Have you ever been to a laundromat? Or are you a first timer? Not sure how to do laundry when visiting a laundromat? I can tell you that my first time going to a laundromat was actually a bit intimidating. I wasn’t exactly sure what to do, and what the ‘rules’ were that I should follow. Well, lucky for you, I am going to impart my wisdom onto you and share the tips and tricks of the joys of getting your laundry done at a laundromat.
1. First things first, you want to find a place that is not only convenient, but clean. Enter Clean Waves Laundromat in Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA. This place definitely lives up to its name. The locations are steps to the beach, and the place is clean and inviting. If you haven’t tried this place yet, you should.
Now, what to do once you’re standing inside of Clean Waves with your dirty clothes.
2. Well, speaking of those dirty clothes, my first bit of advice would be to do your best to sort your loads at home. No one wants to be in public separating their underwear from their jeans. Do yourself a favor and learn from my mistakes on this one. Separate anything you want washed separately at home so you can just throw your clothes into the washer as soon as you arrive.
3. So now that you’re putting your dirty clothes into the washer, keep in mind that there are different sized machines for a reason. If you overload one of the smaller machines, you’ll end up with a load of clothes that didn’t get washed well. You could also damage the machine which wouldn’t be good. It’s a lose-lose situation. Choose the larger machine and everyone wins – especially you who gets to bring home clean clothes to wear.
4. It’s true, they have laundry detergent and supplies to wash your clothes at Clean Waves Laundromat and likely other laundromats as well. In a pinch, it works and it’s there if you need it. However, I don’t think you should make this your routine. If possible, bring your own detergent to the laundromat. You will know that the one you are using is agreeable with your skin and works the way you like it.
5. Ok, you got the clothes into the washing machine and you have your detergent with you. Nice job! Now it’s time to add the detergent. Trust me on this one, more isn’t more when it comes to detergent. Most people use WAY too much and all that does is leave your clothes with a soapy residue. Read the bottle for directions. I know it sounds crazy, but you’d be surprised at how little you actually need to use! You can save yourself time and money by simply using the proper amount.
6. You’re on your way to a clean wardrobe! There’s a lot you can be doing while your laundry is washing. If possible, stay with your clothes and bring things to do while they are washing and drying. A few ideas might be catching up on emails, placing your grocery pick-up order, and paying bills. Any laundromat I’ve ever been to is not responsible for any lost items. It’s best to stick around and make sure everything goes smoothly. Besides, since you can get all of your loads done at once, you’ll be done in no time!
7. Dryer time. Get your clothes into the dryer for the last part of this process. Keep in mind the same holds true for overloading the dryer as it does for the washer. You can stick a large load into one dryer, but you can also expect it to take a really long time to dry. Save yourself the time and use a few dryers if you have a large load or several loads. Also, be sure the lint trap is clean before you start the dryer. If it isn’t, clean it out. Leaving it full of lint will only delay the drying time.
8. Last step! Make sure you take everything with you! Double check those washers and dryers to make sure you grabbed every last sock. Then, check those lint traps and clean them out before leaving. The next customer will appreciate your kindness.
You did it! You made it through your first trip to the laundromat like a star! Pretty easy, right? Now get those clothes home and put them away.
