Ironing and delicate garment care
Silk, cashmere, linen, wool, shirts, table linen and fragile pieces require precise handling, label awareness and appropriate storage.
LAUNDRY AND WARDROBE CARE
Find, hire and recruit a private laundress or wardrobe manager
find, hire and recruit a private laundress or wardrobe manager able to care for garments, household linen, delicate fabrics and the organisation of a private wardrobe with discretion, method and attention to detail. Yann & Lise International assists families, private owners and residences in selecting profiles suited to the rhythm of the home.
Our approach is designed to identify a private laundress or wardrobe manager with the right experience, references and discretion for a main home, villa, secondary residence or high-end family environment, presented as verified profiles.
Why hire a private laundress or wardrobe manager?
Hiring a private laundress becomes valuable when the volume of household linen, the quality of garments, the frequency of travel or the desired level of finish requires more than casual household organisation. The role brings regularity, protects fabrics, supports departures and prevents the loss of time caused by dry-cleaning, alterations, seasonal rotation and wardrobe follow-up.
In a private home, this position touches personal linen, bed linen, reception pieces, travel packing, family routines and valuable garments. Selection should therefore combine textile competence, discretion, stability and a calm sense of order.
GARMENT CARE
Household linen care
The laundress organises laundry cycles, drying, ironing, folding, storage and rotation for bed linen, bath linen, table linen and guest pieces used in a private residence.
Private wardrobe organisation
The wardrobe is organised by use, season, fabric, frequency, events and family preference, while respecting the privacy of the household.
Seasonal wardrobe rotation
The laundress prepares seasonal changes, protects stored pieces, anticipates alterations and keeps required outfits available.
Packing and travel preparation
Depending on instructions, she prepares garments, accessories and travel items, then manages cleaning, checking and storage after return.
Private laundress or housekeeper: what is the difference?
A private housekeeper focuses on the wider presentation of the home: rooms, surfaces, floors, bathrooms and sometimes everyday laundry. A private laundress specialises in linen, fabrics, ironing, garment finishing, storage and lingere-related tasks.
A senior housekeeper may supervise interior care and coordinate a team. A wardrobe manager focuses on garments, accessories, delicate pieces, inventories, seasonal rotation and packing. Keeping these responsibilities clear protects the family from creating a role that is too broad to hold well.
What duties can a private laundress handle in a residence?
Duties should be defined according to the size of the home, family members, travel rhythm, receptions and existing household team. A laundress may work independently or alongside a housekeeper, butler, private assistant or family office.
- Sorting, washing, simple stain care, drying, folding, ironing and storage.
- Follow-up of bed linen, bath linen, table linen, service garments and guest linen.
- Organisation of the private wardrobe, garment storage and outfit preparation.
- Packing, unpacking, travel returns and checking items that need refreshing.
- Dry-cleaning, alterations, tailoring, shoe care and specialist service coordination.
- Flagging damaged garments, replacement needs and particular care instructions.
IRONING
Careful ironing for a private wardrobe
An experienced laundress respects fabrics, finishes, folds and presentation before placing each shirt or delicate garment back in the wardrobe.
PACKING
Packing and travel returns
Following the family’s instructions, the laundress prepares outfits, accessories and travel pieces, then manages cleaning, checking and storage after return.
Wardrobe management, household linen and delicate garments
Wardrobe management is not simply arranging clothes. It requires a clear method: garment placement, protection from light and humidity, moth prevention, alteration tracking, outfit preparation and respect for each family member’s preferences.
Care for delicate fabrics requires attention to fibre, finishing, buttons, embroidery, lining, vintage pieces and high-end garments. Some items should be sent to a specialist rather than treated at home.
Our method for selecting a trusted private laundress
Yann & Lise International starts by clarifying the setting: main residence or secondary home, linen volume, wardrobe size, travel habits, confidentiality requirements, working hours, possible accommodation and reporting line. This allows us to search for a trusted profile, not a generic applicant.
- Analysis of the real need, priorities and limits of the role.
- Verification of experience in laundry, wardrobe care or high-end private environments.
