Laundromat Near Me Open 24 Hours? All Answers

Have you ever been annoyed by another customer at the laundromat? At The Folde, we know that the laundromat may not be everyone’s ideal place. However, we could all make the laundromat more comfortable for ourselves and our neighbors by following simple laundromat etiquette.

Below are three golden rules of laundromat etiquette to follow to make your next visit to the laundromat enjoyable for everyone.

1. Cleaning up after yourself is proper laundromat etiquette

While most modern laundromats are manned by staff who help keep the laundromat clean, cleaning up after yourself helps. If you spill fabric softener on the floor, wipe it up! If you use dryer sheets when drying your clothes, throwing them away instead of leaving them scattered on the floor will help the next person using the dryers. If you ever need help cleaning up, ask the attendant for help or just let them know something needs cleaning.

The laundromat is a public space! Having a sense of pride and ownership of your local laundromat is an important part of keeping it clean and well maintained. Cleaning up after yourself is part of good laundromat etiquette.

2. Do not leave clothes unattended after washing/drying

Nobody wants to be the person who removes their clothes from the machine when left unattended. Proper laundromat etiquette is to simply set a timer on your phone for your load to cycle. Laundromat cycles typically last 20-40 minutes. You might have enough time to go and run a few errands and be back in time to put your laundry in the dryer or pack up. Don’t expect someone else to put your clothes in the dryer for you. In fact, most orders left unattended are moved out of the way by an attendant to make room for the next customer in line at the laundromat.

At The Folde, orders that go unattended for an extended period of time are recorded in our Lost & Found inventory and put out of the way. This creates space for other customers. If you come back and your clothes are gone, ask the employee to look up your order in our Lost & Found inventory system. You get your clothes back. But there is a $10 fee…

Conversely, if no other machines are available and you find yourself in the situation of having to put someone’s clothes away after waiting patiently for at least five minutes for them to be returned, contact the laundromat attendant. Do your best not to handle other laundromat customers’ laundry—that’s bad laundromat etiquette.

Do not place your load in the dryer as there is a risk of misplacing items or doing something undesirable to your load.

3. Avoid excessive use of detergent, bleach or fabric softener

No, excessive amounts of liquid personal care products such as detergent, bleach and fabric softener will not make our clothes cleaner and/or softer. In fact, too much detergent can have the opposite effect. If there is too much suds in the cycle, the suds will actually prevent dirt, dust and grime from being properly rinsed out.

In addition to trapping all the dirt in your clothes, it also causes headaches for the next person in line who needs to clean the sticky residue from inside the machine, and they might have allergies to the smell of your products, or the smell of yours dislike products.

Bleach in particular has a high risk of permanently contaminating the next user’s color load. Unconvinced? Using too much detergent or other liquids can soil your clothes, pose a safety hazard and wear out machines over time.

Proper laundromat etiquette is to use the right amount of detergent, fabric softener and solvent!

Doing laundry is a chore that is most feared. If we don’t have the luxury of an endless wardrobe, we need to do it at least once a week. Families and couples could increase this frequency to avoid heaps indoors.

One reason many of us shy away from our laundry chores is time. The average wash cycle takes at least half an hour. Dryers, whenever used, can double or triple that time. That’s a big commitment, especially during the work week. So the last thing you want is to get stuck between machines. But to avoid queues and waiting, you need to pick a quiet time and claim your spot.

Regular versus 24 hour laundromat service

The opening hours of your laundromat affect its utilization. The number of local laundromats and the population density of the area can also affect wait times. As such, figuring out the ideal time to visit may take some trial and error. Nevertheless, here are a few rules of thumb.

A 24-hour service is least busy outside of regular business hours (i.e., after 10:00 p.m. and before 7:00 a.m.).

Weekends draw the biggest crowds, especially in the mornings.

Monday to Friday after work (6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) and during lunchtime (12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.).

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the busiest working days, so no laundry is done there.

A final courtesy note

Watch out for other washing machines during busy times. Do not occupy machines longer than necessary. Also, keep your clutter to a minimum. Any laundry baskets or supplies you bring with you should be put out of the way of other people.

