I've been using the laundromat...

[TxRabbit]

and LOVIN' it! Not for everyone, I admit.

Due to recent events, my washer and dryer is no longer at my house. In debating whether or not I really wanted my 13 year old machines back home, I hit the laundromat to get some laundry done.

My machines should really be replaced. The drier hasn't been working too well, even after the tune-up we gave it. The washer works, but it has some qwerks. We just don't have the dough to buy new ones right now, especially since I have some particular desires for my next set of machines, considering the amount of laundry I typically do in a week.

I got 9, nine, NINE loads of big, huge laundry, washed, dried, and FOLDED in 2-1/2 hours! That's including travel time to the laundromat, btw!

Each week I get overdue laundry done (like that king-sized bed cover, etc.).

I've been using the laundromat for well over a month now, and I LOVE it. No more laundry lying all around as I try to do bits and pieces of it here and there. No more feeling like laundry is hanging over my head all the time. There's one day. I take it. I do it. I get it done.

I have to admit that I LOVE the big huge waist high folding tables.

And taking a look at the electric bill...I believe I can attribute around $50 in savings for the month of September. Just awesome...

Again, not for everyone, but I'm loving the savings of time...the extra space in my utility room...and the money savings...

Just thought I'd share...I'm sure most of you prefer your home machines (especially if you have some of the newer ones out there)...but anyone else out there a regular at the laundromat?

 

[disykat]

Although I'm currently doing laundry at home, I admit I love a good laundry mat - as long as it's clean and not to crowded. it's really cool to get it all done at once! I don't enjoy hauling the clothes around though.

 

[Golf4food]

And taking a look at the electric bill...I believe I can attribute around $50 in savings for the month of September. Just awesome...

But how much is the laundry mat costing? It isn't as big a savings if one offsets the other...

 

[princessmom29]

But how much is the laundry mat costing? It isn't as big a savings if one offsets the other...

exactly. It is at least $3.00 a load at the landromat here to wash and dry so 9 loads would be $27.00 times 4 weeks a month would be $108.00 a month. That is more than twice the $50 saved on electricity.

 

[dyna]

Plus gas to an from laundry mat

 

[TxRabbit]

But how much is the laundry mat costing? It isn't as big a savings if one offsets the other...

Maybe I should have said 9 equivalent loads? I was able to put larger loads into the front load singles (I had 3 of those, they wouldn't have fit as one load in my washer though) and I was able to double up 6 loads that would have been singles into the "double" machines. So, it was like doing 9 loads for me, even though, technically, I only used 6 machines.

My total cost for the first week was $13.75.

I've only had to do laundry two more times since mid-September. I'm fixin to go again next Tuesday.

I got $50 in quarters before my first trip, and I still have around half a role left. Looks like I'm averaging $15 a trip, going an average of every 10 to 14 days, that would be around 24 to 30 times a year, so around $360 to 450 a year. I saved $50 in electricity, so around $600 a year savings there.

And I didn't mention that my gas bill went down as well. That's harder to tabulate though. I do wash linens on hot. Not sure if I took as many baths that month...so not sure how much of the $10 reduction on that bill is really from not doing laundry, but still there's more reduction there.

That's why I said doing laundry at the mat was saving me money in a kind of general way.

 

[TxRabbit]

Plus gas to an from laundry mat

The mat is less than 10 miles to my house. I get 31 MPG. If I don't combine laundry with errands and just to a laundry run, that would add less than $2.00 per laundry day, or $24 to $30 in gas a year. But I usually add laundry to errands, so I'm not sure how to count the extra gas from the highway exit that I would normally pass to the mat (about 2 blocks) in the equation.

 

[TxRabbit]

Although I'm currently doing laundry at home, I admit I love a good laundry mat - as long as it's clean and not to crowded. it's really cool to get it all done at once! I don't enjoy hauling the clothes around though.

I've been going on a different day of the week, each time. Saturday was the WORST. Ugh. Thursday was better. TUESDAY was AWESOME. Me and two other mommas in there!

