The First 24/7 Outdoor Launderette

[zanussi_lover]

I've heard of photography kiosks, but an outdoor launderette, £8 for a large 18kg load, £4 for an 8kg load. and £1 to dry. 24/7 Access. Adds an eco friendly liquid detergent to the wash, so no detergent needed.

Its an interesting idea, but I wouldn't use it, it could get vandalised, and ruined.

People would put rubbish/bricks/debris in the drum

It could get spray painted

Your clothes could get stolen if there isn't a lock on the dryer.

I much prefer washing my duvet at a launderette in the safe view of an attendant.

Say hello to the 24-hour OUTDOOR washing machine

The Southglade Convenience Store in Bestwood, Nottingham has two Revolution washer and one dryer situated in it's forecourt.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[paulc]

I've seen set ups like this in France a few years ago outside a supermarket.

 

[roto204]

We had one

There was one in Yuma, Arizona, where I grew up, on the corner of Eighth Street and Eleanor Avenue, called "Koin-a-Matic" or some such. Just a big awning and bank of machines set back about 15 yards from the street, it was outfitted with Speed Queen solid-tub coin-ops and dryers (gasp, if only I'd known!).

It must have been installed in the late fifties or early sixties, and persisted--intact--through the late eighties, at least. I didn't notice when, specifically, it was finally razed.

Being out in the elements must have been hell on the machines, even though they faced north; the sun would have done them all in, and I'm sure a good rainstorm would have filled them partially with water and mud.

In terms of vandalism, there wasn't any, really, but then again, I think that was an idea that only worked in another era.

 

[paulc]

Here is the link to the pic I took in France of the washers outside the supermarket.

Trip to France.

Friends and I went to the Loire valley in France last week. When visiting the supermarket I spotted this rather unusual outdoor laundry set up. Sorry I didn't get more pics but I was getting funny looks from the customers!

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[rapunzel]

I can just imagine what that will look like in a year - yuch! Then, of course, what if some crazy kid or adult wants to while some time away by putting a smaller sibling or possessed child into one of those? Or some gang of rowdy youths do the same to some unsuspecting person of swarthy complexion to wash the brown away? Is there camera surveillance?

Then there would be those folk who'd think to use them as a public toilet. The imagination can run wild here and is only limited by the number of people with an imagination.

 

[glenfieldmathk1]

There's a number of outdoor Laundry's in Florida, I visited one a few years ago. (and you can see it on Google maps). However they are monitored 24/7 by a security guard.
However here we get freezing temperatures, so there's going to be problems, both water supply could freeze, or drain hose could freeze, or water in drum could freeze.
Also some ones got to maintain it, automatic dispensing for instance, who provides it, the shop, or some outside contractor?
The dryer looks small, so hardly going to dry clothes quickly, and if its a rather cold day it'll take longer to heat up, so more money paid.

I suppose it'll be good for those who do need 24/7 laundry, but most don't/

 

[georgect]

And when you drop newly washed clothes...

They'll hit the dirty ground.
At least if you drop something inside a laundromat the floor is pretty clean.
Who cleans the pavement outdoors (nobody).
There's no where to sit or protection from the elements (who's going to wash clothes outside when it's poring rain).

I would never use an outside laundromat. I don't know who would. It doesn't make sense.

 

[golittlesport]

one smart thing

Noticed these washers self dispense detergent and softener. That has got to save on repairs from over-dosing and mucky build up in the machines. When I think about it, I'm surprised all coin-op Laundromats don't do that.

 

[frontloaderfan]

I notice the advertising loaded and played immediately, but the news clip itself never did play....

 

[tolivac]

I did see the film clip of the outdoor laundramat-noticed while the patron was folding the sheet-its ends hit the dirty ground a few times.Guess it would be better to fold the things when you get home?And there are no tables to help you in folding large items and keeping them off the ground or floor as in some indoor laundramats-thanks think I will stick with "hardtop" laundramats if I have to use one.And think the outdoor ones could be a crime target.Better be packing if you use it!

 

[rapunzel]

"the patron was folding the sheet-its ends hit the dirty ground a few times"

Of course we work under the optimistic assumption that peoples' floors at home are clean.

 

[tolivac]

I figure the floor in your house would be cleaner than the pavement at that outdoor laundry.No table or rack for the patron to lay things on while folding them.

 

[rapunzel]

You are absolutely correct. The floors in my house are very clean. I don't wear street shoes in my house either, they come off at the door. Theoretically I could eat off my laundry room floor, but I still don't like it when freshly washed clothes fall out of the dryer onto that floor.

As for the floors in other peoples' houses, it is for them to judge how clean they are.