Shoe Laundry Offers An Alternative For Shoe Care

By Norhidayyu Zainal

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) — Working in the construction sector requires Sean Hayden to wear appropriate footwear for safety, but the muddy and waterlogged conditions at project sites, especially during the rainy season, cause his shoes to get dirty quickly and make them difficult to maintain.

Although he had tried several times to wash them himself at home, the drying process, which takes more than a day, made it difficult for the 29-year-old contractor to reuse them promptly.

However, the problem he frequently faced found a solution when he tried a shoe laundry service that offers washing and drying within less than a day.

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“Usually if I wash them myself at home, I have to wait one or two days for them to dry. But here, they can get it done in just two to three hours. The shoes also become very clean, like new,” he told Bernama, adding that he used to simply buy a new pair after using a pair for about a year.

Operated by Alastair Louis, 35, under the brand X’press Shoe Laundry for nearly two years, the Sabah-born entrepreneur said the business idea came from his own experience of having difficulty carrying multiple pairs of shoes while working out of town.

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His job as a professional in the oil and gas sector requires the father of two to always appear neat and well-groomed, but the limitation of bringing several pairs of shoes often posed a challenge.

“When travelling frequently, I realised there was a need for a fast and practical shoe cleaning service, especially for people who are active or constantly on the move.

“As a shoe enthusiast, I understand the dilemma of owners who value their collections but do not have the knowledge or time to clean them properly,” he said when met at his shop here recently.

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According to Louis, every pair of shoes sent to his premises is first inspected and cleaned using a special soap in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOP) based on the type of material, to ensure the quality of the shoes is preserved.

His employees must also undergo about three months of training on proper cleaning techniques and be supervised by senior staff before being allowed to handle the process independently, as cleaning methods differ for each type of shoe.

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Touching on the challenges of operating the service, the holder of a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Greenwich, United Kingdom, said one of the difficulties he faced was sourcing suitable cleaning materials, as the shoe laundry business is still relatively new in the country.

“I had no reference to guide me, including what type of soap is suitable for cleaning shoes. Most people use household laundry detergent, but that method can damage shoe materials.

“So we developed a special biodegradable soap that is safer for shoes and does not harm the environment,” he said, adding that the washing and drying processes also use commercial machines imported from China.

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With two branches in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and Kuala Lumpur, Louis plans to expand his business to Shah Alam, Selangor, and Tawau, Sabah, this June, as well as to Cyberjaya next year.

“I also intend to commercialise the special soap we developed and produce our own washing and drying machines to reduce dependence on imported machines in the future,” he said, expressing hope that more consumers will realise the importance of proper shoe care.

— BERNAMA