The truth about cleanliness and hygiene in laundromats

Laundromats are a place where dirt and cleanliness meet. They come in with a load of dirty laundry; You leave with fresh, clean clothes. But are your clothes really clean?

It is normal to assume that laundry and cleaning facilities are hygienic. Finally, washing machines and dryers are often exposed to water and detergents, both of which are cleaning agents. However, you never know what the person before you washed in the same machine you use and if there is residual dirt and bacteria as a result.

However, that does not mean that all public laundries are unsanitary. In that case, these laundries would have been closed long ago. Despite this, it is still better to go to laundromats that have the essential characteristics of cleanliness and hygiene described below.

Companions at your service

One of the best signs that a laundromat is clean and sanitized is the presence of an attendant. During business hours, the caregivers not only welcome you to the facility, but are also responsible for the upkeep of the place.

Laundromat attendants clean a laundry’s washers, dryers, drop-leaf tables, and other surfaces every day. They ensure that no cleaning agent residues remain and that the surfaces are disinfected. These tasks, performed multiple times a day by laundromat staff every day, help minimize cross-contamination between customers and their laundry.

The place looks clean and smells clean

Aside from keeping the insides of washers and dryers clean and sanitized, the laundromat itself needs to be clean. Floors need to be swept, mopped or vacuumed without dirt lying around. The floors of the laundromat must also be free of puddles of water that have spilled from the machines. Scruffy furnishings and untidy floors are signs of an unhygienic place and you don’t want to do your laundry there.

In addition, a fresh, clean smell indicates a well-maintained and disinfected laundry. You might think this is easy to achieve, but laundromats that don’t maintain their facilities often give off an unpleasant, musty odor. This can be due to standing water, strong chemicals, or other things that indicate a lack of proper maintenance. A clean and hygienic laundromat, on the other hand, smells like detergent or fabric softener without the smell being overpowering.

Clean toilets mean clean facilities

A sanitary laundromat also has clean toilets. A clean restroom shows that the laundromat is serious about maintaining its business. If they go to the trouble of cleaning their toilets that aren’t directly related to the services provided, that’s all the more time they need to clean their washers and dryers as well.

Clean toilets also minimize the potential source of germs and bacteria. A clean toilet shows that laundromat owners care about keeping the rest of their facility sanitized and preventing toilet germs from contaminating the washroom.

Keep in mind that there are no specific diseases that you can only get at a laundromat. In general, public laundries are clean. However, if you look for signs of proper hygiene in laundromats, it means you are less likely to be exposed to germs and viruses that lead to some short-term health problems.

If you are looking for a local sanitary laundromat, you can find a Starcrest Cleaners location near you. We have well maintained facilities in Nebraska, Missouri and Illinois. In addition to laundromats, we also offer pick-up and delivery services for laundry. Contact us today at (877) 722-2209 to learn more.

New to the laundromat scene? You may be wondering what utensils you need to wash your clothes or bedding. You can take a trip to the store to make sure yourself, or you can pack the essentials and cover your bases.

Laundry bags for transporting your dirty and clean laundry

Bags are needed to transport laundry to and from home. We recommend sorting your clothes beforehand and keeping your loads separate. You can use mesh for breathability or find something less see-through for privacy.

As you sort through your clothes, examine each one for stains and imperfections. Instead of taking the treatment to the laundromat, apply it at home. This also gives it more time to sit down and take effect.

Laundry detergent, fabric softener and/or dryer sheets

Most laundromats offer automatic detergent. Some even provide you with laundry detergent for free. However, due to preferences or allergies, you may wish to bring your own.

Jugs of detergent and fabric softener can be unwieldy, so invest in travel-sized containers. Alternatively, you can buy capsules and throw them in your laundry bags to save space. You can do the same with dryer sheets.

A pocket full of coins or a refillable money card

Many washers and dryers take coins – quarters, loonies, or toonies. Sometimes you can break bills at the laundromat if necessary. Today, many stores are introducing loyalty card programs where you can swipe to pay for your services.

