Couple Provides Laundry Service for Syracuse Students
Ray and Xai Uon serve local college students with a specialized laundry business model.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Home Cleaning
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Ray and Xai Uon provide professional laundry services to approximately 50 Syracuse University students each semester. The couple operates this service out of their business, Caraway Cleaners, to help students balance their academic responsibilities.
Why it matters
By providing consistent laundry support, the couple aims to help students reduce the stress often associated with living away from home for the first time. Their word-of-mouth business model creates a personalized connection with the local campus community.
The laundry service is priced at $1.50 per pound with payments accepted only via cash or check. Ray Uon utilizes a Toyota minivan for daily pick-up and drop-off rounds at Syracuse University.
The players
Ray Uon
An immigrant from Cambodia who arrived in the United States at age 13 and operates Caraway Cleaners.
Xai Uon
A business owner who manages walk-in orders and daily operations at the couple's cleaning facility.
Syracuse University
A private research university in Syracuse where the couple provides their student-focused laundry services.
The details
Ray Uon manages logistics by collecting laundry from students after receiving orders via call or text, while Xai Uon processes, cleans, and folds the garments at Caraway Cleaners. The couple also owns and operates Lodi Laundromat on the Northside of Syracuse.
Timeline
Ray and Xai Uon began offering laundry services to university students in 2018.
Ray Uon performs campus laundry pick-up and drop-off rounds Sundays through Fridays.
Culture Shift
The laundry service operated by the Uons mirrors the broader rise of niche, local service micro-enterprises that prioritize personal interaction over digital automation. This trend underscores a return to word-of-mouth business models within close-knit educational communities.
Students utilizing this service can outsource their laundry needs at a flat rate of $1.50 per pound, which helps manage their weekly time and budget constraints. Interested students must coordinate directly with the business via phone or text as no automated digital payment or booking portal is available.
The takeaway
Reliable local services can significantly ease the transition for college students navigating independent living for the first time. Small businesses often succeed in campus environments by offering personal touches that larger, automated laundry chains cannot replicate.
Further reading
Learn more about local residential services in Syracuse Home Cleaning.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Orange.
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