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How to Find a Decent and Affordable Laundry Near Me
If you ever were in desperate need to find a laundromat near me, you’d know that there are some pretty funky and shady options out there.
Let’s face it, a typical laundromat near me or laundry near me search would take you to a place that looks like the starting of a crime show. As far as cleanliness, that’s basically a horror movie by itself.
If it were only as straightforward as finding a clean, flowery smelling and cheap place in a location that didn’t make you completely nervous.
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Everyone has gone through a laundromat near me crisis at some point. Whether it’s because you haven’t gotten around to setting up your own washer and drier yet, yours broke down, you live in an apartment or maybe you’re out of town and hate getting butchered by hotel laundry rates.
Whatever your situation, I’ll help you get your laundry sorted out. You’d be pointed in the right direction with regards to finding coin laundromats or 24 hour laundromats, near to your location.
So whether you’re in the need to run a “coin laundromat near me” search or if it’s after hours and you’re more in the “24-hour laundromat near me” territory, I’ve got you covered with a search tool.
Hey, maybe you’re just not in the mood to do laundry yourself. We’ve all been there. I’ll hook you up with a “laundry service near me” search box as well. They’d handle the dirty work for you!
To top it off, just because I love to see your whites white and colors bright, I’ll throw is some bonus laundry hacks plus additional tips and information to use when selecting a laundromat.
So let’s get started and take all the guess work out of your laundry near me situation!
Laundromat Near Me – Tips for Selecting the Right One!
There are a few basic questions that you need to ask yourself even before you start searching for the closest laundromat. You can then scrutinize the results to arrive on your perfect option.
Finding your perfect laundry is as simple as following these tips:
1. Perform the Right Initial Search
To have the most successful experience, you must firstly conduct the right laundromat near me search. Efficiency is always good and knocking off some unwanted options from the get go is time saved.
The right initial search would basically get you a list of the laundromats that specialize in the service that you require, or prefer.
By doing this, you would have narrowed down your search immediately. Just by including an additional word or two to the beginning or end of “laundromats near me” would work wonders!
“Coin laundromats near me”
“Card laundry near me”
“Laundromat near me that supplies detergent”
“Laundromat near me that plays country music”
Well…probably not that last one but you know what I mean. Ha!
I don’t know what your deal breaker or selling point is on selecting a laundromat but your most efficient forward plan would be to include this in your search.
Search By Preferred Payment Type
A good place to start to find the best laundromat, to satisfy your needs, is to narrow to the payment type you are interested in.
We are all familiar with the old faithful coin type laundry services. You basically show up to the laundromat with a pocket full of quarters and get about your business.
However, did you know that a large percentage of laundries these days accept card payments? Not all though! Actually the odds of a laundry accepting electronic payments are basically like flipping a coin.
As a matter of fact 56% of laundromats accept coins as the only method of payment. The good news is that the other 44% accept a combination of credit cards, debit cards or some other form of electronic payments.
Therefore, if you are accustomed to paying with your credit card card at your neighborhood laundromat, don’t automatically assume that when you go on vacation, the laundry down the block from your hotel would accept cards as well.
If you’re not a coin slinger, your best bet would be running a “pay with card laundromat near me” search, instead of a generalized “laundry near me” or “laundromat near me” search.
On the other hand, if you are old school and a jingling pocket makes you feel young, wild and free…go ahead and run a “coin laundry near me” search.
Narrow down your options immediately and you’d save yourself a lot of time.
Note that there are also laundry payment apps like LaundryPay that take the coins and cards out of the equation. If you’re a fan of these, be sure to center your search around this.
Coin Laundromats Near Me
Looking specifically for a laundromat that accepts coins, close to your location?
Enter your zip code into the search box below to locate coin laundromats in close proximity!
Pay with Card Laundromat Near Me
If you want to avoid the handful of coins or rolls of quarters, you should opt for a laundromat that accepts credit card or debit card payments.
Enter your zip code in the box below to find a laundromat near me that accepts cards!
Search According to Service Type
Full Service Laundry Near Me
Sometimes you may be in the mood for someone else to take care of your laundry for you. That’s what a “full service laundry near me” search is for.
You basically drop your clothes off, discuss with them what special requirements you may have and agree upon a collection time. You can then leave and return when it’s time to pick up your laundry, fully done.