Determine how to pay at the laundromat, then set aside enough money for an extra load or two. If the detergent didn’t rinse or the clothes didn’t dry, you’ll thank them for bringing more money.

Disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer

Touching your own dirty laundry can justify a hand wash. Touching surfaces on which other people’s laundry has been laid is definitely an occasion for cleaning. Bring a means to wash yourself and the surfaces around the machines. Although most services keep things tidy, you never know who used the devices before you.

A book, magazine, or grocery list

Each wash cycle takes half an hour to an hour. That means you’ll have time to kill – so bring something to read. Alternatively, if the laundromat is near shops, bring a shopping list. Running all your errands at once is a great way to maximize your productivity.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American family needs to do 400 loads of laundry each year. That’s more than one charge a day! While using a washer and dryer helps get clothes clean quicker than ever due to the cost of electricity, water and detergent, washing them is also more expensive. Here are some tips on how to save money on laundry and lower your cost per load.

Wash full loads only

Washing full loads of laundry instead of partial loads uses less energy. When your washer and dryer are full, you run fewer cycles. If you need to do laundry but don’t have a full load, change your wash settings to use less water. If you use a machine at a laundromat like Zoom Express Laundry, save yourself the walk until you have a full load, or go on a half machine with a friend.

Not too dry

Take your clothes out of the dryer as soon as they are ready. Leaving the dryer running when your clothes are already dry wastes energy. Many modern dryers include humidity sensors that shut the machine off once the clothes are dry, rather than relying on a timer. Materials with heavy fabrics, such as denim or towels, will take longer to dry. Dry these garments separately or hang dry so they don’t take up extra time in the dryer.

Clean your lint filter

After each load of laundry, remove the filter and discard the lint. Removing light helps air circulate better and clothes dry faster. Preventing lint not only helps you save money on laundry, but also helps prevent home fires and keep you and your family safe.

Change your detergent

Expensive branded products are not always the best products. With a cheaper brand you can get pretty close to the same results you would get with a name brand detergent. You can save even more money on laundry by making your own laundry detergent. The internet is full of DIY laundry detergent recipes. It will take some time to finish, but you won’t be constantly running to the store to buy more.

Use less detergent

Another solution to save on detergent costs is to simply use less of it. Most people use more detergent than they need. They fill the cap or scoop up instead of using the recommended line. You can also adjust the amount of detergent used based on how dirty your clothes are. Dirtier loads of laundry, including workout clothes or ones you’ve cut the lawn in, require more detergent to get clean than that t-shirt you wore once and tossed in the laundry pile. In some cases, you can get your laundry clean without any detergent at all. Therefore, if your clothes are not that dirty, use less detergent or none at all.

Make fewer loads

When you do your laundry at a laundromat, you don’t have much control over the price you pay per load. However, you can reduce your annual laundry expenses by washing fewer loads. You can do this by only washing full loads and wearing your clothes multiple times before tossing them in the laundry basket. This laundry saving tip will also save you money when buying more clothes as washing less will extend the life of the clothes.

Use cold water

A washing machine uses most of the energy to heat the water. Unless your clothes are incredibly dirty, using cold water works just as well. Overall, this is one of the tips that works best. It doesn’t take any extra time and doesn’t reduce how clean your clothes get. By using cold water you save energy and therefore money.

The more of these tips you use, the more money you’ll save. Apartment and dorm residents can also use these tips to save money on laundry. Are you looking for a laundromat near you? Find a Zoom Express laundry near you!

Find out how long it takes a laundromat to wash and dry your clothes

There is nothing better than enjoying freshly washed fabrics. From wearing a soft t-shirt to sleeping on clean sheets, clean clothes and linens are a must. However, washing your clothes may take a while. A visit to the laundromat can feel like an ordeal. Help make your trip to the laundromat as efficient as possible when you choose a laundromat with larger machines. These machines help you save time by washing your clothes faster, allowing you to be in and out of the laundromat in under an hour and a half. Know how long it takes a laundromat to wash and dry your clothes so you can plan accordingly. Here’s what you need to know about how long it takes to most efficiently wash and dry clothes at a laundromat.

