Erin and Jon Carpenter, owners of Reynolds Laundromat in North Charleston, got the surprise of a lifetime from singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson on her talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, this week.
The Carpenters were honored during Kelly’s "Rad Humans" segment, where they were recognized for their community efforts and surprised with a major gift.
During the show, which aired on Thursday, May 8, the Carpenters learned that Arm & Hammer Laundry donated $10,000 for the couple to enhance their laundromat, including things like free WiFi, comfortable seating, picnic tables, a small library of books, hosting community comedy nights, and more.
The funds will also be used to support the laundromat’s free laundry days, which occur once a month for the community. And Clarkson surprised the couple with more good news: Arm & Hammer Laundry also gifted the laundromat a lifetime supply of the brand’s Deep Clean Laundry Detergent to be used on free laundry days.
The Carpenters were contacted by Clarkson’s producers via social media, who shared they wanted to honor the couple’s good works after learning more about the Reynolds Laundromat.
“It was an amazing experience. They were really professional and took our nerves away once we got to NBC studios. Everyone took such good care of us,” Erin told Holy City Sinner.
The gifts from Arm & Hammer Laundry were a complete surprise.
“We had no idea this was happening,” Erin adds. “We feel really honored they found us.”
The Carpenters purchased the Reynolds Laundromat, located at 2017 Reynolds Ave., in 2022. A major RV road trip across America during COVID saw them using countless laundromats, which opened their eyes to how they brought together families and communities.
After settling in Charleston, the couple, both entrepreneurs at heart and experienced in renovations, became interested in purchasing and revamping a laundromat of their own. That’s when they saw Reynolds Laundromat in North Charleston was for sale. The business had been open for 40 years, and the Carpenters had big visions for how to upgrade it and make it a safe and welcoming space for the community. For six months, they observed how people used the space. Before closing for their big renovation on New Year’s Day in 2023, they hosted their first free laundry day with the Lowcountry Blessing Box Project. And after nearly three months of work, they officially reopened in March 2023, maintaining the same affordable prices for washers and dryers.
Since then, the Carpenters have expanded into laundry delivery services, partnering with Laundry Stork. And the laundromat has served as a community space for concerts, comedy nights, hosting Thanksgiving meals, volunteer days, and more.
Learn more about Reynolds Laundromat here. Contact Erin and Jon for volunteer opportunities here.