Looking for a full service laundry? Enter your zip code in the box below:
Self Service Laundry Near Me
On the other hand, you may prefer the feel of a self service laundry. There is usually little to no staff at these places so you may prefer the peace and quiet that comes with these.
Some of you may even prefer to take care of all the dirty work yourselves, or just don’t like strangers handling your delicates. That’s when you should run a check for “self service laundromats near me”.
Specifically looking for a self service laundry, try the zip code search box below:
Search According to Opening Hours
Most laundromats are busy on weekends. Actually Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are peak days for laundromats.
If you are anti social or hate waiting around, you probably may prefer to do your laundry at an odd hour at night or early morning. Maybe you work late and the 10pm close time of most laundries just doesn’t work for you.
Utilizing a 24-hour laundromat at an unpopular hour would allow you to get your pick at the good machines and avoid the small talk with strangers.
Have you ever flown into a city for an event the very next morning? If you got in late you may be in desperate need of a 24-hour laundry.
24-Hour Laundromats Near Me
Ruined your nice shirt or just found out that you ran out of clean underwear, the night before your big meeting or presentation. It happens! Time to get to a 24-hour laundromat near me!
In need of a 24-hour laundromat? Enter your zip code in the box below!
2. Review the Exact Location
Depending on the number of results that you get from your search, you may need to review and narrow down your search radius to be a bit closer to your exact location.
Once you are able to get a few choices to select from, consider the following location specific requirements:
• Ensure that the laundry is easy to locate
• Ensure that is well lit and close to other businesses or activity
• Confirm that it has access to parking if required
Ideally, the best laundromat locations are strip malls as there is usually ample parking available and the area is fairly busy and well lit.
Strip mall laundries are also usually close to restaurants, stores or activities to kill time between loads.
Even though it’s not recommended to leave your items unattended, it’s nice to have the option.
3. Check the Reviews
Another sure way of getting rid of the bad choices and picking a good launderette near me, is by reading the reviews.
You know what you want from your experience so be sure to look out for key words or phrases that describe that.
Gravitate towards a laundry or “lavanderia near me” that has the following positive words in the review:
• Clean / refreshing / airy / smells nice
• Safe environment / security present
• Friendly staff / great customer service
• Well lit / bright
• Affordable / budget friendly
• Quiet / peaceful
• Modern / new equipment / luxurious
• Spacious / comfortable
Of course if you are looking for bonuses, keep an eye out to see if any complimentary services or products like detergent are included.
Read a few reviews for each place to ensure that you receive honest feedback. The first couple reviews are usually friends and family of the owners so that five star rating may be super bogus.
4. Review their Website
Very few laundromats actually have websites but if you are lucky to find a couple that do, ensure you check them out before you make your decision.
You are more likely to find a Facebook page or some sort of social media account assigned to a laundry or washateria. Whatever they have available, review it!
5. Note the Peak Times
If you know that you want to avoid a crowd, ensure that you review the peak hours of the laundromats that you are interested in patronizing.
The busiest hours for laundries are typically 5pm to 8pm, during the week and 12 noon to 5pm, on a Sunday.
However, you should check out the specific hours for the laundromats in your area, when you run your specific laundry near me search.
6. Confirm Preferred Payment Method
Do you like using laundry time to get rid of your stash of quarters? Or do you hate using coins and prefer using a credit or debit card?
You may even be a fan of the new modern, digital trends and prefer using funding via a laundry app.
Many times, the washers and driers may be coin powered but there are change machines available for those with dollar bills and cards. Employees may also be prepared to exchange coins for you.
There are many payment options available. Just make sure that you confirm the payment method that the laundromat accepts before you show up with your dirty clothes.
7. Review their Pictures
A picture tells a thousand words. You may not be able to determine how the laundromat smells from a picture but you’d have a pretty good idea of the degree of cleanliness and organization that you can expect.
Even if they don’t have a website or social media presence, people usually post pictures that are available for viewing.
When you run your laundromat near me search and you click on their name, a series of published photos, by customers, should be available. Look out to ensure that the place appears spacious, organized, the machines are not rusted and it appears modern and comfortable.
You should also have an idea of the additional amenities that you can expect, along with whether there are sufficient carts, tables and chairs available.
Obviously if the place is covered in garbage and “out of order” signs, just stay away.
