How long laundromat

The added bonus of keeping your dryer loads small: Not only will your clothes dry more evenly, but they'll also dry more efficiently. The two most common laundry headaches both involve overloading the washer, either with too many clothes or with too much detergent.

We just covered clothing overload, so now let's talk about suds. Method Products Inc. While some pour until the liquid reaches the fill line and others just eyeball it, we're more likely to err on a surplus measurement than a scant one [source: Byron ]. It seems so obvious: The more soap you use, the cleaner your clothes will be.

Except that's not actually the truth. As it turns out, you need water but you don't necessarily need laundry detergent. The washer's agitation is often powerful enough to clean your clothes [source: Byron ].

Too much laundry detergent in a washer load can actually lead to soapy residue on your clothing. The problem arises because too much soap makes too much foamy water, and any bacteria and dirt that is washed out of the clothes as they're cleaned ends up suspended in the suds, and then coating your clothes as they're rinsed.

An average cycle in the washing machine lasts between 25 to 40 minutes. Expect each dryer cycle to last about the same length or a little longer, 30 to 40 minutes. If you simply can't wait the half hour and plan to abandon your station to run an errand, make a note of the time you started your load most laundromat machines have timers and plan your return to coincide with its completion. Even better, come back a few minutes early. This, according to mostly unspoken shared laundry-room etiquette, is important.

Leaving your clothes unattended is considered rude because you're monopolizing machines. Anecdotally, odds are pretty good that if you don't move your clothes, someone else will — they may give you a brief grace period, but any longer than 15 minutes and you can expect to find your clean load on top of the machine, in a dryer or on a folding table.

Or, on a particularly bad day, on the floor. If you're a wash-and-go type, leave your basket on top of the machine. It's not only that unattended clothes waiting for an owner wastes everyone's time; unwatched clothes are also a target for thieves.

Laundromats are public spaces, and if you're not watching your clothes, someone else might be. It's not always the dryer to blame for eating the sock you lost; sometimes you just leave it behind.

Be sure to double-check inside both the washing machine and the dryer when you're coming and going from the machines.

You're looking for pieces of clothing that you don't want to leave behind, but also items that other launderers may have abandoned before you. If you've left your sock behind, the odds are good you'll never be reunited — and someone may be cursing your penchant for colorful socks if your laundry orphan discolors his or her load.

If it's your white or light-colored clothing that becomes tinted with dye from another laundromat patron's renegade red, all hope is not lost. First, don't put the wet, tinted items in the dryer; just like when you're treating stains , avoid those high temperatures to help avoid letting the stain — or dye — set. Instead, place all articles of clothing that are safe to bleach which excludes leather , mohair, silk, spandex and wool in a diluted bleach solution.

Then rinse, and repeat the process if needed. Laundry detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets , bleach and other basic laundry supplies are often available via vending machine at the laundromat, but it's an unspoken rule that you're supposed to bring your own. Pro tip: Liquid fabric softener will soften your blankets better than dryer sheets. There is no rule that you need to lug those large containers back and forth, though.

Lighten your load by filling smaller, laundromat-friendly containers to carry everything you need without feeling like a pack mule. You're also going to save money by purchasing full-size supplies and portioning them out instead of buying the single-use items available at the laundromat.

You can also use one of the many recipes available online to make your own detergent to take with you. And remember: You need less than you probably think. I happen to have a great laundromat nearby, but not everyone does. If your closest one is not satisfactory, you can use the following criteria——plus whatever else is important to you——to check out alternatives.

Do a search online for "laundromat, your city" or open a mapping app and do a search there. Mine just showed me four locations nearby, but the one I use was not one of them. Look for the three or four most promising. Location, neighborhood, and nearby shops can all be determined via online mapping.

Public transportation access can be too. Create a chart like the one below, choose the day you're most likely to go, then go there physically on that day to check them out. You can make a chart like this one to compare laundromats, if you can't decide just by looking. It makes you think about what is most important to you. You can add anything to your list that you want to. For example, if you like to smoke, you'll want a location to do that.

Those will be the pluses. You'll also want to look for potential minuses, like the following. The occasional spill is fine, but if multiple machines look like this every time you go, it's an indication that the owner doesn't clean very often.