Washing clothes in the laundromat

Washing a load of laundry typically takes around 32 to 38 minutes. However, the exact time may vary due to various factors. Depending on your load, you can choose an extra long wash cycle or a quick wash cycle, which will vary your wash time. However, if you use larger, more efficient machines, you can reduce your washing time. Instead of waiting cycle after cycle, you can wash up to ten loads of laundry at a time in one machine. This way you can choose the right machine for your laundry needs.

Drying clothes in laundromat

It usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes to dry a load of laundry. However, times may vary depending on the items to be dried. Heavy duvets, for example, take longer to dry than a t-shirt. Pay attention to the type of fabric to better estimate your waiting time and use the most efficient machines possible to reduce your washing time.

Reduce your washing time

Here are some steps you can take to speed up your entire washing process.

Wash multiple loads of laundry at once in larger machines.

If you need to separate certain types of clothing into different loads, use several machines at once.

Wash and dry clothes in mesh bags. You can put each family member’s clothes in a separate mesh bag. When you take the laundry out of the dryer, folding is much faster because the laundry is already separated individually.

Sort your clothes before going to the laundromat.

Don’t wash your clothes during peak hours, as more washing machines and dryers are likely to be used.

Use efficient machines. If you use the right tools, you can wash your clothes faster.

Complete your entire wash in less than an hour and a half. Fresh & Clean Laundry is your laundromat for all your laundry related needs. Please visit our website for opening hours and more information. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Bed bugs can hitchhike from door to door through laundromats. Here are some tips to help prevent bed bugs from getting into your clean clothes.

Every product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase through the links included, we may receive a commission.

Many people learn the hard way that if wet laundry is left in the washer for too long, it will start to smell due to the growth of bacteria and mold. When this happens, no drying will remove the unpleasant smell, which means the clothes usually have to be washed again. But it all depends on how long you let a load of wet laundry sit. According to Martha, it’s actually okay to leave your laundry in the washing machine overnight.

“I would say that was perfectly fine,” says Martha. (Of course, when the TODAY show hosts once debated this question, they called Martha.) “I mean, don’t let it go for a long time… Don’t let it get up in the morning and toss it in the dryer for a week, it should.” probably be fine.”

However, line drying allows delicate items, especially those containing elastics or spandex, to be dried without falling apart in the dryer. You can set up a clothesline either outside or inside your apartment (Martha says a well-ventilated bathroom or a utility room in the basement is best), but soaking wet clothes can pull down a clothesline, so it’s important to drain the excess water beforehand to hang to dry. “The weight of your wet laundry can cause the load to sink to the bottom…any clothesline will stretch after a few uses, requiring you to occasionally loosen and tighten it.”

This article was co-authored by Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO® and wikiHow contributor Eric McClure. Marty Stevens-Heebner is a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Clear Home Solutions, a home organization and move management company based in Southern California. Marty is the first Certified Senior Move Manager (SMM-C) in the United States and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) through the National Association of Home Builders. She is President-Elect and a Board Member of the National Association for Senior Move Managers, a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, and is a recognized hoarding specialist and ADHD specialist by the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. This article has been viewed 130,479 times.

Article overview

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Doing laundry at a laundromat requires coins to operate the machines and your own detergent. Put your clothes and detergent in an empty machine, then insert your coins to start it. You can use more than 1 computers at the same time if they are available. Make sure you wait at the laundromat until your clothes are ready so you can put them in a dryer. If you leave someone could take off your clothes to use the machine and you could end up losing some of them. For tips on what to do while waiting for the cycle to end, read on!

Original article appears here. We made some modifications.

Living without a washer and dryer sucks. First, it stinks “having to do the laundry”. I’ve distracted myself with a few trips to the Dollar Store between loads, but honestly, the appeal wears off quickly. Also, leaving your stuff unattended can be a little scary. The phone connection is never good and even if I bring a book, the chairs are nothing special.

So if you ever use the laundromat regularly, here are a few tips to make it less of a pain:

Sort BEFORE you go.

The main thing is in and out. Your time is valuable, and if you can go in and dump a lot of loads at once, you can save a lot of time. Being able to simply swipe your loyalty card saves a lot of frustration when trying to count quarters.

strive for simplicity.

