Questions about using a laundromat

**Darlene** · 04-06-2010, 07:34 AM

Our washer died (new one is going to be delivered in a couple weeks) and we will need to lug our laundry to the laundromat for the first time in 25 years. How much does it cost for a wash and how long does the cycle take? Glad I can bring it home to dry so I don't have to spend $ on that. Any more tips? :thanks:

**Linus** · 04-06-2010, 08:11 AM

I've been using laundry mats for the last 15-20 years. Cost can range between a $1-1.50. Each wash takes about 30 min. And yes, you can bring the wash home to air dry if you want. I would suggest visiting the place first to get a feel for it. Some places will even offer detergent for free (a big garbage bin full of it).

My tricks: always come when the place opens. This means that there are fewer people and you are more likely to get the newer washers/dryers.

Get a roll of quarters before getting there (go to the local bank and get a roll there). Although some places provide quarters, I always prefer to get my own before hand.

Bring a book to read. Never leave the premises while the clothes are in the wash or drying.

Bring giant plastic garbage bags to put the clothes into after they have spun. You may want to try to wring more water out before putting them into the bag (if the place has a large sink try that). Do NOT put the clothes on the counter.

HTH

**Josephhgoins** · 04-06-2010, 08:13 AM

just a suggestion, but do you think you have a neighbor that may let you use theirs? When mine died that is what I did. I would fix dinner and bring it over for both of us and we would watch a movie while the clothes were washing.

I figure I broke even with the cost of the laundromat and the food I cooked, but I enjoyed the time MUCH more than going to the laundry.

Also, I only washed what I had to to get by. I let the towels pile up as well as some of my clothes. Then I caught back up when I got the washer.

**Grainlady** · 04-06-2010, 09:20 AM

Eons ago, when we used a laundromat, I would flat-fold the laundry WET from the washer and place them back into the plastic laundry baskets and take them home and hang them on the line. Laying things flat and smoothing out as many wrinkles as possible while they are still wet will help keep a lot of the wrinkles out of them while you transport them back home. I also put like-kinds of things together in the basket. That way I hang like-kinds of things together so when I take it off the line I can quickly fold each piece and place it in the basket as I take it off the line.

Even after I had a washer I would wash clothes at night, flat-fold it while wet and place it in the baskets and take it out with the first light the next morning and hang it on the line.

Anything that normally hangs on a hanger, would also be placed on a hanger - wet. If there are wrinkles in the clothes you want to hang on hangers to dry, spritz it with warm water and smooth with your hands. That's the frugal answer to Wrinkle Releaser....

**Lady_V** · 04-06-2010, 09:28 AM

I think the cost varies by location and machine size... in my complex, it is 1.25 to wash... but go up to the corner and it's $2 for a 'normal machine'.

When I had to use the corner place, I opted for the bigger machines which cost $5.00, but could hold 50 pounds of laundry. That came in handy when we had the flood and I had a LOT to wash.

I second the 'don't touch the counter'! You don't even want to know what I have seen on some of them... but I will remind you... some people have put their dirty, nasty clothes on them BEFORE they washed them...

**Contrary Housewife** · 04-06-2010, 12:19 PM

I second Linus' comments. Let me add, always have extra quarters, sometimes machines jam or eat your coins and you may not be able to get a refund.

The costs vary depending on how much money the owner wants to make. They can do things like adjust dry cycle times to be very short, so it may cost you 50c, but you have to feed it for an hour because it only runs 10 mins.

Wet laundry is heavy. Even a brief tumble can lighten the load to make it easier to get it home where you can hang it to finish.

Take a book, but stay alert to your surroundings. Keep an eye on your purse, lock it in the car, or better yet only take your license and the cash you need.

Use liquid detergent. Some places have the water temp turned down and it won't get hot enough to completely dissolve powdered soap.

Make sure the machine you use is clean before you put clothes in. Just run your hand on the inside.

You might want a pack of wet wipes to clean your hand of any sticky residues you encounter. Laundry-mats are really pretty dirty places.

