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Original poster

DP has never been to a launderette.

129 replies

OpiesOldLady · 21/09/2019 10:48

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?

OP posts:
greathat · 21/09/2019 14:57

I only used a laundrette when I was working\ travelling in the USA

Samcro · 21/09/2019 15:05

launderettes must still be used. there is a new shiney one not far from me.

PickingUpLicks · 21/09/2019 15:06

I'm pushing 50 and Northern, I never went to University and we didn't have a telephone until I was 16.

My mum had a twin-tub. We didn't have duvets when I was very young, it was still sheets and blankets.
I did used to go to the launderette with my friend but it wasn't called a launderette, we all called it 'the Bagwash'.
Never managed to see Nick Kamen there Sad

FairyBunnyAgain · 21/09/2019 15:13

I was going to say that my DC in their early 20s have not used a launderette, then I remembered that they had whilst at uni although it was a hall facility not a public one.

I have never used one in my adult life and I am over 50, did visit one as a child with my GM as she never had a washer or dryer at home. My mum had a twin tub and then a modern machine, we never went to the launderette. Not sure we have one locally.

TitchyP · 21/09/2019 15:14

I'm in my 40s and remember going in as a child when the washing machine broke. I also used one as a student as we didn't have a washing machine in our grotty house. My superking duvet needs washing and I take it to the laundrette, it's washed, dried and back on the bed the same day for about £12. Much cheaper than the dry cleaners! And I LOVE the smell of those places.

MrsA2015 · 21/09/2019 15:16

I’d never been to one till I was 25. We either took laundry to a friend/family member without own washing powder. Now that I’ve used them I see the sense as in bigger drum and dryers however don’t find they do the job that well. Personal preference I suppose

thebakerwithboobs · 21/09/2019 15:57

I don't think I've even ever seen a laundrette apart from on EastEnders!

Passthecherrycoke · 21/09/2019 16:00

I have been to a laundrette as a student and I go a couple of times a year now to wash my duvets. When I moved to London in the late 90s it was fairly common for smaller flats not to have room for a washing machine but that all changed in the boom years Grin

My mum thinks laundrettes are only for poor people and was shocked I go to them.
She’s also shocked the very posh area I live in has one. But again, it’s London and there probably are still flats that don’t have machines

Passthecherrycoke · 21/09/2019 16:01

I meant to say I really love laundretttes and I would love to get all my washing service washed but it’s expensive and they use horrible detergent

SleepyHiraeth · 21/09/2019 16:04

Lots of people still use launderettes in London, like due to living in crap studio flats that don't even have room for a washing machine. I'm one of them haha.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 21/09/2019 16:06

My family didn't have much money but we had an old fashioned twin tub. I used a laundrette when I was a student but if I hadn't gone to uni probably never have been to one either

Aragog · 21/09/2019 16:06

I think I have been to one once - with dh when we were at university. But it was the only time and not repeated by either of us.

Ive always had a washing machine - both at home as a child, at the university houses (in halls I took it home) and in my own homes.

I didn't grow up well off, there were times when money was very very tight. But we always had a washer.

Only had washing machine break down once as an adult. I hand washed some essentials until the repair man came.

SleepyHiraeth · 21/09/2019 16:06

To keep the cost down I hand-wash what I can in buckets in shower with my own detergent, hang it inside... Take things that wont fit in the bucket to launderette. Lucky I am not metered for my water...

OctoberLovers · 21/09/2019 16:12

My nan use to wash her laundry in the bath and had a black and white tv when i was younger. And im only 35.

We or her never had a tumble dryer.

When i was a teenager, me and my friends use to sit in the launderette in the winter to get warm :)

Weird different things between me and partner..... Loads

Im from London, him from the country.....

fedup21 · 21/09/2019 16:13

I have never been to a laundrette-I can’t imagine many people I know have either.

I doubt my parents have come to think of it-they had a twin tub before getting a washing machine or they’d have washed by hand.

I’ve only ever seen one on Eastenders!

TrendyNorthLondonTeen · 21/09/2019 16:14

I have never used a laundrette...

Confuseddotcotton · 21/09/2019 16:17

Not DP, but my dad has never used a cash machine, mobile phone, dishwasher or worn a suit.

When we met, DP had never been to a car boot sale, the theatre or on a boat. He now has done all 3, loves the theatre and a car boot, wasn’t keen on the boat!

CookPassBabtridge · 21/09/2019 16:25

Never used one and don't know anyone who has, I'm 34.
Things I haven't done.. eaten a dippy egg!

ReginaGeorgeous · 21/09/2019 16:28

I've never been in a launderette. I consider myself reasonably well travelled and have never stayed in a hotel that didn't have a laundry service. When my machine broke, I took my washing to my mums until I had a new one delivered.

I don't wash my duvet. I change the covers weekly, when a duvet starts looking a bit old and tatty I donate it to the local dogs home and buy myself a new one.

Likethebattle · 21/09/2019 16:50

Never been to a laundrette and I grew up piss poor. If my duvet needs washed I buy a new one and donate the old one to the local dogs trust as the state of it doesn’t matter to the smelly pooches.

EmpressJewel · 21/09/2019 17:21

OH (mid 40s) told me that growing up, he was responsible for taking the family washing to the laundarette. When I was growing up I never heard anyone ever discussing using a launderette, so I assume most people had washing machines.

I use the launderette a couple of times a year to wash our king size duvets (singles go in our machine).

An ex colleague used to use the launderette as they didn't have a washing machine. I think they lived in an unregistered property though.

Bloodybridget · 21/09/2019 17:59

We do have a wm but occasionally get a service wash at the launderette if we've had people staying and there are loads of bedclothes to wash - especially in winter when it takes so long to dry them.

sanityisamyth · 21/09/2019 18:11

I'd never been to a laundrette until a couple of months back (apart from the halls at uni). I had to be shown how to use the machines by the lady who worked there. Unless your own machine was broken, or you didn't have access to a machine for some reason, why else would you use a laundrette?

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 21/09/2019 18:25

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?

My heavy winter duvet goes to the cleaners. The thin one goes in my washing machine.

If my machine breaks I call an engineer (I can manage for a couple of days). If the engineer ever couldn’t fix the machine then a new one can be delivered quickly too.

I didn’t go to uni and a washing machine was my first big purchase after I bought my house so it was delivered the day after I moved in. I’ve never not had one and wouldn’t know where my nearest launderette is.

stucknoue · 21/09/2019 18:27

I've never been to a launderette, unless the laundry room at university counts. Always had my own machine and take duvets to Morrison's.

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