- Checks on verified references, stability and discretion.
- Assessment of care, method, presentation and attention to detail.
- Presentation of a short selection of profiles suited to the household.
Key qualities for high-end garment and linen care
High-end garment care requires consistency, precision, patience and the ability to follow detailed instructions. A good laundress also knows when a piece should not be washed, when an alteration is needed or when a specialist should be involved.
Verified references and attention to detail
References should confirm care, punctuality, discretion, stability and the ability to work in the privacy of a family home.
Part-time, full-time or regular support
The right rhythm depends on linen volume, number of rooms, wardrobe size, receptions and travel patterns.
Support in a secondary home
The laundress may prepare the home before arrival, restore linen after departure and follow garments between stays.
Laundress support in a main residence or secondary home
In a private residence, regularity matters: family linen, bedrooms, professional clothing, school clothing, sportswear, guest linen and last-minute requests. In a secondary home, the need is often seasonal: preparation before arrival, linen reset after departure, garment storage and coordination with a local household team.
Homes that receive frequently must also anticipate peaks: table linen, guest rooms, service garments, napkins, delicate pieces and fast rotation between stays.
Private laundress salary: what budget should an employer plan for 25 hours per week?
A 25-hour weekly arrangement can be a realistic structure for a private laundress handling regular household linen, careful ironing, delicate garments, storage, private wardrobe organisation, outfit and luggage preparation, as well as small alterations or coordination with specialist providers. The monthly reference is 25 × 52 ÷ 12, or approximately 108.33 hours per month.
| Profile level | Net hourly rate | Estimated monthly net salary | Estimated monthly gross salary | Estimated employer contributions | Total monthly employer budget | Total annual employer budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualified private laundress | 17 € | approximately 1,842 € | approximately 2,358 € | approximately 862 € | approximately 3,220 € | approximately 38,640 € |
| Experienced high-end private laundress | 20 € | approximately 2,167 € | approximately 2,775 € | approximately 1,050 € | approximately 3,825 € | approximately 45,900 € |
| Experienced wardrobe manager | 23 € | approximately 2,492 € | approximately 3,190 € | approximately 1,240 € | approximately 4,430 € | approximately 53,160 € |
The total monthly employer budget is the estimated gross salary plus the estimated employer contributions. It does not add the net salary to employer contributions.
Actual contributions may vary depending on the private employer’s situation, possible exemptions, place of employment, reporting method, benefits in kind, actual hours worked and the treatment of paid leave. The final calculation should be confirmed when preparing the contract and through the applicable official simulator.
The net hourly rates shown exclude the 10% holiday-pay uplift. For a 25-hour weekly contract, accrued paid leave is remunerated when taken, using whichever method is more favourable to the employee: salary maintenance or the one-tenth rule. This does not mean that the same period is paid twice.
The annual estimates assume salary maintenance during paid leave. The final cost may vary slightly if the one-tenth method is more favourable to the employee.
French tax credit for home employment
Directly employing a private laundress at home may, subject to eligibility rules, give access to a French tax credit equal to 50% of eligible expenses actually borne, within the statutory annual caps in force. This tax benefit may cover eligible salary and social contributions. It depends on the private employer’s personal situation.
The budgets shown above are before any tax credit. They must not be automatically divided by two, as the tax benefit is subject to annual caps and is not guaranteed for every international client.
Agency recruitment fees
The file opening fee is 399 €. It covers the opening and processing of the search according to the applicable commercial terms.
Placement fees amount to 18% of the annual net salary of the selected candidate. They are due when a candidate introduced by Yann & Lise International is selected by the client, in accordance with the quotation and terms and conditions. The 399 € file opening fee is not included in the 18% calculation.
Separate from agency fees
The main table shows the estimated salary and social cost for the employer, excluding the file opening fee and placement fees.
Final applicable terms
Only the quotation sent to the client definitively sets the applicable fees and commercial terms for the assignment.
Indicative example
Estimated annual net salary: 22,100 €.
Placement fees at 18%: 3,978 €.
