New Tide Cleaners Lockers help Sailors look ship shape

NEX patrons at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland and Naval Station Everett, Washington, are the first in the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) Enterprise to test its new service for laundry and dry cleaning - Tide Cleaners Lockers.

"The mission of NEXCOM is to provide quality goods and services at a savings to all our deserving Sailors and military families," said Lil Blansett, Operation Service Specialist at NEXCOM. "The laundry and dry cleaning business has been difficult over the past several years, but even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. In our search for a solution, we contracted with the vendor Tide Cleaners Lockers to provide a much needed service to our customers."

To get items laundered, customers need to first download the Tide Cleaners Lockers app and then place the items they want laundered in a locker. From the app, the customer can choose to have the items dry cleaned, pressed only, laundered as well as washed and folded. Customers can also choose wash preferences for each item, to include type of Tide detergent and preference on starch. Customers then submit their order through the app.

The vendor who launders the items sets the cost per item and the price may vary based on location. For example, to dry clean a formal dress costs $14.39 while to wash and fold items is $2 per pound at NAS Patuxent River. Monthly subscriptions are available. The phone app also lists a time the items will be picked-up from the locker, and based on that time, it will also lists a return date and time. On average, the laundered items are returned in 3 - 4 days.

Currently, there are 16 lockers available at NEX Patuxent River for customers to utilize during NEX operating hours and 52 lockers in three locations at NS Everett. Blansett stated NEXCOM is looking to expand the service in the future where there are Tide Cleaners Lockers franchisees that can support NEX locations.