Lunar New Year comes with a clear instruction: clean the house and settle what is unfinished before the new year arrives, so you start it fresh. Clothing is part of that. In practice, that means the fortnight before New Year is when the cleaning happens — because sweeping and washing on New Year’s Day itself is traditionally avoided, in case you sweep the incoming luck straight back out the door.

For Sydney families, that creates a real deadline. WashMate handles the garment side from Surry Hills and Leichhardt, and the weeks before Lunar New Year are among our busiest. Book early — email info@washmate.com.au.

What to have cleaned before the new year

New Year outfits — especially red and gold pieces, which need to look their best rather than creased from storage
Cheongsam, qipao and hanfu — silk and brocade, almost always dry clean only, and easily damaged by home washing
Ao dai — fine silk with structured tailoring that needs proper pressing
Hanbok — layered silk that creases badly in storage and needs careful finishing
Bedding and curtains — the household clean extends past clothing, and doonas and curtains are usually the items that get skipped
Table linen — for the reunion dinner, which is the centrepiece of the whole occasion

Why traditional garments need specialist care

Silk, brocade and embroidered pieces are the least forgiving fabrics we handle. Silk is protein-based and dye-sensitive, so a hot home wash both shrinks it and lifts the colour. Metallic embroidery and gold thread tarnish in water. Structured collars and frog fastenings lose their shape entirely if the garment is washed and hung wet. Many of these pieces are also expensive, hard to replace in Australia, or carry family significance — which is precisely the wrong combination for experimenting at home.

Timing, and why late January books out

Standard turnaround is 3 to 5 business days, and the fortnight before Lunar New Year is peak. Add specialist items — silk, embroidery, structured tailoring — and it can take longer, because those stages cannot be rushed. Get garments in at least a week and a half ahead. If you are cutting it fine, express and same-day options are available on pickup and delivery across Sydney metro as well as in-store — book online, email or call and we will confirm what we can do for your timing, subject to availability.

The wider household clean

Doonas and quilts — from $45
Curtains — from $39 per metre, and the item most often overlooked in a spring clean
Blankets and throws — from $45
Cushion covers, couch and lounge covers, and upholstery covers — quoted per item after inspection
Table linen — cloths and napkins for the reunion dinner
Everyday washing — wash, dry and fold at $9.90 per kilo
Anything else around the house — if it is fabric, ask. Send a photo or a list and we will quote it
Pickup and delivery — a flat $15 per order across Sydney metro, which helps when you are cooking for twenty

Gift cards are also available if you are looking for a practical gift for family — useful for elderly relatives in particular, for whom carrying bedding to a laundromat is genuinely difficult.

Caring for the outfit after the celebration

The days after are when traditional garments get damaged, because they come off after a long dinner and go straight back into a wardrobe. Silk holds perspiration and food oils invisibly, and those residues oxidise into yellow marks over the following months — which is why a qipao worn once can emerge next year with marks that were not there when it went away. Have it cleaned within a week or two of wearing, not next January.

Air the garment before it goes anywhere near a wardrobe
Have it cleaned soon after wearing, while any marks are fresh
Store on a broad, padded hanger so the shoulders and collar keep their line
Use a breathable cotton cover rather than plastic, which traps humidity against silk
Keep it out of direct light, which fades silk dye quickly
Add cedar or lavender to the wardrobe rather than mothballs, which leave an odour in silk

Frequently asked questions

When should I get clothes cleaned for Lunar New Year?

At least a week and a half before. Standard turnaround is 3 to 5 business days and the fortnight beforehand is our busiest period, so earlier is safer.

Can you clean a cheongsam, qipao or ao dai?

Yes. Silk, brocade and embroidered garments are handled as specialist items, cleaned and pressed to hold their structure. Email photos for an approximate quote.

Why should cleaning be done before New Year rather than on the day?

Tradition holds that cleaning on New Year’s Day sweeps away incoming good fortune, so the household clean is completed in the days beforehand.

Do you clean curtains and bedding as well?

Yes. Curtains start from $39 per metre and doonas from $45, and we also handle blankets, throws, cushion covers, couch and lounge covers, upholstery covers, table linen and more. Send a photo or a list of what you have and we will quote it.

Is there a faster option if I have left it late?

Express and same-day options are available on pickup and delivery across Sydney metro as well as in-store — book online, email or call and we will confirm what we can do for your timing, subject to availability. Book a pickup or email us as early in the day as you can.

Follow @washmate.sydney on Instagram for before-and-after transformations and garment care tips.