Laundromats are some of the most successful businesses around the country. It’s easy to see why; everyone needs to do their laundry, but many people don’t have enough room for a washer and dryer in their apartments.
That’s why plenty of entrepreneurs choose to start a laundromat. However, you may not be used to going to a laundromat to do your laundry. Don’t worry; we’ve got some great tips to ensure you can complete this chore in the easiest, quickest, and safest way! Read on if you want the best results with your laundry.
Sort Everything At Home
It doesn’t matter what chore you’re doing — the name of the game is organization. The more organized you are, the less time everything will take. And as a result, you’ll have more time to do the things you like instead of boring stuff like laundry.
So, how do you apply this philosophy to your regular trip to the laundromat? For starters, you must sort all your clothes and other laundry at home. There are two reasons why that’s a good idea — for starters, you have much more room to sort the clothes at home than at the laundromat. As a result, you’ll do it properly, and you won’t have to worry about bumping into other people or their impatience as they wait for you to finish.
On the other hand, sorting your laundry at home also means you’ll spend less time at the laundromat. You can grab a washing machine and start with a load of clothes as soon as you arrive.
Remember, apart from doing your laundry correctly, your main goal is to save time. And here’s a bonus tip for achieving that — always ensure you have the right amount of change. The last thing you want is to realize that the nearby change machine is out of order, and you need to rely on fellow laundromat users to spare some of theirs.
Use Your Detergent
Most of us buy our detergent in bulk — which, in practice, means the largest possible package with the most cost-effective prices. However, that brings us to another issue you may have when you need to go to the laundromat — those packages are too heavy and bulky. Imagine dragging them to the laundromat every time you wash your clothes!
The folks who run laundromats know this, which is why they sell small, single-use packs of detergent. That’s a sucker’s game; it doesn’t seem like it costs a lot, but it’s much more expensive than what you’d pay for the same amount of detergent in a large pack.
So, how do you find an effective middle-ground between saving money and doing something difficult?
Just buy small plastic bags or containers with tight lids; they rarely cost more than a few bucks, and they’ll easily solve your detergent problems! You can take a measuring cup and put the powdered detergent you need for one laundry load into a plastic bag.
On the other hand, you can put fabric softeners and liquid detergents into plastic containers — make sure to seal them tightly. Otherwise, you may accidentally ruin your favorite bag!
Ultimately, the easiest way is to buy single-dose laundry pods and take one each time you visit the laundromat. They’ll be cheaper if you buy them at the store; these days, they also contain fabric softener.
Still, their cost-per-load is higher than with detergent and softener you buy in bulk. However, the pods are unmatched in terms of convenience; avoid buying them at the laundromat.
Check The Machines
If you’ve ever owned a washer and dryer, it’s easy to think of these machines as low-maintenance — they can work properly for years before breaking down. However, that’s when you only use them to wash laundry for a single person or one family at most.
However, that changes when it comes to machines found in the average laundromat. They work non-stop, which means they get a massive workout day in and day out. With that in mind, it’s easy to see how they can malfunction or become dirty much faster than the washer in the average single-family home.
That’s why you should always check a machine at a laundromat before you put any of your clothes in. If all you notice is a little dirt, you could probably give it a quick wipe and deal with the issue yourself. However, if you think it won’t work correctly, find a manager and report the issue to them.
Unfortunately, many laundromats don’t have someone on duty round-the-clock. So, if you’re dealing with a dirty machine, you may have to sort it out yourself.
Still, always check the inside of the machine before using it. People often leave random items in their pockets, which may melt at higher temperatures. Washing machines sometimes melt lipstick tubes and plastic pens accidentally left inside clothing. Be on the lookout for those, and check your laundry to ensure you haven’t left any, either!