How do modern laundromats work?

This question positively reeks of privilege. just FYI.

However, if I were you I’d be looking for a laundromat (or service – and if a wash-dry-fold service was available for bedding in my area, I’d definitely pay for that), so I just did a google for “bedding laundromat new jersey” and came up with some likely candidates.

Seriously, for bedding, you don’t want to be worried about folding up your sheets and things in the public area where people have been laying who-knows-what on the little tables that are available there. Find a service who does hospital sheets – if it’s not the local hospital itself – and have them do the work.

I went to a very up-to-date Laundromat several years ago. It required you to purchase a card with money on it from a machine. I bought the card with a debit card. The card was then used to buy time in the machines. The machines were all front loaders and used much less detergent than I was accustomed to.

@CWOTUS I read more privilege in your anxiety over the tables in Laundromats than I do in the OP.

Why does my computer capitalize Laundromats?

@CWOTUS Sorry if my quest for knowledge touches your compassionate snowflake soul. I’m sure I’m not the only Jelly who has had their own washing machine for a number of years.

I can send you some fleas so you can share my privilege! Or better yet, I’ll have my house boy do it

Also, the Laundromat had absolutely enormous machines. One could take the equivalent of 5 loads of laundry.

@Hawaii_Jake Great. Thanks.

Just noticed I put “talking” instead of “taking” my bedding. Oops!

“little roommates”! Haha :)

This was in university housing, so it might be a little different, but it was within the past few years. One year we used separate cards like HJ mentioned, and would pay a block amount upfront via debit cards. Then the university switched so we just used our debit cards in the machines and paid per use. I’d assume many laundromats use card payments of some sort now?

At first, our costs were $1/wash and $0.75/dry. In the last year they added a quarter to the cost, but I can’t remember whether it was on the washer or the dryer. (I didn’t have space to hang dry a load of clothes anyway, so it didn’t wind up mattering much for the final cost.) But the final cost was $2/load to wash and dry.

I’m not sure how the university’s price compares to a laundromat—whether they marked it up or down or kept it the same—but that’s the figure I have. The pricing was also stupid, in that it was $1.75/load when we had to purchase blocks of $5, $10, or $20 to load on a card… Couldn’t ever get all the money off the card. And then it was an even $2/load when we could just pay the amount straight-up.

I believe laundromats typically have heavy duty machines and large-load machines. It may not be every machine, but they should have them. [Just noticed Jake’s second post!]

I went to a laundromat last weekend with my girlfriend (her new washer and dryer are on order). A front loader that held a “double load” was 14 quarters.

And the dryer was 6 minutes for $0.25. It took 42 minutes to dry it all.

I would follow @CWOTUS‘s advice and pay to get all your bedding done by a service.

@CWOTUS, does having access to a washer and dryer equal affluence? And can only the nonaffluent ask for help?

People who own a home/condo usually have a washer/dryer. Does that qualify them to be affluent? But even then they might need to go to a laundromat to wash their comforters and blankets. That’s what we did recently. The guy after us was doing the same thing. He parked his Mercedes next to our VW, so I think he was more affluent than we were.

But to answer the question, we put our clothes in the machine, put detergent in, then put a whole bunch of quarters in. That’s how it works in our N Calif. neighborhood. When we were in France, we put laundry into the machine, went to a central panel and put money into the corresponding slot, then the machine would start.

I’ll be following this Q as my washer is thinking of expiring. And all the good places down by the river are taken up by those less privileged than I. Let me know how you do, @janbb.

The practical answer, it seems to me, would be to phone ahead and ask, or go see what’s there first. They can vary a lot.

—(Jokes about “privilege” suppressed.)

@Zaku I already thought of that and went to one but it had shut down. Have been looking online. Just wanted some additional info of a privileged nature.

Nothing like crowd sourcing so they say.

I love that this Q is getting so much play!

I’m more interested in finding out why my computer capitalizes Laundromat.

@Hawaii_Jake FWIW, my iPhone always writes hotel with a capital H and a circumflex over the “o” as in French.

@janbb, that’s pretty hostile of your phone.
hee hee hee

@canidmajor Was that an inn joke?

Some may call me privileged, but my most up-to-date laundromat experience comes from Italy. Let’s just say that I don’t recommend using the laundromats in Venezia unless you are willing to pay more than it would cost to have someone take you in a boat to the mainland to do your laundry there. The Venetian laundromat I used was unattended and coin operated, but they had a machine which would change Euro notes into metal laundry tokens (or were they Euro coins? I already forget.) Meanwhile, in less touristy locations, there were laundromat attendants who would guard and fold your clothes, for a fraction of the cost in Venezia, even with tip.