8. Confirm Safety Standards are Acceptable
There are some basic requirements that a good quality, safety oriented laundry would be outfitted with. These features include, but are not limited to:
• Security cameras
• Decent lighting
• Good access to parking
• Security guard present somewhere on the premises, or nearby
• An employee or attendant on location
• Monitor loitering around the compound
Avoid laundromats that are located close to business places that are known to attract shady characters, for example pawn shops or bail bond companies.
9. Review Additional Amenities and Bonus Features
If two laundromats are located one block apart but the only difference is one offers free Wi-Fi and the other doesn’t, I’ll say pick the one with the Wi-Fi.
That’s just a simple example to show you that you should be on the look out for whatever bonus features and amenities that laundromats offer before making your decision.
Look out for places that are outfitted with Wi-Fi, vending machines, TVs, comfortable seating and decent bathroom facilities.
Remember that you’d be there for at least an hour or two so you might as well make your life as easy as possible in that time.
10. Assess the Overall Deal
The last thing you want to do is perform a quick check for the “closest laundromat to me” just for the sake of trying to save on gas money and wind up paying more for the overall service.
You may need to purchase detergent, fabric softener, drier sheets, as well as pay for the cost per load in the washer and drier. Assess the full cost of your trip to a particular laundry, not just the commute.
It may be worth it to drive a few minutes further to save money off your total bill. You never know, the added amenities and bonus features may also be worth the extra drive.
11. Let Your Senses Be Your Guide
Up to the point of getting to the front of the laundromat outlet itself, you would have relied on your sense of sight to lead your decision.
If you made a phone call and the attendant sounded polite and professional, your hearing would have played a part as well.
Now that you are in front of the laundromat, you need to finalize your decision prior to sticking in your first load of clothes in the washer.
Let your senses be your guide!
Continue to be on the lookout as you walk in. Use your sense of sight to analyze the place for organization, cleanliness, safety measures.
Is the place clean, free of trash and dust? Ensure that the restroom facilities are to your liking as well.
Listen out for appropriate music or TV shows playing, suspicious characters using foul language or equipment rattling. If your sense of hearing is set off by a red flag, head back out the door!
Now that you are inside, your sense of smell needs to give you that final approval to start spending your hard earned money. If the place reeks of cigarette smoke, garbage, strong bleach or anything off putting, leave!
If you smell anything weird in a place that should be covered in scents of mild detergent, flowery fragrances or fresh linen, this should set off a red flag. Head out if this is the case!
Try to give the inside of the washer a whiff prior to putting in your clothes, just to ensure that there is no residual bleach and you ruin your black or colored clothing.
When it comes to your sense of touch, this would be used to determine if your clothes have been washed and dried properly.
If your clothes are damp or don’t feel soft or to your liking, take note and maybe you should try another laundromat next time.
Note that your sense of taste should only be used for snacking between loads. Please don’t go drinking any detergent or licking any machinery! He he he!
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Bonus Tips and Laundry Tricks (Laundry Hacks)
If you are new to public laundries or about to run your first laundromat near me mission, here’s some tips to make your life easier:
1. Sort Your Laundry Out Prior to Arrival
A laundromat can get crowded quickly and unexpectedly. You want to get in and get out as quickly as possible.
All it takes is for a large family or sports team, from out of town, randomly popping in to do some loads simultaneously and suddenly all the machines may be taken.
Your best bet is to have your whites and coloreds sorted out ahead of time. Your delicates, bedding and regular clothing should be batched out as well. However, you separate your clothes, do so before you arrive.
This way you would start your wash process without any hiccups when you arrive. You would also move between loads seamlessly.
A laundromat is also a public space so the less fidgeting and handling you have to do, while you’re there, the better your chances are of not mixing something into someone else’s stuff.
Pro Sorting Tip #1: Have at least two laundry baskets!
They would help you stay organized while at the laundromat. One would be for drop offs, and one for pick ups. Or, whites and coloreds. Delicates and not so delicate. Folded and unfolded. Whatever you need to keep apart.
Ideally, the baskets should be of the same brand. This way you can stack them one inside the other for easy transport.
Pro Sorting Tip #2: Make Use of Pillow Cases!
Mesh or canvas laundry bags are great to keep you organized and a wonderful luxury to have. However, it’s not necessary to buy if you plan on doing regular loads of bedding.
Use your pillow cases to sort and separate your laundry batches ahead of time.