For the same reasons above, do all stain pre-treatments before you leave. Plus, it just means you have less to carry around. Dragging in the laundry is bad enough. Keep things simple by only bringing laundry, detergent (detergent tabs are even better), and dryer sheets. Bare bones, my friends, bare bones.

The added benefit of ozone on washing machines means your clothes wash better and dry faster.

Pick an off-ish hour.

Well I don’t suggest going in at 1am. In fact, I’d like to warn you against this, but being able to do each load at once (with 3-4 shims) is a real time saver. The middle of the day seems best…however, evenings after work or Saturdays and Sundays are busy, so it’s harder to get enough washers and dryers to get all the work done at once.

Take the time to wipe out the washers and dryers before using them.

Look, I’m not really a germaphobe, but you can’t be sure this washing machine hasn’t gotten used to washing a vomit-stained comforter from the college dorm down the street. It’s a basic precaution.

Smell the machine before using it.

Yes, you read that correctly. Rough? Yes, it really is, but that’s not why you smell it. Sniff to see if anyone in the cycle used bleach before you. If this is the case, avoid placing your darks in it. Sometimes people run away with the bleach and boom, next thing you think your jeans are acid washed. Not good.

Bring a large black garbage bag.

The weather here in Illinois can get overwhelming, and honestly, after you’ve tucked your laundered work clothes in a dryer, you don’t want to wear your freshly dried laundry out in the rain. And if you don’t mind damp clothes, you can wear them in the rain too.

loyalty card ready.

With a cashless system, it’s nice not having to lug around rolls of quarters. For security reasons, you might feel uncomfortable pulling out your debit or credit card. Then the customer card is even more practical. You can save even more time by preloading your loyalty. The good news is that you can top up your card from your phone.

Remember to check all settings.

Anyone who’s done laundry before you may have dialed the settings down to a small load of scorching heat. Check all settings every time you wash to be sure.

don’t go away

I know it’s hard just sitting while your laundry gets washed, but remember to leave your messed up clothes unattended at your own risk. If you don’t get back in time someone might take the liberty of stacking your clothes on one of the tables to use the machine. Nobody needs to have their unspeakable items on display for all laundromat visitors to see.

Remember to bring a basket to take all your laundry home.

The bags you lugged in will work, but when you get home you might have a crumpled mess. I like to stow a basket in the back of the car and when the time comes I quickly fold the laundry and drape the hanging clothes over it.

Any of you seasoned laundromat pros out there? What are your tips for surviving the laundromat? Let us know on our Facebook page!

Can I use Tide PODS in a laundromat?

In short, the answer is yes!

Just throw the pod into the drum area before locking/closing the door and you’re good to go!

Make sure you DO NOT put it in the normal liquid detergent area of ​​the machine as this can cause damage/clogs and result in clothes not being cleaned properly.

I was recently asked a very difficult question by a Worldwide Janitor customer. It didn’t sound difficult at first, but as I sat down to calculate the desired results based on our product labels, I realized I was going to have some work to do!

He just wanted to know “how many kilograms of laundry would clean the following products in the sizes he ordered.”

Sounds easy right? Well it’s not 🙁

Unfortunately, there are many factors to consider here. Here was my answer:

I’ll do my best to answer this question, including some formulas and directions on each product’s label. However, as you can see, it is quite complicated as it depends on the size of the washing machine and the degree of soiling of the linens.

Load capacity for washing machines varies on average from 10 (regular) to 20 (large capacity) pounds of laundry per load, so we’ll assume that when using the instructions below.

The soiling of the laundry also plays a role. Today’s commercial washing machines are also very large (some washing 100 pounds of laundry at a time) and some are even highly efficient (requiring significantly less water and detergent).

Also, let’s use the conversion that 1 pound = 3.75 cups of laundry detergent. Let’s also assume, as you said, that these are older non-HE washing machines.