Back in the USA, I have also somewhat recently used laundromats, some of which were coin-operated, and some of which had an annoying (ooh, more privilege!) card system that needed to be charged, with an attendant to help with that if needed. Some of them had huge dryers big enough for entire stuffed comforters (privilege?), but others didn’t. Some also had wifi (privilege?)…

@Zaku You had my (privileged?) fantasies going at Venezia – dirty clothes or not!

[Mod Says] Question moved to Social.

There are two different laundromats close to me.

The one I use most often still takes quarters. The machines are sized by weight – the smallest fits 10 lbs of fabric, the largest 150 lbs. The most popular are the 50lb machines.

The other place has its own card system instead of using quarters. You get a card at a kiosk the first time you go in, and put some money on it -either cash or cc/debit. Then you scan your card at each machine to activate it.

I like the quarter method, personally.

@CWOTUS gotta be honest: Having worked as a laundress in a convalescent facility, I find it hilarious that you’re suggesting a hospital laundry service as a more sanitary alternative to folding your own blankets because of the germs on a table.

@janbb @canidmajor I don’t think fluther accommodates lodging puns…

@zenvelo There’s a room for all types in the mansion.

@zenvelo I did have some reservations about making that remark.

Depends on the laundromat. If it’s updated it likely makes you buy a card to use in the machines, and you purchase the card with your credit card. Some you can put your credit card directly in the machine.

There are still machines around that take quarters though. Maybe you can call a contact number ahead of time and ask?

Many laundromats have high capacity washers. Not all.

The dryers can be tricky. Some you need to add extra minutes while the dryer is still drying. If you need an extra five minutes, because your clothes aren’t quite dry, and you miss your chance, you’ll be buying 20 minutes again to start the dryer going. Other dryers you can buy small increments at any time, even when first starting the dryer.

Some machines you can’t open once they start so be sure you’re completely ready to start when you start the machine.

I second @Muad_Dib on hospital laundry thing. There are chances of getting multiple types of germs in one go if you like..)

Hospital sheets and blankets are washed in so much bleach they disintegrate after a few weeks.

You do not want your blanket anywhere near any surface those blankets came in contact with before their bleach baths.

I did laundry today at Emerald Laundry. Love that place. While the sign says you can’t drink while you wait for your laundry they don’t care. And free wifi!

The machines still take quarters which is fantastic since I have a ton of quarters. And they have huge machines for washing. They are expensive but I could probably fit my mattress in the biggest machine.

My apartment building actually has the card machines in them. Here is a fun fact nobody told me when I moved in. Say you put 100 dollars on the card (which I did) they expire the credits after 30 days, I thought it would last me the year. 100 bucks for 3 loads. So now I use the laundromat 5 blocks away that takes quarters.

edit :: And bonus… Solar Powered

The one near me takes quarters, but the change machine can take bills or a credit card.
I am very poor, and on a fixed income, but I do have a washer and dryer in my basement.
I still need the laundromat sometimes.

Laundromat!?!
What is this thing you speak of?
Sounds like the order one gives to the scullery maid to wash one’s persian tiger rug.

@ucme now that reeks of privelege!

@CWOTUS I hope the landau that I lent my house boy to bring the fleas has arrived by now. The acrobats in the circus were particularly eager to perform for you!

As the Mexican gentleman said menacingly when he checked into the Holiday Inn, “If you put any sheets on my bed, then I keel you.”

Fro that jibe, I have to haul you over the stern.

The last time I used coin machines was in a hotel about a year ago. The washer was $2.50 and the dryer was about $1.50 -+ $.25.

So, Little Penguin, did you unravel the mysteries of the modern laundromat?

@canidmajor I ran away for a week. Just got back. No bites in my bed last night but might have gotten one in my office. If so, will flea bust here tomorrow.

BUST THOSE FLEAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Definitely bites again. It is so frustrating. Office today and we’ll see about bedding next.

There is one public launderette left in the town where I live (pop 40,000). You can do it yourself there, or they can do it for you, and they can also collect. Staff are there to help you and offer advice, if you need it. I believe the machines take coins, but you can also pay the staff. The machines are fully automatic and have a drying cycle and onboard computer, like other washing machines. They also have a vending machine which sell small packets of detergent, if you forget your own. Everyone I know owns their own fully automatic washing/drying machine, and some people with large families have two. All of these machines have onboard computers and extensive control panels, and some are connected to the internet, so they can be remotely controlled and presumably surf if they’re bored. Mine has AI which likes me to selected a traditional wash program, then works out which clothes I’ve put in and selects a wash program based on that. It also prefers to wash with cold water despite having a functional boiler, which I usually subvert by running a hose from the hot water tap to the detergent drawer. It doesn’t expect this to happen, so usually thinks there’s water left in the drum from the last load and uses that. But sometimes it notices and empties the hot water I’ve put in out then adds more cold water. I’m considering mediation.