for those of us whose homes are too small or too old to have washrooms within them, a good laundromat can often come in handy. our current place is actually our first home that hasn’t had a washer and dryer within, or at least a place to hookup your own washer and dryer. i think it goes without saying but this new routine has taken us a bit of getting used to. if you are new to laundromats like us, here are a few tips i have learned that have helped make the adjustment slightly easier.
+ have quarters or small bills on hand. there is nothing worse than unloading all your laundry at the laundromat only to realize you’ve forgotten change for the machines.
+ bring your own detergent and dryer sheets. we’ve found not buying the small packets they offer onsite can help save money in the long run. plus, i love keeping our clothes smelling like the scent we’ve grown used to.
+ bring something to do. bring a magazine, a deck of cards or game to play (we like skip-bo), a laptop to work on, anything to stay busy and pass the time.
+ fold your laundry there instead of at home. after our laundry is finished, i like to fold it as i’m putting it back into our basket straight from the dryer. this way, when i get home, clothing can go right from the basket to being put away without trying to find space to fold it in our tiny room.
what are your laundromat tricks?
What an awesome post – I have a laundry unit in my building but sometimes I'm always looking for ways to kill time when I get there too early (need to avoid having my things taken out). Thanks for sharing! x, kat
Love and Ace
TOTE GIVEAWAY!
I always love your photo's! I'd say all those tips were pretty spot on! I found that our laundromat trips were a really good time for us to just talk. They became sort of like a mini date for us during our busy work week. Does that sound really sad?
-Steph
I thankfully have a washer and dryer in my apartment, but I've always wondered what one should do with clothing that should be line dried when you have to use a laundromat. Is it feasible to just bring it home wet and hang it up somewhere, or do you just use the dryer on a low setting?
I just moved to an apartment without a laundry unit (all my previous have had one in the building) and have had to figure out an answer to that pretty quickly. After they've been washed, I fold up the clothes that have to be line dried (to avoid wrinkles) and put in a plastic bag, so they don't get my other dry clothes wet. When I get home, I hang them up wherever I have space…. soon I'll have to invest in a drying rack. I suppose that some items you could use the dryer on a low setting, though.
this is an awesome post 😀
http://littlemisstwiggy.blogspot.com/
go to a friend/parent/sister house on sunday & kill two birds.
do your best to never let the laundry get past one load.
organize clothes well … have some clothes that can be worn around the house over and over, have hang up-go to work-clothes that need to be dry cleaned, have other clothes in other piles that can be worn more than once, but not much more than that. if you know what you can wear how often and separate the clothes in that manner, things become easier.
I used to take a book or magazine along with me everytime I used the laundromat at uni.. or something to work on. Failing that it was usually a pretty good place to just have a chat with a friend without any distractions x
Your photo skills make laundromats look charming.
I need to apply some of these tips to my own in-home laundry habits. I'm terrible.
Lauren @ inbetweenidols
I don't have any tips to add but I wanted to say the photography is awesome.
Man, this post makes me want to use a laundromat. It seems like a good time to put priorities first and get work done if it is something like finishing a blog post or doing homework. I love this series on dwelling small, you have great insight into these things and it makes for a simpler life.
-Courtney
I remember those days. Sometimes I wouldn't want to go so I would wash clothes in the bathtub at home… not the best idea. I like the routine you have going. Something like this would have been much better than my using the bathtub. Great post!
this makes laundromats look glamorous!
kw, ladies in navy
I liked going to the laundromat, minus the $$, it all gets dome at once! The thing I always did was after I put all my clothes in the washers I would drive down the street and wash my car, by the time I was done so were my clothes. Then I would pop them in the dryer and either read a book, or sit in my car and talk to friends and family on the phone.
So funny, I think almost nobody in Holland use laundromat. We have them only in the biggest cities.
I love the idea of folding laundry as you take them out of the dryer! Because usually for me, clothes that stay in the basket goes without folding for a couple days, so sad to say.
Strangest thing ever, considering its such a strange thing to post about, my friend and I just did a post about laundry over on our blog today too!
Weird.
Leah
e-plus-l.blogspot.com
Great tips. Love these photos. We have been fortunate to have access to a washer/dryer, but sure that if we move, we will find ourselves in this situation.
Bring my own soda and snacks! I have spent way too much on soda and the snack machines there!
Sarah=)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/owleyevintage
I love the idea of making it a date, brining cards and games. I often go and leave frustrated I've accomplished nothing or am bored. That is a good way to make it a fun part of daily life.
tellingoceans.com
I do this at college, obviously. I'm always such a mess. I have so many things that say "hand wash only" or "dry clean only" and I do it! And it's annoying.
Valentina
Valentina Duracinsky
I think it's kind of amazing that you make something like going to a laundromat seem like this wonderful, charming little adventure.
Cute blog, but um.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/washroom
A "washroom" is a lavatory.
You're making me miss having to go to the laundromat like we did in college. My (now) husband and I had good times waiting for clothes!