**Very Important: Most of our commercial detergent instructions are for older non-HE machines. For HE (High Efficiency) machines, use about half the amount indicated on the label.**

HTD heavy duty detergent (powder) (08 HTD)

50 lb bucket = 187.5 cups of detergent = 375 normal capacity laundry loads = 3,750 lbs of laundry

Instructions:

For top loading machines:

Normal Capacity: Use 1/2 cup per charge.

Large Capacity: Use 3/4 to 1 cup per load.

For front-loading machines: use 1/3 cup per load. Add detergent before adding clothes.

Superior Detergent (Powder) (15 SLD)

50 lb box = 187.5 cups of detergent = 375 normal capacity laundry loads = 3,750 lbs of laundry

Similar instructions as HTD

Lemon Scented Detergent (Powder) (08 LSD)

50 lb bucket = 187.5 cups of detergent = 375 normal capacity laundry loads = 3,750 lbs of laundry

Similar instructions as HTD

Dry Chlorine Bleach (Powder) (08 CDB)

50 lb bucket = 800 oz. Chlorine Dry Bleach = 4,344 pounds of laundry (medium duty)

Recommended Usage:

Light Duty: 2.25 oz. (100ppm)

Medium Duty: 3.5 oz. (150 ppm) (about 1 cup)

Sturdy: 4.5 oz. (200ppm)

Based on 19 gallons of water in a typical washing machine. (Most commercial machines seem to wash about 1 pound of laundry per gallon of water, so I used that for this measurement.)

Oxygen dry bleach (powder) (08 ODB)

50 lb bucket = 187.5 cups of detergent = 375 normal capacity laundry loads = 3,750 lbs of laundry

Recommended Usage:

Front-load washer: 1/4 cup per 8-pound load in soft water. 1/2 cup per 8 lb load in hard water.

Top-Load Washer: 1/2 cup per 8-pound load in soft water. 3/4 cup per 8 lb load in hard water.

These directions also vary by water type, so I just went with the medium 1/2 cup suggestion for this formula.

Liquid fabric softener (02 LFS)

5 gallon pail = 640 oz. = 6,400 lbs of wash (medium softening and static control)

Recommended Usage:

In order to achieve a reasonable effect, follow the table below:

Purpose 12 lbs load

(average load) 100 lbs load

(Institutional/Industrial) Super emollient, excellent static control: 1 1/4 – 2 oz. 10 – 16 oz. Soften, General Wash, Antistatic: 1 – 1 1/4 oz. 8-10 oz. Ironing Aid, Reduced Hardness of Starch Goods: 1/2 oz. 4 oz.

7.Oxygen care (08 OC)

Case of 12 (quantity) 2.5 lbs jars = 30 lbs / 480 oz. = 1,440 pounds of laundry

Laundry Usage:

1-8 oz. / Load 1 wash cycle Determined by soiling, detergent, washing machine size. (For this calculation we use 5 ounces as the average usage for 15 pounds of laundry)

Soak laundry:

2-4 oz. / gallon 30 min light & dark For heavy stains or old, grubby laundry.

1+ hour for others

When is the best time to do laundry?

Your washing machine always uses the same amount of energy no matter what time you leave it running. However, depending on your energy provider’s tariffs, you can often save on your electricity bill by washing your clothes at different times of the day.

Laundry detergent promises cleaner clothes through science: These extraordinarily complex lubricants and powders must remove dirt, stains and odors from fabric and then wash them away without harming your clothes, your washing machine, your skin or the environment. We tested 17 detergents against 10 common cold water stains and found Tide Ultra Stain Release to remove a wider variety of stains more effectively than the competition.

Our Pick Tide Ultra Stain Release An exceptional stain remover This liquid detergent was a top performer in our stain test, removing a wider variety of stains than any other detergent we’ve tried. Purchase Options $13 * from Target *Price at time of publication was $12 .

Although some cleaners we tried performed better on specific stains, Tide Ultra Stain Release was consistently a top performer, removing more blood, sebum, and cocoa than any other cleaner we tested. It also did a good job of picking out bacon smells in our smell tests. We also like the dye-free and fragrance-free version, although its formula isn’t the same as our pick.