2. Check Your Pockets for Valuables
The last thing you want to do is wash up your smart phone, bank card, wedding ring or something valuable. You may have subconsciously put something into your pockets so it’s worth a quick check.
Plus, with kids around, you never know what may end up in the laundry pile.
Even though you may be able to salvage cash that was washed, it’s still a possibility that it could be torn up and ruined. Don’t take it for granted.
Actually, even though the US doesn’t, many countries use polymer banknotes. You definitely don’t want to get those in the drier.
3. Check In and Around the Machines Before Loading
You definitely don’t want to drop your brand new black or colored clothing into a machine containing harsh detergent or residual bleach.
You never know what chemicals the person used in there before you. Also, you don’t know what chemicals they washed off their clothing either.
Work clothes and overalls that were covered in hazardous materials may have been washed prior to your arrival. Ensure you take a look around and have a smell before loading the machines.
Plus, you don’t want to start a load of whites in a machine that had a red piece of clothing left behind.
4. Check In and Around the Machines After Use
Just in case you left something behind, take a look around after you use a washer or drier. Something valuable could have fallen out from your pocket. You never know what you forgot.
Be sure to check for clothing that may have fallen behind. Many pairs of socks are ruined at this point.
5. Walk with Quarters
Do not rely on the change machine or the attendant at the laundromat to have enough change for you. Laundromats run out of coins sometimes and the change machine gets broken.
Actually, the US recently had a coin shortage so you shouldn’t depend on other persons having change to keep you in clean underwear.
Even if you are interested in specifically a laundromat near me that accepts card or cash, it never hurts to walk with some quarters as backup.
6. Take Along Your Own Detergent
Detergent is considerably more expensive at a laundromat than at the grocery store. Most of the times it is around double the price.
They also usually have smaller sized bottles and packets, not the mega sizes that you’d buy for home use, that work out considerably cheaper per load.
If you love saving money, carry your own detergent!
7. A Little Liquid Detergent Goes a Long Way
Liquid detergent is better suited to laundromat machines, than the powdered type, as they use less water. You also don’t need a lot of liquid detergent.
Modern, industrial style washers like the ones in laundromats are designed to use very little detergent and use less water than the standard washers.
8. Fold Your Clothes As Soon as they Exit the Drier
Rack your clothes or fold them as soon as they come out the drier. They wouldn’t get crumpled so you’d save a lot of time on your ironing. You may not even need to iron at all.
9. Use an Appropriate Sized Machine
Don’t try to cram bulky loads, like comforters, into a small washer just to save money. It would not get washed or cleaned properly. It needs room to move around.
Wash large articles in large washers that can handle them. The last thing you want is to get a rash from trying to save fifty cents.
10. Don’t Overload
Similarly, do not try to stuff too many items into a single load. Washers need to be able to toss the items around to wash them properly.
Do not sacrifice cleanliness for a few cents. After all, you do want clean clothes.
11. Don’t Leave Your Stuff Unattended
Just like any other public space, you never know who you can trust and who may tamper with your belongings while you are away.
Do not leave your items unattended.
Frequently Asked Questions for Laundromats Near Me
How Much do Laundromats Charge for Washing Clothes?
The typical cost for washing and drying a single load of clothes at a laundromat is $4. Washing alone could run you anywhere between $1.50 and $4, but it’s $2 on average.
This is excluding the cost of detergent, fabric softener, drier sheets and whatever luxury toppings you choose to add.
How do I get Quarters for the Laundromat?
After checking your purse, wallet, your car and under your couch cushions, you may need to head to the bank. You can usually exchange cash for coins at the bank.
Your neighborhood grocery or a mom and pops retailer, that you are familiar with, may be willing to trade you some cash for coins as well.
Worst case, you can enter some cash into a vending machine and hit the “return change” button to get coins. It’s kind of sneaky but it’s a good hack to get coins.
Do Laundromats Accept Cash?
Most laundromats accept cash in the form of quarters. You can also exchange dollar bills for coins at the attendant. However, many are trading up to digital payment methods such as apps, prepaid cards and credit / debit cards.
When are the Busiest Times for Laundromats?
Laundromats are the busiest on Sundays between 12 noon and 5 pm. They are also busy on weekdays between 5 pm and 8 pm.
Do Laundromats Carry Bedbugs?
