Article: The Decline of the American Laundromat

[repair-man]

Laundromats still work around here on a smaller scale. Usually about 1500-3000 sq ft max, 20-30 washers, completely self serve (no attendant ). Several new ones built each year. Most still have a row of top load washers. Even new stores. Pittsburgh tends to like old ways. If one had a supplier they could probably make a living selling wringer washers. Card systems are not popular so almost all still take quarters. Starting to see add on credit card readers but I can't think of any stores that are card activated only. There are a few larger stores in the most densely populated areas.

 

[lordkenmore]

"I can do six loads in an hour-and-a-half!"

 

When I was forced to use a coin operated laundry exclusively, the thing I liked--the ONLY thing I liked--was being able to do more than one load at once. But I otherwise hated the experience. I hated the inconvenience of going to the place. The environment was not particularly pleasant, and while I could do several loads in a short time, I was pretty much there doing nothing but laundry for that time. (Well, I did sometimes quickly visit a neighboring grocery store.)


 

And for most of that time, it wasn't like I actually got the load fully done in 1 1/2 hours. I had a working dryer, and so I brought the laundry back to where I lived to dry, rather than spend 25 cents for 2 seconds of drying time.

 

And then...there was always the question of germs...and what was this washer used for before I got here?

 

Eventually, the woman who owns this property upgraded washers elsewhere, and I got a semi-functional WCI Frigidaire. I really don't like those washers, and this one had issues. But it sure beat the coin operated laundry.

 

 

[combo52]

Laundromats In The DC Area

Largely started to disappear in the 90s, at least in the nicer areas which has been a boom to our business repairing and selling washers and dryers.

 

Currently it is almost impossible to rent an apartment without a free washer-dryer in the unit. The only exception are a few older buildings that have a common laundry room and most of these are free to use or operate for as little as a quarter per load.

 

When you buy a home here used or new they [ almost ] always come with a washer and dryer as well.

 

John L.

 

[vacerator]

My mom used to

send me to the local laundromat with an area rug that wouldn't fit in her 1963 turquoise Lady K. They had a rug washing machine there.
There weren't many apartments in the neighborhood, but that place was always busy.

I almost invested into one of those new Electrolux laundromats. A friend did, and it is a negative cash flow deduction for 5 years against real estate profits.
He says after that, if it is only a break even business, he'll close it.
The machines break down a lot, and with the rent and utilities, the 20% return Electrolux claims is not true.

 

[launderess]

"When you buy a home here used or new they [ almost ] always come with a washer and dryer as well."

Comment had one thinking; back in the day when washing machines and dryers were still "major appliances" that cost dear; people often tended to take them along when moving house.

Fast forward to modern times with costs having gone down many simply just leave their old appliances behind and buy new for the next house. That or appliances are already there so something will have to go.

 

[launderess]

Cannot speak for elsewhere

But here in NYC with its vast (and seemingly growing) homeless population finding a "sanitary" laundromat can be an issue. You truly just don't know who has been before do you?

If homeless aren't camped out as a way to find a warm or whatever indoors spot, they are loading their laundry fouled with god only knows what into washers. That is something which has been known to clear a launderette out rather quickly. Yelp reviews have complained of finding dried human waste in some laundromat washing machines in NYC.

Then there is the fact washers and or dryers leave laundry coated with hairs and other material that isn't yours. Did some blankets at our local and they came back covered in long blonde hairs, which obviously weren't ours.

Our local also for years now has a persistent whiff of mould around the washers. This started not a few months after a total renovation which included installation of new SQ front loaders. Since these machines do not have pumps or door boots the only major source of mould one can think of is the drains. They want cleaning and scrubbing out with disinfectant.

 

[twintubdexter]

From an article in yesterday's Advocate

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Well, apparently they are still planning laundromats in certain places, perhaps in some instances not a step in the right direction. Exactly what is a "Kung Fu" themed laundromat?</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 18pt; color: #ff0000;">"This winter, The Gangway, San Francisco's oldest gay bar in town, is closing down. The plans are to replace it with a Kung Fu themed laundromat"</span>

 

 

 

[henene4]

I'm kind of torn about that...

On the one hand: New machines, that's always awesome!

On the other hand: There can basicly never be enough bars around...

 

[brucelucenta]

I can tell you also about some old equipment that was coin op from an old laundry in the 50's. There was a 25 lb. semi automatic washer that did not extract. It washed and rinsed the clothes, but they were soppy wet and had to be put in the coin op extractor then for more $$$. I saw them at a used equipment place. There were two 25# Cook brand washers and one Cook brand extractor, all coin operated.

