Not everyone can head down to the basement or the utility room to do their laundry. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t clean your clothes without efficiency and convenience. If you need to use a public laundromat to get your clothes clean, follow these best practices for doing laundry at a laundromat.
Sort Before You Go
The first thing you can do to make your trip to the laundromat simpler happens before you even walk out the door. Separate your lights and darks at home rather than at the laundromat, so you take up less public space—especially on a crowded day. We know that life can get busy, but you’ll simplify your workload by sorting in advance.
Check the Washer Closely
The washing machine isn’t always a blank slate after every load. Clothing and chemicals can stay behind from the previous user and affect your laundry. Before you throw your clothes in, give the drum a quick scan and sniff. If you smell leftover bleach, you may want to try a different machine for your darks. Likewise, if you’re washing whites and see some dark articles that the last person didn’t catch, those could tint your entire load.
Pay Attention to Washer and Dryer Settings
The customer before you may not be following the same care instructions as you are. In fact, they may not even be following care instructions at all! Therefore, simple mindfulness is one of the best practices for doing laundry at a laundromat. Don’t load the washer and dryer on autopilot—make sure the temperature, cycle, and load size are all correct before you press start.
Keep Your Basket Close By
It may not be possible to stand beside the machine you’re using until your clothes are finished. Maybe you have to take a call, grab a coffee, stretch your legs, or otherwise leave the appliance unattended for a moment. However, moments can become minutes, and you could miss the end of your cycle. If that happens, you don’t want to leave your clothes languishing while another customer is waiting on the washer or dryer. The least you can do is keep your basket nearby, so anyone waiting on your machine can transfer your laundry without frustration and a mess.
These are tips worth following no matter where you live. However, if you’re outside Los Angeles, you can put those tips to use here at Launderland, where we offer laundry service in Glendale, California, and neighboring communities.