Highlander Laundrymat Shertz Texas

[mrsalvo]

Had make a run to a laundrymat this afternoon to wash a few heirloom blankets that had been stored for a couple of years, needed freshened up, and after a disastrous experience with a similar blanket in my T/L SQ decided to take no such chances on fabric damage. Was very pleasantly suprised how reasonablely it costs, compared to one I had been using in another town. Laundrymat was clean, with attendant that doubled as a U-Haul Rental agent!! Next door was a small, and I mean small, barbershop / hair salon. This laundrymat has been in existence for at least the 1980's. They used to have all Maytag equipment but looks to have recently switched to F/L SQ for regular sized washers. I used a 35 lb. Milnor for the blankets, fast cycle time that didn't mess around. Much faster than the Dexter I had previously used.....all for only $4.00. Wow!! Dryers were a Maytag, $1.00 for 35 minutes, and items were pretty much dry!! Was suprised by the detergent offerings, see pictures. The ceiling lights and tiles needed some dire attention, but overall it was clean and well looked after. Randolph AFB is about a mile away and I would imagine patronage is secured with families. Loved the sign on the Coke machine and a couple of the seats look to be former coin hair dryers when buffants were the rage!

 

[launderess]

That is one long list of "No"

No - Oil Field Cloths or Rags (well it is Texas after all)

No - Pet Beds or Blankets (the pet lobby in NYC would have fits, and such a ban wouldn't last a week).

No - Comforters or Blankets (why on earth not?)

No - Powdered Soap ( ditto)

Would love for our local to ban pet bedding. Went in a few weeks ago to use the large SQ 50lb washer only to discover interior was covered in dog hairs. Complained to attendant who went and got a hose to wash down inside of washer. Having nothing but a dump drain does have advantages one supposes.

This is the only local laundromat for miles and sees quite a lot of commercial activity. Several dry cleaners/laundries either drop off work here and or do "rush" work themselves instead of sending it to contracted wholesale laundry.

Then there are the many dog sitting/walking and groomers in area who bring their washing. It really is unsanitary and just gross to follow behind after a washer has been packed with pet bedding or towels used for same.

 

[helicaldrive]

The answer re no blankets

I have two of these machines, residential models. They are the best washers I have ever had and I love them.

BUT they can get unbalanced with a load of blankets or big bath towels. Not often, but rarely they will mysteriously fail to abort an unbalanced spin and the tub can bang on the cabinet or lurch forward and hit the door and scratch the glass. When doing such loads I keep an eye or ear on the machine. If it seems to not intend to abort a bad spin I hit Pause so it’ll rebalance.

With coin op there’s no way to do that and serious damage could occur.

If someone were to put in just one blanket or a few towels without filling the drum it could really wreak havoc.

 

[mrsalvo]

Would have thought Simple Green, hot water, and oil field rags would be a perfect combination! LOL. I had brought my powdered Tide W/ Bleach for the blankets, and went ahead and used it. I wonder why they banned the powdered detergents in the SQ. For the price of the machines, it will be my go-to laundrymat in the future. All they need is a good restaurant or deli nearby while one waits.[this post was last edited: 10/18/2018-13:30]

 

[justjunque]

All this, and Archie Bunker on tv!

Barry

 

[mrsalvo]

Barry, sadly I don't think there was much interest in anyone watching it. Everyone was on their I-Phones. Times do change.

Nice to see there's another Barry here. Don't see that to often. .

Barry

 

[justjunque]

Barry

True!
I can probably count on one hand the other Barrys that I've run into over the years.
Nice to meet another one!
Sometimes I'll look quickly at one of your posts, and I'll see your name and think; "I don't remember posting that!" Lol

I get it, about the old tv shows.
It's just me personally.
As I've reached "a certain age", I just don't see any humor or entertainment in the stuff that's on tv today.
I guess I'm old enough now that there's an actual "generation gap".
I'll take the vintage tv, vintage appliances, vintage houses, etc.

The other Barry

 

[superocd]

Why don't they want their patrons to use powdered deterg

I've heard from several sources that powdered detergent is better for a front loading machine as most liquid detergents tend to cause a build up which create odors over time. I don't know about the spiders on these, but what about the potential for corrosion due to buildup?

I've also heard that SQ FL's have stainless steel outer drums rather than plastic so I'm assuming that there are much fewer crevices than that of a plastic outer drum, so the outer drum should rinse clean in these fairly well due to the smooth surface of the stainless steel. Most plastic FL outer tubs have some sort of structural "ribbing" at the rear (for a lack of better description) where all sorts of buildup could collect. You're talking dozens of literal crevices at the rear of the outer drum. It is why I run the "Clean Washer" cycle in my FL with a heaping tablespoon of Cascade dishwasher powder and 1 cup of bleach once a month even though my washer may "look" or "smell" clean.

If anything, I'd ban the use of fabric softener. While most of us on here know better when it comes to dosing (or don't use it at all), the general public does not and would probably pour a quarter of a gallon into the machine. That is a one way ticket to buildup, odors and possibly a shorter life of the machine.

 

[mrsalvo]

Superocd, I would think banning fabric softener would be harder to do, as a lot of detergents have the softener built-in. I do wish they would ban dryer fabric sheets though, talk about a build up there!

Laundress, I agree with banning pet beds and blankets. That's nasty, in a public laundrymat. No one wants their clothes covered in pet hair. I do cringe also of dirty diapers that may not have been throughly rinsed out. In fact, that's what I look for when I first open a machine. Nasty!!!

Barry, I've done the same, when I would see your post and then see your name, I don't recall posting that!!!! Funny.

Need to wash some patio chair cushions that won't fit in my SQ, so I'll be heading again back over there later this week.

Barry

 

[ozzie908]

@mrsalvo

I don't wash any dog bedding in my home FL but I have a Whirlpool Duet 8kg 1400 spin washer in the outside shed along with an old vented dryer which is used primarily for the dogs bedding the rug in front the fire and any dog towels, I also use it for duvets after its had a good swill out I have yet to notice any odour coming from any machine maybe its down to cold fill only then they heat up and all dog stuff is washed at a min temp of 60c and to be honest most in home laundry is washed at the same temp apart from wool/delicate. I do think its wise to have a separate machine for dog stuff especially when its got more hair than the dog on it and I learnt my lesson when the trap clogged up and the machine drained into the bath Ewwwwwww.