Laundromat

[mrb627]

I went to the laundromat this morning to wash a large rug that has become more of a doormat at the back door. With the lousy wet weather we have had over the past few weeks, this rug has taken a beating. The Speed Queen FL machines could handle this rug with ease, but the Miele's not so much. I decided to go first thing Sunday morning to avoid the general coin wash drama. Well, I failed to avoid witnessing operator failure. Let me say that I love when the entire family comes in tow to do the weekly laundry. Um yeah, this family of five came in. Seven baskets of clothes stuffed into three machines. No surprises there. What blew me away is the chemical bath used for cleaning. A jug of bleach, a half a quart bottle of PINESOL, and of course Snuggle. Well, the PINESOL was divided evenly between the three machines. Not sure which machine got the bleach, if any. And all got an unmeasured pour of Snuggle. Dear Lord, we had to open the door to let some fresh air in. Of course the machines were started and the family left. Probably went on to church. None of the other people said anything, but we all made eye contact confirming we all thought the same thing.

What is wrong with people?

Malcolm

 

[philr]

Pine Sol?! 

 

[COLOR=#666666; font-family: HelveticaNeueW01-55Roma, Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px]"For extra cleaning and deodorizing power, you can also add ½ cup to the wash load. Pine-Sol[/COLOR]<sup style="font-size: 7px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; top: -0.7em; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeueW01-55Roma, Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">®</sup>[COLOR=#666666; font-family: HelveticaNeueW01-55Roma, Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px] Cleaner should be used only on white or colorfast fabrics; if you're not sure about a particular article of clothing, it's always a good idea to test the fabric in an inconspicuous area first."[/COLOR]

 

See "[COLOR=#0099cc; font-family: HelveticaNeueW01-55Roma, Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px]Will Pine-Sol[/COLOR]<sup style="font-size: 7px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; top: -0.7em; color: #0099cc; font-family: HelveticaNeueW01-55Roma, Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">®</sup>[COLOR=#0099cc; font-family: HelveticaNeueW01-55Roma, Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px] Cleaner get greasy work clothes clean?[/COLOR] " in this link!

http://www.pinesol.com/products/faq/

 

[philr]

In this link, they advise against using the scented versions for laundry!

 

[COLOR=#666666; font-family: HelveticaNeueW01-55Roma, Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px]*Do not use scented varieties of Pine-Sol[/COLOR]<sup style="font-size: 6px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; top: -0.7em; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeueW01-55Roma, Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">®</sup>[COLOR=#666666; font-family: HelveticaNeueW01-55Roma, Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px] on fabrics, laundry or carpets.[/COLOR]

http://www.pinesol.com/surfaces/fabric/

 

[polkanut]

This just reinforces the theory that most people today are clueless as to how to properly do laundry.  Pine-Sol, YUCK!!!! 

 

[jeffg]

Thanks for explaining why some people smell like Pinesol for no apparent reason.

Your post reminded me of the interview several years ago with a lady who does laundry for several MLB teams. In one of the photos was a can of Comet powder on a washer, if you ever wondered why players can never seem to stop scratching themselves. It's a riot how teams pay these guys millions to play baseball, and won't spring for new underwear for them so they can play in comfort.

 

[whirlcool]

What I would be worried about is that there is ammonia in Pine Sol, and they added bleach to the same load? That probably killed anything in the laundry. I am surprised that the resulting gas didn't leak out and overcome everyone in the coin op.

Hey, you're from Georgia. Shouldn't it have been a trip to the washateria? >

We are due for a trip to our local one. It's always fun to see the abuse clothing take. I especially like the no sorting at all. These people just put everything in one of those huge Wascomats. Underwear, kitchen towels, shirts, jeans and even throw rugs all in the same load! And of course you don't have enough detergent (usually Gain Wango Tango scented) in the machine unless you can't see the laundry through the window (only suds) and suds aren't coming out of the dispensers on the top of the machine.

Usually the Chinese people who own the laundry pop out of the office and go to the machine with a jug of "the pink stuff" and pour about 1/2 of the bottle in the detergent dispenser on the top of the machine all while yelling at the offender in Chinese.

I know what Hyacinth must feel like when sister Rose pops up at the most opportune times!

 

[launderess]

No Ammonia In PineSol

Surfactants and or degreasers yes, but not ammonia. Lord knows the whiff of Pinesol is bad enough without adding that! *LOL*

Quite honestly scenes like what is described above has put one off laundromats. Really only go when forced to and that is like "MRB" for loads that the Miele cannot cope with.

Sadly since laundromats are public accomodations owners cannot easily kick out or otherwise get rid of persons that abuse the equipment. More than once the uber-sized SQ front loader at our local (rated for 50lbs) has been put out of order because of damage caused by overloading.

 

[whirlcool]

We go to the washateria for the same reason. Our Queen comforter and mattress cover won't fit into out Whirlpool TL machine. So about once every month or so we got to the local coin op.

I must admit that as far as these public establishments go, the Chinese owners that operate the place keep it nice and clean and there is always at least one person on hand to monitor any activity going on.

But these coin ops are becoming far and few between. I don't know of any others for at least a 10 mile diameter from the one we use. These is a new Wascomat machine that is tucked in a weird corner of the place. Nobody ever seems to use it, so that's the one we use. And of course we inspect it thoroughly before using it.

 

[wayupnorth]

Pinesol

I normally use it to clean whatever junky, kucky stuff I get on my hands, including oil based paints and it works quite well. Not on my hardwood floors, thank you.

 

[launderess]

Washing Machines Are Becoming So Cheap

At lowest price points they are really becoming common for almost anyone who wants. In this area the only persons without are those living in places that totally forbid W&D from being installed and strictly enforce that rule.

Many apartment buildings/multi-family housing are looking to make revenue are installing W&D units either on their own or under route service contracts.

From what one also hears as the cost of land, ultilities, etc... goes up it becomes harder and harder to make money from self serve laundromats. In Manhattan for instance most laundromats do half or more of their business via drop off/fluff fold. The "service" laundry business is growing with everyone it seems getting into the act. Everyone from persons basically "taking in washing" to large route laundries.

Here in NYC many immigrant women have started "laundry services" using local laundromats to get the work done. Something that often does not sit well with owners. Not only are they undercutting his or her local drop-off/fluff and fold service, but tying up their machines in the process. I've seem them come in and take over nearly every washer and dryer for hours on end.

 

[strongenough78]

I've seen a liquid laundry detergent called Pinealen or something like that. A neighbor uses it in her husbands clothes since he works on cars and other stuff like that. And the laundry room reeks like pine scent. But it is made for clothes.

 

[polkanut]

I must confess to using the dollar store version of Pine-Sol when I was doing my grandma's laundry before we moved her to an assisted living facility.  Grandma had/has problems with incontinence, and the generic Pine-Sol was great at removing the odor from her laundry.  I used ½cup along with the regular detergent etc, and it removed the odor with no lingering pine scent.