What is Laundromat Etiquette?

Laundromats are an excellent resource when your home’s machines aren’t working correctly. They’re even handier when you move to a new apartment or a small house that lacks a washer and dryer. However, to keep these convenient places from becoming a mess or being hectic and unenjoyable, there’s laundromat etiquette everyone is expected to follow.

Read on to get familiar with the ins and outs of laundromat etiquette. And remember that Atlanta Appliance is here for any repair or installation needs to make doing laundry at home possible again.

Quick Tips for Your First Trip to the Laundromat

Is it your very first visit to the local laundromat? It can be a little scary if you are clueless about how to behave and what unspoken rules may be present. To ease some of your worries and help you feel more prepared for this new experience, here are four simple tips for beginners:

1 | Sort your laundry before arriving at the laundromat. 

Depending on the location and time of day you choose, there may not be a lot of space to sort out your clothes before tossing them in the machine. The best thing to do is bring your laundry sorted into whites, darks, colors, and so on.

PRO TIP: Ensure there are no keys, spare change, candy, gum, papers, or anything else stored in the pockets of your laundry. These items not only can damage your clothes, but they can potentially ruin the machines.

2 | Keep your laundry loads light, just in case. 

When it’s your very first trip to an establishment you are unfamiliar with, it’s wise to plan for smaller laundry loads. That way, if the machines are not as large as you expected, you won’t have to separate the clothes into smaller loads. After your first visit, you’ll have a better idea of what size to make your laundry loads.

PRO TIP: If you are questioning whether your loads are too large, stay on the safe side and reduce the pile. The last thing you want is for your clothes not to clean thoroughly or come out of the dryer damp.

3 | Bring your own laundry detergent, softener, and dryer sheets. 

Don’t make the mistake of leaving the essentials behind! You certainly don’t want to arrive at the laundromat and discover you must drive back home to grab the soaps.

PRO TIP: Laundry pods are portable and much easier to lug around the laundromat than an entire jug of detergent. Grab the exact number of pods you will need and put them in a plastic bag or container. You can also portion your liquid or powder detergent into small bags or containers.

4 | Pack some extra rags for cleaning surfaces and machines.

You’ll want to double-check the washer and dryer you use at the laundromat. Sometimes, there are residues leftover from the previous person. Less likely, but still possible, is the chance someone forgot about some candy or gum in their pants pocket, which may be stuck inside the machine. In this case, you may want to find another unit available and let a staff member know. But, if your options are limited, wipe down the machine with your rags from home.

PRO TIP: It may be a little odd, but it’s smart to smell-check the washing machine before tossing your clothes in. If you catch a hint of bleach, use your rags to wipe away the residue and save your clothes from being ruined.

The Laundromat Etiquette You Need to Know

So, now that you’re feeling a little more confident about how to best prepare for your first-time experience, it’s important you get familiar with some of the unspoken rules and manners that make for excellent laundromat etiquette.

You will want to keep these things in mind while at the laundromat to make your experience run as smoothly as possible.

Set a Timer if You Leave the Laundromat

Sitting at the laundromat while you wait to switch your clothes is not always practical. Sometimes, you have a book you’ve been wanting to read, some computer work you’ve been meaning to complete, or phone calls and appointments to schedule. But this isn’t always the case.

Your time may be used more wisely by stepping out for errands or squeezing in a quick walk down the street. This is acceptable at most laundromats. However, do your best not to leave your clothes sitting in a machine after the cycle is complete. It takes up space and time for other people who need to use the washer or dryer.

To avoid this, set a timer on your phone and be back in time to remove your clothes. Furthermore, don’t get frustrated if you return a little later than planned and find your clean clothes sitting in a cart, on top of the machine, or another surface.

Moving Someone’s Laundry is Acceptable When Necessary

It’s common for people to remove laundry that’s hogging a machine for longer than it needs to. Five to ten minutes after the cycle ends, someone may move your belongings out of the in-demand machine.

Likewise, suppose you notice someone has not returned to remove their clothes from a washer or dryer. In that case, it is acceptable to wait five to ten minutes, then take their clothes out. Mainly if there are no other machines available at the time, you can remove the clothes. Just be sure to do it with care. Find a cart or clean surface to move the laundry, and never place them into a dryer.

Care for the Machines and Facility

This is not your home laundry room. Remember to treat the machines and facility with care. Here are some specific ways you can ensure you are using laundromat etiquette:

• Use only the amount suggested on your detergent, bleach, and fabric softener label. Using too much of any of these can leave behind residue or ruin the machines.
• Clear the lint from the screen of your dryer after use. It’s also wise to check the lint screen before starting the cycle in case someone forgot to do their part.
• Clean up any spills immediately, whether it’s your morning coffee or a small drop of soap.
• Dispose of your trash properly.

Respect the People

To keep the environment friendly and safe, remember to treat others with respect. This may include speaking kindly to them and not staring at their laundry. No one wants to feel violated by people peeking at their underwear or other personal items.

Furthermore, use headphones if you listen to music or a podcast to pass the time. Or, if you need to make a call, keep your voice low or step outside for the conversation.

Finally, don’t take up space by setting your purse or coat on an empty chair or countertop for folding. Keep the chairs free for those who need to sit and leave the surfaces for laundry tasks.

Avoid Eating and Drinking at the Laundromat

Not only is it basic laundromat etiquette not to bring your lunch with you, but it’s also unsanitary. Firstly, food can have a pungent smell sometimes, whether pleasant or not so pleasant. Fabrics can absorb strong odors, and people don’t typically want a laundry place to smell like fried food or garlic.

Secondly, there are more germs than you may anticipate at a laundromat. Dirty laundry can get nasty. So, it’s never a great idea to eat inside the establishment. If you need to scarf down a quick meal, set a timer on your phone and sit in your car to eat.

Are Your At-Home Laundry Machines Having Trouble?

If you are heading out to the local laundromat because of malfunctioning machines at home, give Atlanta Appliance a call to get them repaired!

It may be a temporary solution to utilize the laundromat around the corner until you figure out what’s going on with your machines. But you will quickly realize that paying for laundry adds up.

Reach out to Atlanta Appliance to have your machines up and running again in no time.

Or perhaps you don’t have a washer and dryer at home. In that case, we would be more than happy to install them for you!

Whatever the case, know that Atlanta Appliance is here for all your appliance repair and installation needs. Our team works quickly and offers only the friendliest customer service. You can be confident your home’s vital appliances are in the right hands with Atlanta Appliance.