Bed sheets and other beddings can carry bed bugs and those items are handled at laundromats, so the unfortunate reality is yes. Laundromats do carry bed bugs and picking them up is a risk of doing laundry at public launderettes or laundries.
The good news is that you can use a few tips from the US Environmental Protection Agency to avoid catching bed bugs.
Is it Safe to Leave my Laundry Unattended at the Laundry?
No! It is not safe to leave your laundry unattended as strangers are present and it’s easy for items to get stolen. Leaving your items unattended is risky.
If you have no other choice, like in the case of a bathroom break, you may have to but you should not make a habit of it.
You definitely don’t want to leave your items and go out for dinner, drinks, a movie and other recreational activities.
If you do venture out and your load is finished before you return, don’t be surprised to see that someone removed your clothes in order to access your machine.
Is Laundromat Cheaper than Washing at Home?
The short answer is no. As long as you have a washer and drier at home, you definitely would not be saving money by doing your laundry at a laundromat.
The average cost to do a load of laundry at home is $0.50, inclusive of washing and drying. This is way cheaper than the $4 at the average laundromat.
This is just an estimate without considering the extra money for detergent and other luxury additives.
Laundromats are typically used by persons who don’t have access to their own personal washer and drier.
How Dirty are Laundromat Washing Machines?
Just like any other public space or shared equipment, it can get pretty dirty or infested with bacteria. Some are more neglected than others. However, there are some well maintained ones. That’s why you need to let your senses be your guide and select the cleanest option possible.
Think about it like gym equipment. I wouldn’t eat a sandwich off the floor, but I’d use the gear to do what needs to be done.
Just pick a clean looking and smelling one, wash your clothes and don’t lick the equipment.
How much does a laundromat cost?
Washing a single load at a laundromat can cost between $1.50 and $4, but $2 is the national average. The same $2 applies for doing a single load in a drier.
How much does it cost to use a coin laundry near me?
You should be prepared to spend at least $4 to do a load of laundry, that’s $2 for the washer and $2 for the drier. However, depending on your location, prices can vary between $1 to $4, for each wash or dry cycle.
Do you have to bring your own detergent to a coin laundry?
You don’t have to but it is recommended to take along your own detergent. Most laundromats sell detergent but they are typically more expensive than the price you would pay at the supermarket. The laundromat that you eventually select may even be out of stock.
It’s best to be prepared and carry your own.
Do laundry machines take dollar coins?
Some machines take dollar coins but most take quarters. However, many laundromats are upgrading to digital payment methods. If all you have are dollar coins, you should call the branch to confirm that they accept, before heading there.
How do I get coins for my washing machine?
You can check around the house, car, or bottom of your wallet or purse. If not, you can go to a bank or retailer and ask them to trade some cash for coins. You can even use the “return change” feature on a vending machine to get some coins for cash bills.
How can I get my laundromat cheaper?
If you are looking for the cheapest option, you should run your laundromat near me or laundry near me search and then call a few of the top results to confirm which is the cheapest.
You can also just wash your clothes and opt to line dry your laundry instead.
Investing in your own washer and drier may be costly at first but you should definitely do so if you can. $1500 for an average washer-drier combo may sound like a lot but it will save you money over time.
What is the least busy day at a laundromat?
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically the slowest days of the week at laundromats. Thursdays are slightly busier but still fairly slow.
Are laundromat washers better?
Washing machines at the laundromat are more rugged and operate at a higher efficiency than the typical at home washer. Laundromat washers use less electricity, less water and are capable of a lot more use before needing to get serviced. They are tougher.
Are laundromat washers sanitary?
It all depends on the laundromat that you go to and their specific maintenance regime. Some can get pretty dirty, grimy and funky smelling while others are kept clean and sanitary. If it looks clean, smells clean and sounds like it’s in good working order, you should be good to go.
If the washer smells like a wet dog or is covered by mildew, stay away.
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FINAL THOUGHTS ON LAUNDROMATS NEAR ME
Go ahead and utilize the zip code boxes to find yourself several candidate laundries to choose from. Executing a laundromat near me search just got a whole lot easier!
The bonus tips when selecting a laundromat, as well as added information on services and what to expect, would definitely get you on the right track.
Do you have any advice on performing a laundromat near me search? How do you go about selecting the right one? Do you prioritize price, service quality, safety, cleanliness or some other factor?
What’s your deal breaker when making laundromat near me decisions? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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