TaskRabbit Product Manager Will T. discovers the secret of laundry day.

Every two weeks for the last year and a half, I’ve hired my favorite TaskRabbit to pick up two loads of laundry from my house, wash, dry, and fold them at her place, then return them to mine. It cost $25 per Task, and I never had to think about laundry.  It was awesome. Regina A. would even remind me when laundry day was coming so I’d never run out of clothes.

Recently, Regina decided to take a short break from Tasking to focus on her new day job with the Oakland A’s. I knew I’d be able to find another amazing TaskRabbit, but was curious about how other methods of laundry would fit into my life. I decided to conduct some tests. Since I don’t have a machine in the old San Francisco Victorian I live in, I headed to my sister’s place. The laundering part went smoothly, but it took forever. I felt tethered to her place for several hours waiting for everything to finish; really annoying.

During the next laundry cycle, I thought I’d try a wash & fold service closer to my home. At 99 cents per pound, it ended up costing me $23, cheaper than Regina. The problem? I had to load the laundry into the car, drive six blocks, feed the meter, and run in — twice.  The whole process took several days, and it was really frustrating.

I was ready to post a Task.

I decided to post a Recurring Task, hoping to find a new Regina. I also knew that Recurring Tasks made it really easy to switch TaskRabbits in the future (just a button click) if I wanted. In my Task description, I specified that I’d like the TaskRabbit to have their own machine and supplies so I wouldn’t have to deal with reimbursements. (Note to TaskRabbits out there: it’s perfectly fine to include all these costs in your bid if you prefer to use a laundromat.)

Almost immediately after posting my Task I had two bids. One TaskRabbit said he had new machines and used eco-friendly detergent. Sweet! And at $31, totally worth the $8 difference to not have to haul my stuff around in a car twice. My little laundry experiment made me realize that, for me, outsourcing this Task is about the freedom. If I had machines in my own house, I would still hire a TaskRabbit to help me out with laundry. — Will Tungpagasit

How do you get 100 party guests to the top of a roof?

Parties in the city can be tough to coordinate, particularly if your shindig takes place in (or on) a larger building. Do you spend all night glued to the buzzer, or do you prop the door open and hope no strangers wander in? If you’re hip to the magic of TaskRabbit like Courtney M., you hire a friendly neighbor to play doorman for the night. Faced with the dicey logistics of getting 100 guests onto a Brooklyn roofdeck for a NY tech scene party, Courtney hired TaskRabbit Rachel S. to check the list and point the way to the party. Rachel helped make sure that only invited guests made it into the building so Courtney could focus on making sure everyone had a great time.

The only question we should have about trust should be: "How can my business inspire more of it?"

Cultivating a trusted marketplace is something we take pretty seriously at TaskRabbit, so much so that Leah decided to tackle this very topic in her latest Huffington Post column, “The Evolution of Online Trust.” She shares a bit about the efforts we make to build transparency and authenticity into the experiences of both TaskPosters and TaskRabbits, and also turns an eye toward the future by pondering what happens when online companies work together to make social reputation a currency. Here’s a sneak peak:

Trust is the mechanism that inspires people to expect good things from other people and products. Expecting good things isn’t just what keeps us coming back to brands we love, it’s what leads us to try new products and services in the first place. As an entrepreneur, it seems clear that this simple reality should fuel every decision about how to build a product, grow a community, and structure a business model. It’s foundational. We shouldn’t be asking ourselves if trust matters or how much, those things are self-evident. The only question we should have about trust should be: “How can my business inspire more of it?”

We hope you enjoy this read as much as we did. What do you think the future holds for trust in the online space?

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” – Henry Adams

Do you remember your favorite teacher? Maybe it was that English teacher that first sparked your love of poetry, or the social studies teacher that introduced you to new parts of the world and new ways of thinking. How have the actions of that educator informed your life? If you’re anything like those of us at TaskRabbit HQ, your success can be traced directly back to some incredible educators. In honor of those who work tirelessly to open our minds and shape our dreams, we decided to go all out for Teacher Appreciation Week. We stopped by the Teach For America offices to drop off TaskRabbit gift cards to Bay Area teachers — it’s the least we can do really. We know TaskRabbits will be able to provide teachers with the thing they need most: more time! Give your favorite educator some extra time with the gift of TaskRabbit. To help inspire you to celebrate the teachers in your life, we asked the Teach For America folks to tell us how friendly neighborhood TaskRabbits can make their lives easier. Our TaskRabbits can’t wait to get started:

1. It would be amazing to have TaskRabbits sort classroom libraries alphabetically and by reading level. This will empower students to pick their “just right” book, which keeps them from being frustrated and accelerates their growth.

