Swedish government covers 25% of laundry costs for all consumers

Recently, the Swedish Parliament passed the legislation that includes the National Laundry Association’s proposal to reduce customers’ laundry costs by 25 percent. Laundry, as well as drying and other finishing as well as minor repairs of clothes and home textiles for private individuals will be covered by the RUT deduction program initiated the Government. According to the Swedish Laundry Association, the customers will have the laundry cost reduced by 25 percent after RUT deductions. Dry cleaning or carpet washing are not included in the deduction scheme.

Mr. Peter Wennekes, CEO of CINET, congratulated Swedish Association for the successful initiative: “It is a remarkable decision, as a result of hard work and persuasion of our member in Sweden, Sveriges Tvätteriförbund. It can serve as an example for several countries across the world in persuading local and national governments not only for support but for understanding PTC sector’s superior performance in terms of sustainability, quality, hygiene and economic impact in a challenging Corona context. Since the beginning of the pandemic, as PTC’s global umbrella organization, CINET has created an international open-platform for sharing knowledge and experience during the coronavirus crisis, with the support of reputed experts. One of the goals is to exchange information with companies and national associations in all parts of the world to actively promote the interests of the Professional Textile Care sector towards a “crucial status” of the industry in every country.”

Mr. Daniel Kärrholt (Swedish Association’s CEO) told LCNi that this reform is a glowing light in an industry otherwise hard struck by the ongoing pandemic. The demand for laundered textiles has dropped as there are less guests staying in hotels, less restaurant visits and tough limits on the number of people allowed at important events. RUT is an tax reduction on domestic work carried out in a home. It is an abbreviation for: Rengöring (cleaning), Underhåll (maintenance) and Tvätt (laundry).  It was introduced with the purpose to free the working men and women from domestic work, create more low-skilled jobs and reduce unemployment.

The new decision is expected to increase the potential for a growth in the Swedish Retail Textile Cleaning sector, to support the employment and support the sustainability initiatives.