Laundry. It’s never ending, right? It seems like as soon as we think we’re caught up, the basket is full again. We recently had the chance to talk to Matthew Harlan, father of two and founder of Tumbl, a laundry service that is giving you the gift of time. Sounds familiar, that’s our motto too!
Before we jump into meeting Tumbl, let’s get to know the man behind it. Hi Matthew, thanks for chatting with us. How long have you been in the Houston area?
I’ve lived in the Houston area for over 20 years. I’m originally from here and recently moved back to the city – with two little additions (my kiddos)! My two little adventures are Chloe (5) and Owen (3).
That’s so fun to be back here with two littles. What are some of your favorite things to do with them around town?
With the kids, I love visiting the Children’s Museum and trampoline parks. If I’m taking a moment for myself, you’ll probably find me at the café in Lifetime, taking calls or catching up on work.
And because we all could use more hours in the day, what are you best time-saving tips/resources as a dad?
My biggest time-saving tip? Eliminate the mundane, repetitive tasks so you can spend time where it truly matters. Whether it’s outsourcing laundry (shameless plug for Tumbl!), meal prepping, or automating errands, the goal is to free up time for what’s meaningful – family, learning something new, or finally picking up that hobby you’ve been putting off.
Outsourcing laundry…we like the sound of that! Let’s dive in and find out what Tumbl is all about.
Tumbl gives busy families the gift of time—helping you check laundry off your to-do list in seconds. We offer an affordable, premium, and kid-conscious laundry service that makes life easier.
What inspired you to start Tumbl?
I got tired of seeing my laundry pile up – on the couch, counters, everywhere—for weeks. I knew there had to be a better, more cost-effective way to handle it. That’s when we created Tumbl about five years ago. Now, our laundry is always freshly cleaned and folded, and we get to spend more time actually enjoying life.
The average person spends over 100 hours a year doing laundry. Over a lifetime, that’s years lost to washing clothes. No one wants to spend their time on laundry—we’re here to give that time back.
Oh good, we aren’t the only ones with laundry piling up! We’ve seen some other laundry services similar to yours. What makes Tumbl unique?
We’re parents too, so we get it. That’s why we go beyond just washing clothes—we use hypoallergenic detergents, offer garment repair, and build real relationships with our customers. No other laundry service in the world is designed like this.
Where do you see Tumbl in the next five years?
We’re scaling globally! Our next steps include expansion into Canada and parts of Mexico.
Now a little bit more about YOU!
Favorite restaurant in the area?
El Tiempo – can’t beat it!
Something interesting that others may not know about you?
Tumbl donates thousands of dollars to support homeless youth, at-risk families, and divorced parents in need. Giving back is a huge part of who we are.
As hard as it is to find the time, what’s something you do just for yourself?
I love taking a quiet moment to sit in Hermann Park.
Best dad advice you’ve ever received (or your own advice to moms and dads)?
Let Tumbl handle your laundry – you won’t regret it!