2. A crafty TaskRabbit could redesign all the hallway billboards in my school.

3. Bilingual TaskRabbits could translate communications home to families who don’t speak English as a first language.

4. TaskRabbits would be an enormous help in deep cleaning classrooms at the end of the school year.

5. They could deliver local, organic meals to the faculty lounge so teachers can have a break from cafeteria lunches.

6. It would be great if someone hired a TaskRabbit to bring me breakfast on the first day of summer.

7. TaskRabbits could set up a school garden bed and teach my students how to grow their own food.

8. They could help organize a field day for the students with games, contests, and prizes.

9. Artsy TaskRabbits can coordinate a mural project for the school.

10. Dramatically inclined TaskRabbits can dress up as characters and act out stories to help required reading assignments come alive.

11. They could help set up and decorate classrooms for the new school year.

12. We always need extra hands when setting up school dances and end-of-the-year parties.

13. They could shoulder some of the burden of researching and planning the logistics of school field trips.

14. They could help stuff parent newsletters into envelopes.

15. Musical TaskRabbits could put on a concert for teachers or play music as students walk into school on a special day.

16. I’d be thrilled if a TaskRabbit delivered me flowers, and might use it to deliver some flowers to our school administrators.

17. They could pick up school or art supplies and drop them off to my classroom.

18. They could help out with personal errands like grocery shopping and laundry so I can focus on grading papers.

19. TaskRabbits could organize a fundraiser to raise some more money for classroom supplies or fieldtrips.

20. It would be great for TaskRabbits to share their technology skills — things like blogging, social networking, and photo editing — with teachers so we can improve.

Special thanks to Melissa Cunningham, Noreen Zobel, Anne Wylde, Marcelo Guindon, Billy Lieberknecht, Megan Bird, Emilie Smith, Jen Thompson, Mallory Fiske, Jessica Barrett, Jackie Soohoo, and Robert Strain of Teach For America for sharing their ideas. We appreciate all you do and we’re so honored to be able to scratch some items off your To-Do Lists.

“It’s hard living nearly 3000 miles away from your family (I live in SF and my family lives right outside NYC), particularly around holidays. As much as I want to celebrate with my incredible mom, a face-to-face Mother’s Day is often impossible. This year, I decided to use a TaskRabbit to deliver candy from her favorite New York chocolate shop right to her door, and to pick out some lovely flowers from a local shop. The prices online kill me and I love supporting a florist in my mom’s neighborhood.” — Jamie

“I love my mom very much, and appreciate everything she has done for me; her efforts have molded me into the man I am today. Even though every day should be ‘Mother’s Day,’ I certainly want to acknowledge my Mother on this dedicated day. To make it extra special, I hired a TaskRabbit to hand-deliver beautiful flowers from a nearby farmers’ market. It’s the next best thing to having me show up at her door!” — Kevin 

“Since my mom is traveling the weekend of Mother’s Day and won’t be in town to celebrate, I’d love to use TaskRabbit to help me create a special day for her when she gets back. I’d hire a TaskRabbit to bring her flowers, pick her up, and take her to get a mani/pedi the Friday or Thursday after Mother’s Day. After my mom’s been pampered for the afternoon, the TaskRabbit could drop her back at work.” — Erika

“My mother is a busy woman, so the odds of me successfully giving her a surprise visit are pretty close to none. She’s also not one for extravagant gifts and surprises — we usually have to force her to attend her own birthday parties! I want to get her something simple but unique, so I’m going to have a TaskRabbit pick up her favorite cupcakes and deliver them (with flowers, of course) to her this Mother’s Day!” — Ian

“My mom has a lot on her plate, and it’s hard to convince her to take a day off while the work piles up. So for this upcoming Mother’s Day I plan on using TaskRabbit to give her a break. On a daily basis, Mama O’Neil cooks, cleans, grocery shops, and runs errands. Normally I would give her one coupon good for me to take care of these things, but this year I’m hiring a TaskRabbit to handle them for me, so my mom and I can spend the day together!” — Mary 

Who will win that bottle of tequila?

To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, we scarfed down burritos from The Little Chihuahua while our product team regaled us with ukulele music and feature updates.

If you plan to invite people over to spend this weekend devouring tacos and margaritas at a Cinco de Mayo fiesta, you’re going to need a little help. Whether you’re throwing a grown-up shindig or a kid-friendly party, you can hire a TaskRabbit to help with your celebration.

TaskRabbits can keep your party going by:

• Grilling the carne asada
• Playing margarita bartender
• Picking up tacos from your favorite taqueria
• Handling the decorations
• Refreshing the guacamole and salsa
• Cleaning up before and after your guests arrive
• Delivering the beer and ice

Not interested in having people over? You could also hire a TaskRabbit to research Cinco de Mayo events in your area.