Let's say you found a good laundromat and now you're noticing problems. Every good laundromat posts a phone number or two that you can call for machine breakdowns, major spills, coin losses, or other problems related to laundromat maintenance. If you have problems with other patrons rare, in my experience you can call or the police, then just don't go there again.

Sometimes you'll see parents dealing roughly with their children or not disciplining them at all. It's really tempting to interfere and berate the parent, but that would only make things worse. What I usually do is look for an opportunity to chat up the child to make it more fun for them.

Sometimes the parent "gets it," but that's not the reason I do it. Frankly, I do it to make myself feel better. If it's really bad, I leave and go somewhere else, or bury myself in a book.

Again, this hardly ever happens. Most of the time being in a laundromat is quite uneventful and peaceful, and sometimes it's downright interesting.

If you've had interesting experiences too, feel free to share them below. If not yet, I wish you luck in finding a laundromat that's just right for you. Answer: Well, clearly I wasn't talking about ten year old machines. I wasn't even talking about used ones. Machines that old use a lot more electricity and water than the new ones do, so they're not particularly efficient as well, and I'm all about efficiency. However, I just looked up prices for and, yeah, it looks like the minimum I stated is more like an average price.

I'll change it. Answer: As far as I know, it doesn't. If you're referring to laundromat water, most laundromats use water once, then schlep it into the storm drain and feed every wash with new, potable water. It's a terrible waste. Thankfully, there are new technologies being developed that would help laundromats recycle and reuse their wash water. Here is an interesting article by Treehugger:. I use a laundromat when I travel and the hotel laundry prices are too high.

I usually get bored at these places and find it hard to enjoy myself. Reading is a good idea. I appreciate your pointers and will use them the next time I am in search of a laundromat. Cynthia - Thanks for your and others' commendation. In answer to your question, most people with washers at home, when they need something washed in a rush, will throw it into the washer and start it going, even when the washer is not at all full.

I've never seen anyone do that in a laundromat. When you use a laundromat, you make sure you have enough dirty clothes to fill the washer. That uses wisely both water and the energy it takes to heat it. It has been some time since I've been to a laundromat. You've shared some good tips here. Where I live, there are many people who still wash their clothes by hand in a sink or a large plastic bowl.

Your article includes so much more than simply how to operate a washer and dryer. A great contribution to your sustainable articles. This article was a delight to read with tons of good information for those of us who probably have a laundering history speckled with laundromat nostalgia and currently exploring sustainability in general while pondering the soon-demise of the old Maytags.

Home Appliances. Air Conditioners. Water Heaters. Selecting the right washer is as simple as trying it on for size. If you put the comforter into the washer and you find yourself using your shoulder in order to get the door shut, you probably ought to use a larger washer. On the other hand, our front load washers actually work better when they are more than half full.

Home FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions What are your store hours? Last load in by pm. Is there someone to help me if I have a question or a problem? How long does it take? If the appliance is stained or dirty or not working correctly, be a good Samaritan and clean it up or at least report the problem to the manager.

Look inside appliances , too. You never know what the last person left in the washer or dryer. Not everyone is considerate. You may find a tube of lipstick that was left in a pocket and then gets left in the dryer or washer.

It's worth a few extra seconds to check before you have to deal with the aftermath. You may also find leftover clothing. Just one red sock can turn an entire load of clothes pink. Remove the clothing and leave it in the laundromat's lost and found bin. One last tip, look at the settings on the machine before you hit start.

The last thing you need is a load of delicate lingerie traveling through hot water and the heavy-duty cycle that the last person used. Before you start the dryer make sure the lint trap is clean. You'll prevent fires and your clothes will dry faster, saving you money. Find a warm dryer because starting with a dryer that is already warm will get those clothes done more quickly.

As you load the clothes into the dryer, fluff each piece of clothing by giving it a quick shake. The clothes will dry more quickly and with fewer wrinkles. Be sure you get everything in the dryer before you start it up. Opening and closing the door loses heat and time. Now that you've spent all that money and time getting those clothes dry, be sure they arrive home that way. Keep a large black plastic bag with your laundry supplies just in case you encounter rain on the way home.

Smartphone and other mobile device laundry applications can help you find a laundromat, translate care labels, and treat stains with helpful tips.