families, and businesses.”

Read more about our exciting fundraise here:

Laundry Delivery Startup Rinse Raises $23 Million Funding Round from Appliance-Maker LG.

For press inquiries, please contact [email protected] 

A lot of San Francisco housing was built before in-unit laundry was standard. Victorians, Edwardians, and older apartments across the city still send residents to a shared basement machine or the corner laundromat, and even people with their own washer face a wardrobe a home machine cannot fully handle. Add a demanding job, and doing it all yourself stops being realistic, so the real question becomes who to trust with the clothes you care about. Rinse is a laundry and dry cleaning pickup and delivery service that collects your clothes, cleans them professionally, and returns them folded or pressed to your door. Here is how it compares.

What are the alternatives to the laundromat in San Francisco?

For a San Francisco professional, the laundromat is rarely the only option, and rarely the best one. The real choices are doing it yourself at home, using one of the pickup-and-delivery services that operate in the city, or using Rinse. Doing it at home assumes you have a machine, which much of the city's older housing does not, and even then it leaves the washing, the folding, and any dry cleaning to you. A delivery service removes the trip, but the services are not interchangeable, which is the part worth slowing down on.

With Rinse, a single pickup covers both laundry and dry cleaning. You schedule any day of the week, a Valet collects your clothes between 8pm and 10pm, and everything comes back clean, folded or pressed, and ready to wear. You book by text, get an ETA window before the Valet arrives, and track the Valet in real time, seven nights a week.

How is Rinse different from other laundry and dry cleaning delivery services?

Pickup and delivery is common in San Francisco now, so the real question is who handles your clothes once they leave your door. A few things set Rinse apart.

Rinse Valets are W-2 employees who receive benefits, not gig contractors, so the person handling your wardrobe is accountable to the same company that stands behind the work. Rinse vets its cleaning partners and equips them with standardized procedures and products, so every order meets Rinse's environmental and sustainability standards. One pickup covers Wash & Fold, Hang Dry, and Dry Cleaning pieces together, rather than laundry alone. And every order is backed by the Rinse Guarantee: if you are not happy with the cleaning, Rinse re-cleans it at no charge. With more than 6,000 reviews across major metropolitan areas in North America, it is an established, trusted service for people.

Do you still need Rinse if you have a washer and dryer at home?

Plenty of people here, especially in newer buildings, do have in-unit laundry, which makes it fair to ask whether a service is worth it. A home washer and dryer only take you so far, though. They handle everyday loads, but they cannot dry clean or press, and the pieces that matter most are exactly the ones a home machine is not built for: a wool suit, a crisp dress shirt, a silk blouse, or a merino sweater that a single hot cycle can shrink. Even when the everyday laundry is covered at home, those pieces still need a professional, and Rinse takes both in the same pickup.

Why does professional garment care matter in San Francisco?

San Francisco's cool, foggy climate keeps wool, technical layers, and premium denim in rotation all year, so they are cleaned far more often than they would be in a four-season city, and that frequency is where good clothes get damaged.

Wool shrinks when heat and agitation lock its fibers together, which is why a hot wash and a tumble dry can ruin a sweater. Rinse's own guidance is to wash wool in cold water, skip fabric softener, and dry it flat (source: Rinse, "How to Wash Wool Sweaters"). Premium denim has its own rules, and structured pieces like wool suits and delicates like silk belong with a professional rather than in a home or shared machine (source: Rinse, "Which Pieces You Should (and Shouldn't) Dry Clean"). Matching each garment's care requirements is what protects a wardrobe worn this hard.

Does Rinse Go make sense for a busy schedule?

Rinse Go, Rinse's subscription, turns regular use into predictable savings: unlimited no-fee pickup and delivery across all services, no order minimums, and waived Next-Day Rush fees. For a wardrobe in year-round rotation, that adds up quickly. You can also use Rinse without a subscription and pay per order, but for most working wardrobes here, Rinse Go takes the math out of every pickup.

Why do San Francisco professionals choose Rinse?

Because a good wardrobe gets real use here, choosing who cleans it matters, and Rinse is built to be the service you do not have to think about, with accountable people, vetted green cleaning, and a guarantee behind every order. Handing off laundry and dry cleaning is a form of self-respect, and it keeps you ready for the week without an errand hanging over it. That is what Rinse is for: a better system for how San Francisco already lives.

Learn more in the Rinse clothing care guide, or see Rinse dry cleaning and laundry service in San Francisco.