Patric Richardson’s Road to Minnesota

Photo: Chris Emeott

Patric Richardson grew up in Eastern Kentucky, where Kentucky converges with Ohio and West Virginia near the confluence of the Big Sandy and the Ohio rivers. Life there was partly tinted by the Appalachian Mountains, bluegrass music, coal mining and the region’s own brand of Americana.

Richardson’s career was informed by those early days, living in smalltown Kentucky. “I have loved laundry ever since I was a little kid,” he says. “I loved it so much that the Christmas I was 3, Santa brought me a toy washing machine. I have always loved washers and dryers—using them and looking at them.” The seed was planted.

Before Richardson enrolled at the University of Kentucky, he banked on majoring in fashion merchandising or design. “While there, [I] realized I could spend time taking care of clothes, not just working with new ones,” he says, noting he worked at a retail clothing store and furrier during college. “Selling beautiful clothes really made me appreciate them even more, and I wanted to tell people how to take care of them so they would last.” That seed was germinating.

In 1999, Richardson moved to St. Paul and worked at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis. And this is where his true calling to become The Laundry Evangelist blossomed. “I started sharing my love of laundry when I was selling clothes,” he says. “I started teaching laundry camp in 2015 and haven’t slowed down since … I love it because it gives me a chance to connect with so many people all at once.”

Along with the classes, his books and TV appearances, Richardson reaches a significantly larger audience than his reach during his retail days. “I am often on KARE 11 Saturday, Twin Cities Live and, of course, The Jason Show,” he says. “I love doing all of them as it gives me a chance to discuss laundry in new ways and a chance to meet a new audience.”

Patric Richardson
Instagram: @laundrypatric