Dryer Fire. NYC public Laundromat.

[toggleswitch]

Moving a friend from a share full of smokers to his own non-smoking apartment. Ran hoodies coats, and shirts through the wash before moving them into the new place.

And here we are in the East New York section of Brooklyn.

We walked in to find that this fire had already happened. It was odd that both of the doors were wide open in 15°F weather outside. (-10*C)[this post was last edited: 1/22/2024-10:52]

 

[toggleswitch]

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[toggleswitch]

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[toggleswitch]

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[toggleswitch]

Speed Queen commercial washer.

Each laundry basket represents a 10 pounds washload. (4.54 Kg)

The smallest machine is more money, but above this 20# /9kg machine the cost is roughly $0.20 per pound for the washer.

The dryers are 30# capacity being $0.30 for 7 minutes. Therefore a 35 minute dry cycle costs $1.50. Therefore $0.05 per pound. [this post was last edited: 1/22/2024-10:57]

 

[toggleswitch]

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[toggleswitch]

I used the 60 # machine. So that is roughly just over three home machines in size.

The regular wash is:

W-R-R-S

So basically four dollars for each water fill.

One additional water fill? Two additional dollars!
Two additional water fills? Four additional dollars.

Gone are the days of the Wascomats (from Sweden) that did: ( at no additional charge)

pre-wash, wash, rinse, rinse, rinse, spin
With spins between the rinses.

The speed queen spins only for the final rinse, probably as a measure to save water. However, the results suffer.
[this post was last edited: 1/22/2024-10:58]

 

[toggleswitch]

25 minutes.

According to a European friend, if you can close the door of a front-loader it is NOT overloaded.

No fill, tumble, fill, tumble.
No wasting time figuring out the weight of the load.
No wasting time trying to figure out if the load is balanced.
This machine will never not spin.

The vanes/paddles have holes in them, such that the scoops pick water up and shower it down over all the clothing. You can see the water line just below the door.

These machines don’t have a transmission or a water pump. They have a dump valve with a 3 inch / 7.62cm wide waste-water pipe. The dump valve is normally open until electricity is applied... and at that point it closes. So if power is cut, the door is opened or if there is a blackout, the machine drains instantly.

[this post was last edited: 1/22/2024-13:17]

 

[toggleswitch]

If you noticed the container of pure pine oil on the washer, it functions as a physical disinfectant. It functions as a spiritual cleaner. It also functions as a fabric softener in the sense of adding a little oil back to the load after today’s modern detergents completely strip all the natural oils from natural fabrics such as cotton. If used very sparingly, this smells very delicious in the load after the dryer [this post was last edited: 1/22/2024-13:14]

 

[toggleswitch]

The countdown timer shows 10 minutes remaining. [this post was last edited: 1/22/2024-13:16]

 

[toggleswitch]

Here is the washer model number.

Speed Queen by Alliance Laundry.

SCT 080 = 80 pound washer
SCT 060 = 60 pound washer
SCT 040
SCT 030
SCT 020

The double stack dryers were 30 pounds per pocket/each.

I would assume somebody put a load from a 60 or 80 pound washer in one dryer.
And I have seen patrons put 4 dryer sheets in one load. That amount of wax is sure to be combustible.

Too bad most people don’t understand. The shittiest powdered detergent is better than the best liquid. That warm water washes are your friend. That fabric softener is not your friend for best cleaning results longevity of your machines and environmental concerns.

PS: if you’re clothes still stink after washing them, they are not properly washed. More/better detergent, warm water, no softener as stated above. re-wash. Detergent has to be measured oversudsing forms of cushion in front-loaders, and takes away from results.
[this post was last edited: 1/22/2024-11:01]

 

[toggleswitch]

On a personal note, I wanted to wish everyone health, happiness, and a positive cash flow.

So many friends my age are going through cancer right now and that’s a very tough battle. As a cancer survivor, I can say: don’t let anything get you down keep fighting, be fearless and trust. Whatever the outcome is in your own best interest believe it or not. Fear nothing and no one.

[this post was last edited: 1/22/2024-10:47]

 

[toggleswitch]

Feel free to contact me personally for sympathy, empathy, or discussion further of private matters

 

[launderess]

Toggles!

How wonderful to see you posting! You have been missed!

Our local has SQ front loaders and really don't like them, well not as programmed.

Smallest washer is about 20lbs and time varies by cycles, but "Heavy" is supposed to be 33 minutes. Rubbish. Cycle ends at around 29 minutes and timer counts down to "zero".

For all SQ washers except perhaps largest (60lb) cycles are:

Flush ( about five minutes)

Main wash (varies between 5-8 minutes)

Three rinses (no spins between)

Final extraction.

Needless to say using enzyme detergent is useless with such short cycles.

 

[launderess]

Multiple dryer sheets!

Why do people do it?

Have stood watching persons at laundromat peel one, two, three, four fabric softener sheets out of container then bung them into dryer. I'm sure by now their things must be waterproof.

 

[toggleswitch]

Thank you Launderess for the kind words.

One can plainly see, when looking at the back of these Speed Queen dryers that have galvanized (zinc-coated) formed and pierced sheet-metal drums, the accumulation of melted items, muck and I'd say grease/wax/crud.

The answer was a simple walk to the dryers furthest from the washers.

People are like water and electricity. They tend to take the path of least resistance. These were MUCH "cleaner" as logically used less.

One never assumes that the lint filters are regularly cleaned.

I wonder if said patron had left a cigarette lighter in a pocket.