How to Survive the Laundromat
Unless you're lucky enough to have an in-home laundry, you're familiar with the workings of the laundromat. Many people find the laundromat a necessity--one that can be frustrating. If a weekly or monthly trip to the laundromat is a fact of your life, these suggestions can reduce the annoyance and maybe even make the trip a bit more pleasant. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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BYOD-Bring your own detergent. Take along supplies like fabric softener sheets, color-safe bleach and a bar of soap for stains. Mini-boxes of laundry products at the laundromat are overpriced.
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Take along twice as many quarters as you plan on using. The machines always seem to eat more quarters than they ought.
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Take plenty of hangers so you can hang your clothes as they come out of the dryer. This saves on ironing time later on.
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Inspect the machines before adding your clothes. Check the washers for paper, tissues, markers and pens. Check dryers for melted crayons and baked-on gum.
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Stagger-start the washer and dryers. That way, they won't all finish at the same time. Sort the laundry at home so you'll have a better idea of how many machines you'll need.
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Add a half-cup of white vinegar to the final rinse of the wash if you notice that the water still looks soapy. The vinegar will neutralize the water.
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Beware puddles and drips on the counters and folding surfaces. They may look innocent, but they could be bleach, which could ruin your clothes.
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Tips & Warnings
Weekends are the most crowded at the laundromat. If you want to avoid the crowds, try going on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Avoid laundromats that have bars and smoking. The smell will permeate your laundry and you'll have to wash everything again.
In some areas of the Deep South, a laundromat is called a "washeteria."
