Laundromat

[asakiyume]

I like laundromats; I always have. Even having my own washing machine, there are times when I've needed to use a laundromat. Last weekend my dad and I had to use the laundromat in his town because his ancient (dating to my childhood) washing machine had finally given up the ghost.

The laundromat in his town--well, one of them; a woman I talked to in it said there was at least one other--is very cute. Behold: device to help you get into bleach containers. (We didn't need this as we brought our own detergent and didn't use bleach, in any case, but it was good to know it existed)



Olde-style art:





Helpful cleaning tips:



Humor about cleaning symbols (above the driers):



And who knew that this particular method of inserting coins was called "Vendmaster" or that it was made by a company called "Vend-Rite"?



In the laundromat that day was a mother/grandmother/guardian and a little girl: the woman was crocheting a blanket as she waited. Also some older men (not as old as my dad, though), plus some twenty-somethings. No one was chatting with each other, but I had a companionable feeling, doing the same task side by side with other people. It was like being part of a flock, or at the very least like wandering through one.

How do you feel about laundromats? Are there any spaces like a laundromats that you enjoy?

Comments

[pameladean]

I too hate laundromats. It goes against every instinct to lug a lot of heavy laundry out of the house, especially over icy sidewalks and snowbanks, take it somewhere else, and use up a bunch of coins that had to be specially acquired because I don't ever go anywhere and spend cash anymore, when I could be home doing laundry at my own pace while writing or making dinner or shovelling snow. Laundromat time isn't exactly wasted, because the laundry has to be done, but it should be doubly-employed because so much of it, fortunately on the whole, is hands-off.

Also I hate the seating, it's never comfortable; and I hate vying for dryers and flat spaces and carts and everything else.

I was actually relieved when the pandemic and my vulnerabilities meant that I really should not even consider using a laundromat. Our washer broke two weeks ago, and the first repair appointment available was on the 23rd. For the first time in a while I was glad that one of my partners can't live with the rest of us, because I went over to his place -- still having to lug everything over ice and snow -- and did enough loads to tide us over. So to speak.

I used to like the steamy soapy clean smell of laundromats, but I never liked the seating or the crowds. Or getting the change.

P.

[asakiyume]

Yeah, negotiating the ice and cold would be a big detractor: I used to have that when we lived in an apartment complex... but not really--it was just a matter of going across a courtyard, not like having to walk a block or two in the cold.

How old is your washer? My dad's probably dates from the 80s. Well, the one that broke was. Now he has a new one.

P.S.

[asakiyume]

(I feel like I'm using this as a focus session for creating a pleasant laundromat)

Imagine if someone invested in comfortable chairs in the laundromat! But I guess there'd still be the matter of its being an establishment where everyone comes in and out, and it would be hard to keep things clean and so on ...

... But I mean, cafés can have comfortable chairs and that's not a problem, so why not laundromats? Hmmmm.

Re: P.S.

[ironymaiden]

There used to be a comfy hangout laundromat in Pittsburgh. There was one with a bar in Seattle when I first moved here

Re: P.S.

[asakiyume]

Excellent! One day I'll do a Good Laundromat tour.