When you move to the city, you may not have the money or the space for your own washing machine setup in your apartment. Some apartment buildings have their own laundry rooms and appliances, but there’s no telling if you can secure accommodations in such a residence. This is unfortunate given that an average family in America does between 8 and 10 loads of laundry a week.
Luckily, there are plenty of 24-hour laundromats in cities you can go to whenever you have to do your laundry.
Below are eight simple tips on how you can make the most out of your visit to a 24-hour laundromat.
- Do Your Delicates at Home
Underwear and other delicate pieces of laundry should be done at home, where you have more control over the circumstances. Silk scarves, lace handkerchiefs and similar pieces of clothing can also be easily lost in a laundromat. Better to wash them in your kitchen or bathroom sink and hang them up on a small clothesline or clothes rack. This way you can be sure they’re washed properly without ruining them and that they won’t get misplaced.
- Carry Some Detergent and Cleaners
Not every laundromat you go to will have the laundry detergent, fabric softener and bleach you’re used to. This is particularly challenging if you have a lot of allergies or if your skin is easily irritated by strong chemicals. It’s prudent and cost-effective if you bring your own laundry detergents and other laundry chemicals. Be sure to put them in travel sized containers so you don’t have to bring the entire jug or bag with you down to the laundromat.
- Always Check the Machine
People can be very forgetful or distracted, especially if they’re in a busy laundromat. This makes it easy for people to leave some of their items behind in washing machines or dryers. This can be as simple as an embarrassingly leaving behind their socks or underwear to something as frustrating as a tube of lip gloss. You can save yourself a lot of frustration by not simply dumping your clothes in the first available machine and looking through it very carefully. A quick rinse cycle will also ensure that there are no extra bleach or detergent lurking in the machine when you use it.
- Bring Entertainment
Two loads of laundry will take you almost an hour to wash and dry. This can get tedious if you have to rely on the laundromat’s television or magazines for entertainment. Bring your own books, magazines and remember to bring a fully charged phone with a power bank. All these things will hep you stay entertained while your clothes are in the wash.
- Clean the Lint Tray
Finally, make sure to clean out the lint tray before and after you use a machine. This ensures that the drying cycle goes smoothly and uses less electricity. Its also more sanitary to dry your clothes in a machine with a clear lint tray. Remember to wear gloves when you do to keep your hands clean.
Laundromats can be a trial to navigate if you’re new to the city. This guide can help you make sure your trips to the laundromat are quicker and easier.
