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Original poster

Launderette Etiquette

58 replies

Launderetty · 27/12/2023 20:20

Husband went to the launderette today. We had lots of bedding that needed washing after DS came down with a stomach bug during the night and the launderette has a large 20kg machine and a large dyer (we don’t have a dryer).

When he got there the large washer was full of clothes, the cycle had finished but there was no one around. He waited and eventually the woman turned up after about 30 minutes and switched her washing over to the dryer - she paid for a 1hr cycle and left again.

Our washing finished and her drying cycle finished but again she was no where to be seen. Husband waited over 20 minutes for her to return where upon instead of removing her laundry from the machine she added another 45 minutes drying time and left.

At this point he decided to just come home with all the wet laundry not wanting to wait at least another 45 minutes in the cold (it’s an outdoor launderette) for her to return.

Frustrating as now I have lots of wet bedding and no easy way to dry it. I told him he should’ve just removed her laundry from the machine but he thinks that would’ve been rude and not the done thing. What’s the etiquette in this situation?

OP posts:
Catza · 27/12/2023 20:28

Was there only one washing machine and the dryer in the entire laundrette?
I wouldn't remove someone else's clothes. And I think your husband is telling porkies because I have never seen a laundrette with only one set of appliances. Likely, he just didn't fancy waiting until the job was finished (which I don't blame him for. It's mind-numbingly boring)

CornishPorsche · 27/12/2023 20:30

He's a twit. Anyone taking the piss to that degree in a laundrette is a chancer. They can reasonably expect to find their stuff in a pile somewhere. I used to be back early for my stuff every time!

CornishPorsche · 27/12/2023 20:31

@Catza only one 20kg capable machine I read that as - not unusual.

Spirallingdownwards · 27/12/2023 20:32

Yes should have taken hers out and used the machine. If she wanted continuous use she should wait or be back before it finishes. In her absence remove and use appliance yourself.

FreebieHound · 27/12/2023 20:34

My laundrette is always staffed and they will whip your things out of the machines if your time is up and you're not there! If the laundrette was unstaffed I think your DH could have done this.

justalittlesnoel · 27/12/2023 20:34

Was there no other dryers he could split the load into?

Lizzieregina · 27/12/2023 20:35

Can’t believe there was only one dryer in the whole launderette. That’s completely bizarre. I’d say there’s 10 in the small place near me.

I’m not in the UK, but around here, if your stuff is done and you’re not around and there’s a scarcity of machines, then your wash would be removed to a basket.

Terfosaurus · 27/12/2023 20:37

If its an outdoor laundrette then it's entirely possible there's only 1 machine. The one near me is literally 1 washer dvd 1 dryer at the petrol station.

The woman was a cheeky fucker. When I've had to use a laundrette I used to make sure I was back for the time the machine would finish.

Original poster
Launderetty · 27/12/2023 20:39

It’s an outdoor launderette - looks a bit like a bus shelter so has a roof but no walls. There’s one large dryer, one 20kg washer, and one 9kg washer. It’s not staffed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Launderetty · 27/12/2023 20:40

Ah yes @Terfosaurus this one is at a petrol station too

OP posts:
Lizzieregina · 27/12/2023 20:43

@Launderetty thanks for the clarification! I’ve never seen or heard of such a thing!

naemates · 27/12/2023 20:46

Where could he have put the woman's washing if he took it out?

Original poster
Launderetty · 27/12/2023 20:54

That’s what he said @naemates. I thought he could just put it in a bag in front of the machine - we had a roll of bin bags in the car.

OP posts:
Wateroverwine · 27/12/2023 20:59

I never use to take people's washing out but seeing as so many selfish individuals that will see others waiting and leave their clothes or use two machines for drying a small bundle each I do it now If there is a bag or basket available, obviously wouldn't throw someone's washing on the floor

Princesspollyyy · 27/12/2023 20:59

Catza · 27/12/2023 20:28

Was there only one washing machine and the dryer in the entire laundrette?
I wouldn't remove someone else's clothes. And I think your husband is telling porkies because I have never seen a laundrette with only one set of appliances. Likely, he just didn't fancy waiting until the job was finished (which I don't blame him for. It's mind-numbingly boring)

You think the husband is telling porkies? You've obviously misunderstood, and you think it's an actual laundrette premises, with several machines.

The Op is referring to machines that are usually seen outside of petrol stations, so at our local one, there is just one drier, and two washing machines, one bigger than the other.

Wateroverwine · 27/12/2023 21:00

And who needs to dry something for so long. Most stuff is bone dry in 30-40mins I'm a regular at laundrettes

RiverCartwright · 27/12/2023 21:01

Outdoor laundrette for those who've never seen them:

Launderette Etiquette
DragonCatcher · 27/12/2023 21:01

@Launderetty I'd have pulled it out as soon as it finished if she wasn't around, maybe give or take 5 mins in case she had mistimed the dryer cycle. She should have told your DH she'd be back in 1hour to extend the time so he'd have known it was a longer wait too.

On holiday I used the washing machines and dryers in the hotel. When someone's washing was done, all 3 machines in use and no one around coming to collect it I just pulled it out and put mine on. I did fold theirs out of courtesy so it wouldn't be wrinkled and I arrived back before the end of my wash cycle to move my own on. Theirs had gone by then but other machines were full and finished too. I did tell some other people to just pull it out and put theirs on which they eventually did. You can't hang around all day and they are for public use.

CMOTDibbler · 27/12/2023 21:28

I went to a similar one recently when my washing machine was out of action for a week. People were totally ruthless in pulling washing/ drying out into a trolley if the owner wasn't back in a couple of minutes, so I'm going with that being the etiquette. The washing machine even texts you to say it is finishing, so no excuses

Dotjones · 27/12/2023 21:32

The rule is if the machine has finished it's fair game to empty any washing out if you want to use the machine yourself. But the woman wasn't unreasonable to extend her time since nobody had taken her stuff out.

Itslegitimatesalvage · 27/12/2023 21:32

You get a free text message when you’re stuff is done, there is no excuse to not turn up for it. I’d have taken it out and put mine in, and then hid in my car so she wouldn’t know who 🫣

FinallyHere · 27/12/2023 21:40

Dotjones · 27/12/2023 21:32

The rule is if the machine has finished it's fair game to empty any washing out if you want to use the machine yourself. But the woman wasn't unreasonable to extend her time since nobody had taken her stuff out.

This.

How else would it work?

SisterhoodNotCisterhood · 27/12/2023 21:50

Itslegitimatesalvage · 27/12/2023 21:32

You get a free text message when you’re stuff is done, there is no excuse to not turn up for it. I’d have taken it out and put mine in, and then hid in my car so she wouldn’t know who 🫣

THIS! I'd be raging. You get a text long before it's needed, telling you the load is almost finished. It's plenty of time to get your arse back to the machine. The fact she just sauntered back over half an hour (probably 45 minutes or more after getting the text) would have pissed me off.

He should have taken her washing out and put it in his bin bags.

Princesspollyyy · 28/12/2023 10:09

RiverCartwright · 27/12/2023 21:01

Outdoor laundrette for those who've never seen them:

@Catza Do you understand now?

starfishmummy · 28/12/2023 10:20

The one I know of is literally on a street corner, I'd have to hover nearby in my car to rescue my stuff as soon as possible rather than risk having it dumped out onto the pavement! And I'd feel bad about dumping other people's stuff out. Fortunately there are conventional launderettes not too far away. At least there are usually baskets to put stuff in and it will be inside.

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