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

[amaebi]

I used a laundromat in the small college town I taught in and went to church in, so when I went I knew I might well be Somebody's Something suddenly. Also, I had no car, and timed there with a big hiking backpack of laundry on my back. (Always thought that I should charge spectators for tickets as I packed up to bike home from the grocery store.)

I have also seen flirting and a little dancing-- and childcare with and without small children whining, and older children responsibly doing laundry on behalf of parents and family.

[asakiyume]

flirting and dancing, small children, responsible older children ... love it.

It would be very entertaining to watch a person pack up a backpack with either laundry or supermarket purchases! I would be interested in how everything fits in! I myself bring a backpack--just an ordinary one--to the supermarket sometimes. Sometimes I'll load it up as the cashier runs the things through the scanner; other times I bring bags, the cashier puts the stuff in bags, and then I organize them into the backpack afterward.