I think what I like best is that I can just get all my laundry DONE. No distractions. I thought it would be boring, but I find that there's just a little time to read while all the washers are going. Since I resort the washer loads based on dry time, my driers all end at slightly different times, and once that first dryer is done (10 minutes), it's all I can do to keep up with all the clothes, folding and hanging. I love it.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

The only time I use the laundry mat is in Disney, and I love it too. I love getting it all done at once. A few weeks ago we were having plumbing issues and I could not use the washer. I had to go to the laundry mat and was stunned by the prices. Disney laundry is cheaper. I was paying $5 a load for a mid size washer. I went through rolls of quarters fast and that was dragging everyting home wet to dry (dryer was fine). If I could pay what I was paying in Disney (image that, Disney is a deal!) I wouldn't have minded, and may have splurged for the dryers, but I could not afford to do that more then once. I washed the clothes we needed by hand for the next week till I could get a plumber out to fix the problem.

 

[soccermomof3]

I Love the laundromat too!!! My washer still works and my drier is dead! So I wash from6 - 9 loads at home in one morning and then take them to the laundry mat. I can get on free wifi there and I schedule my trips to coincide with my children's "in Town" activities.

 

[TxRabbit]

The only time I use the laundry mat is in Disney, and I love it too. I love getting it all done at once. A few weeks ago we were having plumbing issues and I could not use the washer. I had to go to the laundry mat and was stunned by the prices. Disney laundry is cheaper. I was paying $5 a load for a mid size washer. I went through rolls of quarters fast and that was dragging everyting home wet to dry (dryer was fine). If I could pay what I was paying in Disney (image that, Disney is a deal!) I wouldn't have minded, and may have splurged for the dryers, but I could not afford to do that more then once. I washed the clothes we needed by hand for the next week till I could get a plumber out to fix the problem.

Wow. $5.00 for just a double loader? I wonder if I just stumbled on a really inexpensive mat? My double is only $2.50! [The triple is only $3.50!]

 

[englishteacha]

I used to like to do laundry in the laundry rooms in college. I'd haul my wash down to the basement, start 2 or 3 loads, and study while they washed. Weekdays were slow and I could get it all done in one day, one trip.

I like having my own washer and dryer and wouldn't be without them, now, but I agree that the convenience of getting it all done in one fell swoop is pretty nice.

 

[TxRabbit]

I Love the laundromat too!!! My washer still works and my drier is dead! So I wash from6 - 9 loads at home in one morning and then take them to the laundry mat. I can get on free wifi there and I schedule my trips to coincide with my children's "in Town" activities.

I wouldn't be able to do that at my mat. They have a big sign saying you can't dry loads there unless you wash em there first. LOL!

 

[disneydreamersx4]

I know what you mean about having laundry hanging out at home, your almost making me want to go to laundrymat too!

 

[S. C.]

Glad it works for you. I hate going to the laundry mat.

 

[Green Tea]

I had to go once during a home renovation. I came home from vacation and my washer and dryer were disconnected as they were being relocated to a room not yet ready. I took a huge amount of quarters and hated every minute there.

 

[wdwfan16]

Another who hates the laundromat. I love my large capacity front loader washer and dryer. Most week I only have to do 4 loads.

 

[momtolots]

We live in the country and have a septic system. In the last month I have started using the laundry mat to cut down on the water going into the septic. I have to agree with the op, I love the laundry mat. I pay $4.50 for a triple and use 3 at once. Then drying takes less than 30min, which is $1.50. I drive about 50min, and combine it with a trip to town for Costco,etc. I also get it done in about 2.5hrs, and then I don't think about it again for 8-9days, which in our house is amazing!

 

[Chicago526]

The idea of schleping my laundry back and forth makes me cringe, but I'll admit the abillity of being able to run all my loads at once is appealing!

 

[charming23]

Our dryer was not working a few months ago so we hit a local laundry mat. It was clean and I loved it. In fact we go there about once a month now to get big loads like towels and sheets done. It takes no time at all and it never costs us more thab $15.