- by Hassan
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When you're home with kids, "flexible" means something very specific. It means work that can stop mid-task when the baby wakes up, doesn't need a sitter, and still makes sense when a sick day wipes out your plans.
Most side-hustle lists ignore that. They suggest things that need long, quiet blocks of time, which is the one thing parents of small children don't have.
So here's a shorter, more honest list for Toronto parents. Each option is judged on what actually matters at home: when you can do it, what it costs to start, how steady it is, and whether you can do it with a toddler on your hip. I've put the one I know best first, and I've tried to be fair about the others.
1. Do laundry for people in your neighbourhood
Uses: your washer and dryer, and time you're home anyway.
This is what Duffloo's Washer Heroes do. Customers book a pickup, a Hero who lives nearby collects the bags, washes, dries and folds everything at home, and returns it the next day.
Why it can work for parents:
- The machines do most of the job. You load, set and walk away.
- Folding fits in the cracks: during nap time, in front of a show, after bedtime.
- Nothing is assigned to you. You mark the days that suit your family and say yes only to orders you can finish, so a rough week doesn't mean letting anyone down.
The catch is the pickups and drop-offs. You need reliable transportation and a way to carry bags, and with little kids that might mean going out when your partner is home, or bundling kids into the car for a short run. Setting a small service radius keeps those trips quick.
Pay: per order, sent weekly. You keep 100% of every tip — Duffloo never takes a cut of a tip. Your pay never falls below minimum wage. If a week's engaged-time pay lands under the Ontario minimum, Duffloo tops up the difference. It's independent-contractor work, and earnings depend on the orders you take, their size and your area.
Start-up: a police check (CA$34.98 through our partner Certn), free GST/HST registration, and inexpensive supplies like a scale, detergent and clear bags. Here's what the work involves, in more detail.
2. Home child care
Uses: your home, and the fact that you're already caring for kids.
Some parents look after one or two other children alongside their own. In Ontario, home-based child care has rules about how many children, and of what ages, you can care for, and your own young children count toward the limit. The rules are set out on the Government of Ontario's child care rules page. Read them closely before you offer anything, and look into insurance.
Good for: steady, regular income if you have the space and the temperament. Hard parts: it's a real responsibility, it fills your whole day, and there's no pausing it when your own child is sick.
3. Tutoring
Uses: something you know well, and a laptop.
Parents across the GTA look for help with math, French, reading and test prep. Online sessions after your own kids are in bed can work well, since many families look for after-school and evening help.
Good for: people with a strong subject, a teaching background, or French skills. Hard parts: sessions are booked at fixed times, so you need a quiet hour you can count on. Finding your first students takes some effort; local parent groups and notice boards at libraries or community centres are good places to start.
4. Pet sitting and dog walking
Uses: your time, and walks you're already taking.
If you already push a stroller around the neighbourhood twice a day, walking someone's dog on the same loop is efficient. Pet sitting at home works if your household gets along with animals.
Good for: dog lovers with a walkable neighbourhood. Hard parts: dogs and toddlers don't always mix, bad weather doesn't cancel walks, and owners often expect insurance and sometimes a police check.
5. Selling outgrown kids' gear
Uses: the closet full of things your kids have outgrown.
Strollers, snowsuits, car seats (check expiry dates and local rules first), toys and baby carriers sell quickly on local marketplaces in Toronto, especially before winter.
Good for: clearing space while making some money back. Hard parts: it's occasional, not a steady income, and meeting buyers takes time.
How they compare
| Laundry (Washer Hero) | Home child care | Tutoring | Pet care | Reselling | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Can you pause mid-task? | Mostly | No | No | Sometimes | Yes |
| Fixed schedule? | No | Yes | Yes | Partly | No |
| Start-up cost | Police check, supplies | Insurance, setup | Low | Low | None |
| Steady over time? | Repeat demand | Yes | Yes, if students stay | Varies | No |
| Leave the house? | For pickups and drop-offs | No | No | Yes | To meet buyers |
What a week of laundry orders could look like
To make it concrete, here's one way a parent might fit Washer Hero work around a preschooler. It's an example, not a schedule we set.
- Monday: available. Accept a pickup for the late morning while your partner works from home. Wash during nap time, fold after dinner.
- Tuesday: deliver Monday's order on the way to the park. Not available for new orders.
- Wednesday: day off.
- Thursday: available. Pick up two small orders close by. Loads run through the afternoon.
- Friday: fold in the morning, deliver before lunch.
- Weekend: available on Saturday only if you feel like it.
The point is that you decide which days are open. Next-day delivery means you only accept what you can finish by tomorrow.
How to choose
Three questions sort it out quickly:
- When are you actually free? Be honest. Unpredictable days favour work you can pause (laundry, reselling). A dependable evening hour suits tutoring.
- What does it cost to begin? Laundry needs a police check and some supplies. Child care may need insurance and space. Reselling needs nothing.
- Do you want it to repeat? Laundry and tutoring bring repeat customers. Reselling stops when the closet is empty.
Becoming a Washer Hero
We're recruiting across Toronto, from the Beaches to Etobicoke, and up in Concord. Each area has its own page, for example Scarborough and North York.
If you have a washer and dryer, you can apply in about 10 minutes. We review your address within 1 business day, then walk you through your police clearance and training — most Heroes are taking orders within 3 to 5 days.
Questions parents ask
Can my kids be around while I fold customers' laundry? Yes, at home that's normal life. Just keep customers' laundry separate from your family's and fold on a clean, pet-free surface.
What if my child gets sick and I've accepted an order? Contact Duffloo support as early as you can so the customer isn't left waiting. Then simply don't mark yourself available until things settle.
Is there a minimum number of orders? No. You can take one order a week or several a day.
Do I need a big laundry room? No. A working washer and dryer, somewhere to hang-dry delicates, and a clean surface to fold on are enough.
Hassan is the CEO of Duffloo, the Toronto laundry pickup and delivery service. He writes about how the service works behind the scenes, including what it takes to become a Washer Hero.