**Darlene** · 04-06-2010, 12:37 PM

Wow you all rock! You brought up a bunch of things I wouldn't have thought of. :good:
I want to do our laundry at the inlaws but Jack doesn't want to "bother" them or anyone with our dirty laundry. How goofy. I told him we'd let them do theirs here if they needed.."What's the prob Bob?!"

**frugalfranny** · 04-06-2010, 04:13 PM

There are so many great tips here that I can't think of a single thing to add........

GREAT TIPS! But I knew there would be from the great FV people.

It was said once....but WATCH YOUR PURSE! I will go to mine to wash very heavy quilts and my purse never comes off from around my neck....but I am not messing with lots of clothes.

Good luck and hope you get your 'home laundry' back soon.

**lparker** · 04-06-2010, 04:49 PM

If your laundromat has the large front-loaders and you have enough clothes for a full load...go for it. You use less than half of the detergent you'd normally use for twice or better the amount of clothes. You'll save money in the long run, and the spin-dry is fantastic.

**baxjul** · 04-06-2010, 05:10 PM

I would go to the inlaws. I just don't think I could wash my clothes, where millions of "others" germs have been before.

**shoiji** · 04-06-2010, 05:36 PM

I second the front loading washers. Definately go when the laundromat first opens. It will make the whole experience much more enjoyable and you are not fighting for a machine. You can load the car the night before. When I used to walk to the laundromat I would stop off and get some breakfast and eat it there while the clothes were washing while reading the paper. Some places have a tv to watch. Have seen people spray the washers with lysol before using them also. Now I use the laundry room and just walk back and forth from my apartment.

**triker** · 04-06-2010, 05:53 PM

Darlene

I finally got a new energy efficient washer and dryer after 5 years of taking clothes to a laundrymat.. The amount it cost usually depends on the place you go. in my area it costs $2- $2.50 to wash and it takes around 45 minutes if I remember correctly. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

If no one has heard I would say to the families of the mining accident in Raleigh Co, West Virginia, I feel for you. It is asked that people in West Virginia and other states leave their lights on overnight in honor of the families and the miners to show our support. Thanks.:

At the two laundrymats nobody messed with your clothes while they were washed but only when dry. I used to always get quarters at the laudrymat, a car wash or my workplace. Another good tip is if you see someone just finished with a dryer try to get that one, your clothes will dry quicker because it is already hot.

**Libby** · 04-13-2010, 01:10 AM

The price where my ex used to go (dodgy kinda area of town but the laundromat was decent) $1.75/wash & $1.25 to dry. The max drying time was never long enough. We found that we had to add addt'l quarters or take home to hang dry on a rack to get rid of that last lil bit of dampness - and we didn't crowd the unit either. The HE models cost about $1 more - prob b/c they were new at the laundromat.

DF's old apt bldg charged $1.50 to wash and $1.25 to dry but again - dryer wasn't as hot as it could be.

I second all the tips already posted and my ex used to bring Lysol wipes for the counters for when he folded his clothes and the chair he sat on while reading/watching tv. That laundromat did have a coupon wall though which was pretty cool...we'd take some and put some back up

PS: NEVER use the baskets provided either - ick! And bring snacks/drinks and remember to piddle before you go...trust me, you never want to see or use the 'public' restroom(s) provided LOL

**imagine** · 04-13-2010, 05:16 PM

Some laundry mats are attended, meaning they have a live person on premise watching and keeping the place clean. Almost all of the ones I have been to are this way, in three different cities

I tend to watch tv while there (they had cable). If you were the first person there or had children with you then they often gave you the remote to pick the channel.

Everything was clean as they washed down counters baskets ect. often.

They often had snack machines. That was hard for the children to not want something when they were there for so long. So we either agreed on what they could have before hand or stopped for breakfast or lunch on the way over.

If other children were there they often played with those children. It was amazing even if they spoke different languages they figured out how to play together.

Always check your washer well to make sure you took everything out of it. The attendants or the next to use the washer often asked me if something was ours because I tended to leave stuff in the washer especially the high spin front loader washers.