DP has never been to a launderette.

[OpiesOldLady]

I know it sounds silly, but it threw me a little. To me it's a normal thing to do - if you dont have a washing machine or dryer or you need to clean a duvet or something - you go to a launderette. He said he's never needed to as his parents always had a washer and if it broke they went to family etc. I guess it just highlighted the difference in our upbringing - we didn't get a washer til i was about ten and Saturday mornings were spent in the launderette. I can still smell the humid soapyness even now.

What normal things have you or your DP never done?

I went to the student union laundry room every Sunday for a year as my student house didn’t have a washing machine, and my first washing machine when I was 22 was my mum’s old twin tub. Does that count?

My ex had never been to the library as a child and I went once a week! I’ve not been myself for around 15 years. I tend to use my kindle or read MN these days.

We always had a washing machine at home but I’d be surprised if a well-travelled person had never used a laundrette.

Parts of the world where that’s not an option of course, but common for travellers in many parts of the world.

Has he not travelled much?

Umm, nor have I ever been. I don't see what's so surprising about that?

We've always had a washing machine at home so there's never been a needed to go to a launderette.

I’ve never been to one either - I wouldn’t even know where the nearest one is. In fact I think the first time I saw one (or at least registered walking past one) was on holiday in Paris!

Send him to Morrison's

Why on earth they think this a god idea

I've been to a launderette once

My dh had never been abroad with his family which I found odd when we met as my fam were regularly visiting relatives overseas.

I had never had a steak until I went for dinner at my mil house, which they all found incredible.

I thought people on Eastenders were the only ones who use them

Same here! It baffles me that it’s “the norm” in EE.

I would only go to this one -

I’m with you op, I thought it was a pretty common thing. Growing up we would only go occasionally to do the duvets. At uni living in halls, the launderette was the only way of doing washing. And if you go travelling it is also the only way of doing your laundry aside from hand-washing.
We most recently used one this summer on a campsite 🤷‍♀️

See I think going to a launderette is actually a middle class privileged thing nowadays - the only time I used one regularly was when living in halls at university (situated handily between two bars you could nip to if you didn't fancy reading up for your next assignment and flirting/ chatting with other students as you watched your washing go around and around) . The launderette was open 24 hours and I went once per week, always quite late at night for some reason. Happy memories.

outdoor one at the petrol station near us. like the photo above I have even seen it in use. I have never washed a duvet though.

I’ve been to launderettes but I’ve never been to a gym

I've never been to one either 🤷🏻‍♀️

Is this a weird sort of working class one upmanship thing?

(I am very working class northern by the way, I just don't see your point)

Well this is going to baffle some of you but ive seen an increase in launderettes popping up allover the country. I put it down to houses being built too small or the cost of buying /renting/running costs. Me and my sister used to go to one on the 70s for my mom.
We had great fun.

I've never been to a laundrette either.
I've been tempted when abroad, but it seems like a palaver so I've always opted for washing in the sink instead (yes, I'm a minger).

The picture I posted doesn't really show that the 'laundrette' is out in the open on the pavement in front of Morrisons with cars passing a few feet away.

Everyone that walks past goes WTF...why would you be getting your laundry out on a pavement. I've also not figured how you stop your laundy being pinched. Maybe you just have to stand there till it finishes

Puts totaly new perspective on airing you dirty laundy in public

I've often used a laundrette especially when I lived in a bedsit with no garden or balcony so I would hand wash my washing, stuck it in a bin bag and take it to use the dryers. Probably was in 1987.

@Oldraver

There is an identical set up in a smallish local supermarket car park. The machines were placed on what used to be disabled space 6 of 6. Now if anyone wants to do their washing, they are right beside space 5 etc. So bloody weird. Why not at the back of the car park away from high traffic areas!

Oldraver they have those same machines in a petrol station near me and DP has seen them in a multi story car park.

I've never used a launderette either. My machine has a large capacity and will fit my superking duvet in. Plus nowadays duvets etc are so cheap and easily replacable.

Only time I've used communal washing machines was in a motel in America.

There are a couple of those outdoor washing machine places near me. One is in a petrol station

I used the launderette at university but I've never been in one apart from that. There isn't one anywhere near to where I live. I wish there was actually, it would be really useful for drying towels and bedding.

In Nepal in the 2000s I used a launderette/Internet cafe. You got so many minutes of internet per kilo of laundry! Expect you don’t get many of those now!

I’ve never been to a launderette.... I’m 50!

My 21 year old DD HAS used a launderette as that was her only option in her first year at uni.

I’ve never been to a pop concert but have been to classical concerts, musicals etc.

To all those who've never been to a launderette, what do you do when you want to wash a king size duvet, or your washing machine breaks down?