TaskRabbits can put the relaxation back in your vacation.

The summer travel season is swiftly approaching, and if you’re anything like us, you can’t wait. Around the TaskRabbit office, we’re already dreaming of watching sunsets on the beach, sipping local wines, and exploring the cobblestone streets of strange cities. In fact, the only thing that can put a damper on visions of the perfect vacation is the stress of planning one. Flight details, hotel bookings, and itinerary hiccups — all the logistics of getting to and fro can really spoil your travel dreams.

Fortunately, the TaskPoster community has already thought this one through. Here are some of the ways people are using TaskRabbit to rock their vacations (and a few suggestions for other travel-related Tasks).

Find kid-friendly accommodations and activities
When super mom Melissa J. decided to take her family to visit Washington, DC, she turned to TaskRabbit Andrea H. for a hand. Andrea researched and planned 12 days of educational and fun activities for Melissa’s two toddlers, and the trip to the nation’s capital went off without a hitch. TaskPoster Toby P. had the same stroke of brilliance when he needed to figure out kid-friendly adventures to build into his family’s trip to Dubai and Italy. Task On: Grandma’s probably not on TaskRabbit quite yet, but imagine how delighted she’d be to attend a family reunion or holiday getaway. You can use a TaskRabbit to map out all the logistics of getting your relatives together for a memorable soiree — from air-travel and vacation houses to cheesy family reunion T-shirts.

Research your destination wedding plans
Planning a wedding is pretty stressful. Once you decide to make it a destination event, things get even more tricky. To dial down the stress, TaskPoster Vimal V. decided to hire a TaskRabbit to research possible beach-front venues. TaskRabbit Amy G. scouted the sands of Florida for 20 possible locations. All Vimal has to do is pick one. Task On: Another great way to cross off wedding To-Do List items is to hire a TaskRabbit to help plan your honeymoon. Whether you’re looking for Parisian romance, Caribbean beaches, or a relaxing week in wine country, a TaskRabbit can map out plane tickets, bridal suites, and dining options.

Chase down adventures
When TaskPoster Phillip A. decided to book a rafting trip, he wanted to save the adventure for the water, not the event planning. So he hired TaskRabbit Michael H. to gather quotes and details from 5 different tour companies and saved his energy for battling the rapids. It’s the same reason TaskPoster Nathan K. hired Maia S. to find unique adventures along his Australian road trip. He wanted to focus on having a great time with his buddies and gathering stories, not on things like parking regulations and route-mapping. Task On: Who says you have to have time off to take a vacation? Hire a TaskRabbit to help you plan a quick and easy weekend getaway.

Survive festivals and conferences
Ever tried to find a hotel in Indio during the Coachella music festival? It’s not easy. That’s why TaskPoster Jonah P. asked friendly TaskRabbit Melissa R. to dig up some lodging options for him. Hiring TaskRabbit Amy P., who has Park City expertise paid off for TaskPoster Dan F. when he needed to find a house with a hot tub within walking distance of the Sundance Film Festival. Task On: Using a TaskRabbit to help plan a company retreat will assure that everyone in your business gets a break (and no one is stuck figuring out hotel schedules and team building exercises).

Make someone else’s vacation rock
Speaking of awesome working cultures, we couldn’t resist sharing the story of how rad boss James R. used TaskRabbit to surprise an employee with a little vacation bonus. His employee was already on vacation in Greece, so James hired TaskRabbit Stacia R. to figure out how to book a special treat to thank him for a job well done. Task On: Give the gift of awesome to someone you love by hiring a TaskRabbit to plan their dream trip, like maybe a brother who just graduated from college or a sister who dreams of going on a yoga retreat in India.

With TaskRabbit, you can have your cake and free time, too.

Stephanie K. had cake on the brain. Tiny, elegant, orb-shaped cakes, to be precise. As she researched dessert recipes for her husband’s surprise 40th birthday party, she caught wind of the “cake ball” trend. They were everywhere. On Pinterest, on her favorite blogs, and even in wedding magazines, She knew these tiny cake nibbles would be a unique and fun addition to the party, but she also knew she’d never have the time to make them. That’s why she needed Joan C., Boston TaskRabbit and pastry dominator. Joan baked the cake, crumbled it up (we suspect this part was the most fun), mixed in frosting, rolled the dough into tiny balls, and dipped them in chocolate bark. On a separate Task for the party, Joan also helped whip up some bacon-wrapped scallops. With the fancy apps and desserts all taken care of, Stephanie had time to focus on her guests. The result? An awesome 40th birthday for a man with a very wise wife (and plenty of cake).