 

[launderess]

Ironically things may have come full circle

Growth of home laundry appliance ownership/access, and or spread of laundromats helped kill off "family wash" commercial laundries.

Well at least here in NYC and other large metro areas people are willing to pay for someone to do their laundry regardless of if they have W&D in building and or laundryette nearby.

Running a laundry service versus doing drop off "service washes" would seem streets easier IMHO. You need far fewer machines I shouldn't think long as you can maximize capacity. Of course this means going back to marking/tagging washing and or using nets instead of doing individual loads in separate machines.

There are plenty of "laundry by the pound" places in Manhattan and other parts of NYC with no shortage of customers. Nearly all use wholesale commercial places to process the washing. These are the same places that also do shirts for $1.25 or whatever each.

 

[tolivac]

Laundramats do OK in Greenville-its a college town.School is supposed to start Monday-I am sure the places are busy-washing clothes as students move in.

 

[vacerator]

Is that where

cruise ships used to dock? "Gangway"

 

[pierreandreply4]

cruise ships with laudromat

speaking of cruise ships with selfserve laundromat i know that some cruise ships have self serve laundromat i was on a princess cruise last year departing from los angeles the ship i was on the ruby princes had self serve laundromat with maytag top load washer dryer depending on the ships the washers and dryers might be maytag or speed queen but on the ruby princess it was maytag topload washers and dryers sometime ships might have both top and front load but it depends on the ships and not every cruise line have self serve laundry i know princess cruise have some

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Just saw this on Facebook:

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Am I 'Rhymin' like Simon' here?

The Laundromat is Still Alive 'N' Well, just look in your Hotel/Motel, here are some shots of one in Is-Rael:

And "ain't that a--" shame that I never took some pics of those new Speed Queens that made their way in the apartment complex my late-brother-in-law put in his 1st & last month's rent at just before becoming late- (deceased)...

(& someone there in Eilat decided to have some wine, while "There'll be time of for DRINKIN',--'TIL THE WASHIN'S DONE...!!!!")

-- Dave

 

[iej]

They're almost entirely gone here in Ireland.

You get the odd one (like 3 in a city of 170,000 people) where you can do a "service wash" - just drop your laundry in and they do it and return it dried and folded. Mostly people seem to use them for things like large quantities or bed linen.

What is cropping up now though is outdoor laundromats dropped into places like gas stations and supermarket car parks.

 

[verizonbear]

Baltimore's Laundry City 5 start landromat

I have been there with a friend, the best way I can describe it is like the "Wegman's" of laundromats !!!

Huge!!! tons of machines, no one had to wait for a dryer ! Impeccably clean !! Staff very professional , very friendly !!! Free wifi !!

They have a shuttle service!!!

And best of all you can get married there !!! If I ever meet Mr Right ( unlikely at 58) I will have my wedding there lol .

They give cash rewards to kids with "A"s on their report card. And do a lot of community outreach.

Laundry and Dry Cleaning Delivered

Laundry and dry cleaning delivered for free. Easily schedule a pickup and delivery from top-rated local cleaners through our mobile or web app.

laundrycity24.com

 

[pumpkina]

What are (or were, as it were) "family wash" commercial laundries?

 

[DADoES]

 
There are two (maybe three) coinop outfits here.  Also the RV parks have machines for space-renters to use.  One of the coinops is a newly-built facility, opened sometime last year.  Have not been in but pass by on occasion.  All the washers may be frontloaders.  Air conditioned, and may have attendants and folding service.

 

[johnrk]

Good Laundromats

I went to college at age seventeen, and my first real purchase was at nineteen when I bought a GE FF pair in avocado, the smaller basket size and single speed, and a GE d/w to match. I always hated having to share a washer in dorms, unless one sat there with the clothes there was always some jerk tossing a Magic Marker in, etc. More than anything, it just felt rather like wearing someone else's clothes. Illogical, I know, but can't argue with a feeling. And how I wish I had that pair back!

In the small city in which I live just outside Houston, we are fortunate to have a laundromat still that I've had to use on occasion with breakdowns at home. They maintain the place, it's clean and there's always an attendant there when it's open. The machines certainly appear well-maintained. I actually used to use the place fairly often when I would travel a lot because I could take washable laundry there and they would charge by the pound, would fold for non-clothing type stuff, but the attendant also did fantastic ironing of jeans, casual shirts, stuff that didn't go to the dry cleaners.

Reading on here, I think it sounds like fun to have a laundromat where one could get light food and drink and have wi-fi. If I were eighteen again I'd sure head there!