Indicative example
Estimated annual net salary: 26,000 €.
Placement fees at 18%: 4,680 €.
Indicative example
Estimated annual net salary: 29,900 €.
Placement fees at 18%: 5,382 €.
Preparing the search for a private laundress or wardrobe manager
A successful search begins with a concrete brief: number of family members, linen volume, ironing frequency, fragile pieces, wardrobe size, dry-cleaning, alterations, packing, main residence or secondary home, existing staff and expected reporting.
- Define included duties, excluded duties and daily priorities.
- Clarify working hours, days, seasonal peaks and possible travel.
- Identify sensitive fabrics, valuable garments and storage instructions.
- Name the reporting line: family, housekeeper, butler, private assistant or family office.
- Set confidentiality rules, wardrobe access and dry-cleaning follow-up.
ORGANISATION
Private wardrobe organisation
A wardrobe manager secures storage, prepares rotations, tracks garments sent out and helps the family find the right pieces quickly.
Common mistakes when hiring a private laundress
The first mistake is to blur laundry, housekeeping, household supervision and personal service. A laundress is not hired to do everything; the wider and vaguer the role becomes, the weaker the search. The second mistake is to underestimate the confidentiality attached to wardrobes and personal effects.
It is also important not to promise an unrealistic workload. Careful ironing, delicate fabrics, packing and dry-cleaning follow-up require time. A badly sized role leads to fatigue, mistakes, delays and frustration on both sides.
Where to find a trusted laundress or wardrobe manager?
Yann & Lise International assists searches for private laundresses and wardrobe managers for families in Paris, Ile-de-France, Provence, the French Riviera, Monaco and internationally. The aim is to present a profile whose experience, discretion and working habits match the home.
The search may concern a main residence, seasonal villa, secondary home, townhouse or family organisation across several residences.
DELICATE CARE
Checking delicate garments and alterations
Before a piece returns to the wardrobe, the laundress checks finishes, alterations, buttons, linings and specific instructions linked to fragile garments.
Points to check before hiring a private laundress
A successful search depends on a clear framework: linen volume, expected finish, wardrobe access, confidentiality, working rhythm and overall budget.
- Confirmed experience with linen, ironing and delicate garments.
- Verified references in a private home or residence.
- Clear instructions for storage, dry-cleaning, alterations and packing.
- Working hours, possible accommodation and reporting line clarified.
Useful resources for hiring household staff
FAQ - Hire a private laundress or wardrobe manager
What is the difference between a private laundress and a housekeeper?
A private laundress focuses on laundry, ironing, delicate fabrics, household linen and wardrobe care. A housekeeper has a broader role covering interior care, rooms, surfaces and the daily presentation of the home.
Can a private laundress manage a wardrobe?
Yes, when the role is defined accordingly. She can organise the wardrobe, manage seasonal rotation, prepare outfits, arrange garments by use and flag dry-cleaning or alteration needs.
Can she care for delicate fabrics and luxury garments?
Yes, provided the selected profile has relevant experience and knows how to follow care instructions, respect sensitive fabrics, handle finishes and identify when specialist care is required.
What budget should an employer plan for a private laundress working 25 hours per week?
Depending on experience and responsibilities, the estimated employer budget ranges from approximately 3,220 € to 4,430 € per month, or approximately 38,640 € to 53,160 € per year, before any tax credit, excluding the file opening fee and placement fees, and subject to the employer’s actual situation.
Is paid leave included in the advertised salary?
The 17 €, 20 € and 23 € net hourly rates exclude the monthly 10% holiday-pay uplift. For a 25-hour weekly contract, accrued paid leave is remunerated when taken, using whichever method is more favourable to the employee, without paying the same period twice.
What recruitment fees does the agency charge?
The file opening fee is 399 €. Placement fees amount to 18% of the annual net salary of the selected candidate and apply according to the quotation and terms and conditions.
Entrust us with the search for a private laundress or wardrobe manager
Yann & Lise International assists families, private owners and representatives in finding a discreet, experienced private laundress or wardrobe manager suited to the standards of a high-end household.