In this episode of Mountain Mule Media, Tim sits down with Monica Hargis, owner of Laundry Liberator, Bozeman’s longest-running pickup and delivery laundry service. What started as a side hustle turned into a full-time business helping Montanans reclaim one of their most valuable resources—time.
Listen to Episode 59
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From Folding for Others to Building a Business
Monica Margis didn’t plan to build a laundry empire. When she started working at a local laundromat, she kept hearing the same question: “Can you just deliver it?” After years of saying no, she decided to change that answer—and started Laundry Liberator in 2015 with a simple promise: We wash what you own.
Today, Laundry Liberator operates out of a 5,000-square-foot facility between Bozeman and Belgrade, serving families, professionals, and small businesses across southwest Montana. From restaurants and vacation rentals to busy households with kids, the business helps customers spend less time sorting socks and more time doing what matters.
A Simple Concept That Changes Everything
Laundry Liberator serves both residential and commercial clients, offering pickup and delivery throughout the Gallatin Valley. Customers can choose between three main services:
• Wash, dry, fold – the classic, fully finished option.
• Wash, dry, no fold – for those who just want clean clothes, fast.
• Fold-only – for families who manage to keep up with washing but can’t find the time to fold.
The service, Monica says, is less about laundry and more about helping people let go of guilt and overwhelm. “It’s not failing if you can’t keep up,” she explains. “It’s about realizing your time is more valuable. Let us do the laundry so you can spend time with your kids, go outside, or just rest.”
How a Broken Foot Sparked a Full-Time Business
After an accident left her unable to work temporarily, Monica realized she could make the same income running her own business that she did managing the laundromat. She approached her boss, who—believing in her work ethic—let her use the laundromat’s machines overnight while it was closed.
From there, Laundry Liberator grew steadily, eventually expanding into its own facility and employing a full team. “The more jobs I can provide, the better,” Monica says. “Even if laundry isn’t glamorous, it can be fulfilling when people love who they work with and what they do.”
Reframing How We Think About Laundry
Beyond clean clothes, Monica’s mission is to change how people think about domestic work. “We’ve normalized hiring cleaning services,” she says, “but not laundry help. It’s the same thing—it’s a task that takes your time and energy.”
She’s seen firsthand how powerful that shift can be. One story she often shares is about a nurse who called in tears, feeling guilty for not keeping up with laundry while raising kids and working long hours. “She said she was missing their childhood,” Monica remembers. “That’s when I told her: let go. We’ve got this. Go play with your kids.”
From Bozeman to Big Sky — and Beyond
Today, Laundry Liberator serves Bozeman, Belgrade, and Big Sky, with busy seasons aligning with Montana’s tourism calendar. Monica and her team process thousands of pounds of laundry weekly—everything from family loads to linens for local vacation rentals.
Still, the heart of the business remains personal. “We’re not judging anyone,” she says. “Whether it’s construction gear, kids’ clothes, or Airbnb sheets—we’ve seen it all, and we’re just here to help.”
To learn more or schedule a pickup, visit LaundryLiberator.com
You can also find them on Instagram and Facebook @laundryliberator
Mountain Mule Media is a production of Mountain Mule Transportation, connecting the people and places that keep Montana moving.