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Runner-up Persil ProClean Stain Fighter A heavily scented stain remover Persil was one of the most effective stain removers in our tests, even beating our top choice on several stains. But its strong, lingering scent isn’t for everyone. Purchasing Options Buy from Amazon *Price at time of publication was $8.

In our tests, Persil ProClean Stain Fighter performed almost as well as Tide Ultra Stain Release. And the Persil even beat the Tide detergent when used on browned butter, foundation makeup and spaghetti sauce. One of Persil’s defining characteristics is its intense fragrance, which can linger on clothing for days and which some people find overwhelming.

Costco’s own-brand detergent, Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean, cleaned almost as well overall as Tide Ultra Stain Release and Persil ProClean Stain Fighter in our stain test, and it costs about half the price. While none of the washes were as effective at removing makeup, Kirkland did a far better job than the others. It was also one of the best for removing odors.

If you prefer a detergent without dyes or fragrances, Tide Ultra Stain Release Free is great for removing stains and odors without leaving a smell. But it’s only available at Target.

Original article appears here. We made some modifications.

Living without a washer and dryer sucks. First, it stinks “having to do the laundry”. I’ve distracted myself with a few trips to the Dollar Store between loads, but honestly, the appeal wears off quickly. Also, leaving your stuff unattended can be a little scary. The phone connection is never good and even if I bring a book, the chairs are nothing special.

So if you ever use the laundromat regularly, here are a few tips to make it less of a pain:

Sort BEFORE you go.

The main thing is in and out. Your time is valuable, and if you can go in and dump a lot of loads at once, you can save a lot of time. Being able to simply swipe your loyalty card saves a lot of frustration when trying to count quarters.

strive for simplicity.

For the same reasons above, do all stain pre-treatments before you leave. Plus, it just means you have less to carry around. Dragging in the laundry is bad enough. Keep things simple by only bringing laundry, detergent (detergent tabs are even better), and dryer sheets. Bare bones, my friends, bare bones.

The added benefit of ozone on washing machines means your clothes wash better and dry faster.

Pick an off-ish hour.

Well I don’t suggest going in at 1am. In fact, I’d like to warn you against this, but being able to do each load at once (with 3-4 shims) is a real time saver. The middle of the day seems best…however, evenings after work or Saturdays and Sundays are busy, so it’s harder to get enough washers and dryers to get all the work done at once.

Take the time to wipe out the washers and dryers before using them.

Look, I’m not really a germaphobe, but you can’t be sure this washing machine hasn’t gotten used to washing a vomit-stained comforter from the college dorm down the street. It’s a basic precaution.

Smell the machine before using it.

Yes, you read that correctly. Rough? Yes, it really is, but that’s not why you smell it. Sniff to see if anyone in the cycle used bleach before you. If this is the case, avoid placing your darks in it. Sometimes people run away with the bleach and boom, next thing you think your jeans are acid washed. Not good.

Bring a large black garbage bag.

The weather here in Illinois can get overwhelming, and honestly, after you’ve tucked your laundered work clothes in a dryer, you don’t want to wear your freshly dried laundry out in the rain. And if you don’t mind damp clothes, you can wear them in the rain too.

loyalty card ready.

With a cashless system, it’s nice not having to lug around rolls of quarters. For security reasons, you might feel uncomfortable pulling out your debit or credit card. Then the customer card is even more practical. You can save even more time by preloading your loyalty. The good news is that you can top up your card from your phone.

Remember to check all settings.

Anyone who’s done laundry before you may have dialed the settings down to a small load of scorching heat. Check all settings every time you wash to be sure.

don’t go away

I know it’s hard just sitting while your laundry gets washed, but remember to leave your messed up clothes unattended at your own risk. If you don’t get back in time someone might take the liberty of stacking your clothes on one of the tables to use the machine. Nobody needs to have their unspeakable items on display for all laundromat visitors to see.

Remember to bring a basket to take all your laundry home.

The bags you lugged in will work, but when you get home you might have a crumpled mess. I like to stow a basket in the back of the car and when the time comes I quickly fold the laundry and drape the hanging clothes over it.

Any of you seasoned laundromat pros out there? What are your tips for surviving the laundromat? Let us know on our Facebook page!