The first half of the review is all maths.. you can skip to the second half if you want to.
First, when I first moved out from my family, I bought myself a washing machine as there wasn't one at the place I rented. Mistake, big time. I did laundry maybe twice before I did the maths. How much does it cost to buy a washing machine? HKD $4k easily. How much does it cost to take the laundry on to the mighty hands of the laundry shop? $50 for a week's worth of clothes. So I can go 1.5 years and still cheaper than a washing machine!
But there's more. You would say a washing machine lasts much longer than 1.5 years, and most households are equipped with a washing machine anyway, which I agree. But washing your own clothes takes up your own time too. So I'll guess, an hour per week to wash and dry (that's the lowest estimate from my time backpacking)? Ok, so unless you earn less than HKD$50 (which is possible...), otherwise it is ALWAYS cheaper to do the laundry out there.
That explains all the laundry shops on Caine Road, Robinson Road and basically all over the Mid-Levels. I'll mostly choose the closest one, but ILSA is by far the best. Upon the third visit, they remembered my last name. Always ready by the next day, and in rare occasions and if you ask nicely, you can get away with a same day laundry too.
That's nothing much to ask from a laundry shop really, excepts expecting them doing the job right constantly, and they do. You can tell by the number of bags they are handling everyday - the shop can barely fit two people in! read more