Are Indians spending too much on laundry?

NEW DELHI: It may not be laundering the way the taxman would salivate to read about increasing number of Indians are spending money on laundry
but thanks to the hectic city life and efficient services offered by chains that are opening shops.

Laundry services across the country are becoming popular with working people and bachelors.

'Four Seasons,' a dry cleaning company in the capital says it continues to make profits despite charging high rates for its services.

Rates for shirts range between Rs 60 and Rs 80, trousers are charged Rs 110 per pair and charges for dry-cleaning one panel of curtain costs Rs 160.

"Many people come to our shop for laundry and dry cleaning
and most of them are working couples. We also have home delivery facilities at nominal rates," says a staff member.

Market Research company A C Nielson pegs the country's dry-cleaning and laundry industry approximately between Rs 3,000 and Rs 3,500 crores.

According to B L Bajaj, Director of Wardrobe, the daily demand for laundry is expected to rise at 20-25 per cent annually.

Laundry care in India, he says has grown 8 per cent in current value terms in 2007 to reach Rs 84 billion.