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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 · 28/12/2023 11:49

Princesspollyyy · 28/12/2023 10:09

@Catza Do you understand now?

Show quote history

Any particular reason you wanted me to come back to this thread to confirm my understanding? Have another eggnog, love. Most of us have moved on already.

Princesspollyyy · 28/12/2023 13:01

@Catza So that you could see how silly you were in your misunderstanding.

I'll skip on the eggnog thanks, rancid stuff.

mondaytosunday · 28/12/2023 13:01

My son says you learn pretty quickly the 'etiquette' at different laundrettes. His old place he said he just took a book and waited, where he's at now he said it's fairly safe if you can't get back on the dot to change over. But the true 'etiquette' is you don't leave your stuff in a machine if cycle is done! You come back (or stay) pretty promptly.

ThinWomansBrain · 28/12/2023 13:07

not quite a launderette, but we have a communal laundry in our apartment block - if people don't take stuff out promptly when it's done, laundry gets put on top of the machine if someone else wants to use it.

s4usagefingers · 28/12/2023 13:08

Normal style launderette then take the stuff out but outdoor petrol station style one probably not. She was rude though especially as she could see people waiting.

faustus5 · 28/12/2023 15:51

Not wanting to derail this but as a little aside can someone pls explain these outdoor washing machines? I've seen a couple near me pop up recently and thought it was a strange idea - I feel a bit nervous about the whole thing. So you pay, input your phone number somehow, it tells you when it will be done (?) on the machine and then also texts you? Is that right? I need to wash a bed throw and keep driving past the local machines but feel a bit l embarrassed as they are very public and I don't know what I'm doing!

Itslegitimatesalvage · 28/12/2023 16:45

faustus5 · 28/12/2023 15:51

Not wanting to derail this but as a little aside can someone pls explain these outdoor washing machines? I've seen a couple near me pop up recently and thought it was a strange idea - I feel a bit nervous about the whole thing. So you pay, input your phone number somehow, it tells you when it will be done (?) on the machine and then also texts you? Is that right? I need to wash a bed throw and keep driving past the local machines but feel a bit l embarrassed as they are very public and I don't know what I'm doing!

It’s literally just a washing machine. You put whatever you want to wash into whichever machine fits best (there is usually a choice between 8kg and 20kg). You go to the panel on the end and select your machine, the wash you want, whether you want fabric softener or whatever then you pay and it will start. It gives you the option to input your phone number but you don’t have to, as you can set a timer on your phone for when it will
be done. Then you go get it. You don’t add any washing powder or anything; just the stuff you want washed. The machine does the powder for you.

Why would you be embarrassed? People use the one at our petrol station all the time; it’s always busy. Who do you think is watching and caring?

faustus5 · 28/12/2023 16:56

Ah I guess I just felt that I would be faffing about trying to work out the system! I wasn't sure if you needed to go in to the garage to pay - like tyre pressure and car wash - or whether it was independent. The one by us is on a big main road that loads of people pass and it felt like it was a very nickable place to leave a large load of washing. It may sounds silly I'm sure, but I've used a launderette on the odd occasion but at least there you usually sit and wait. I was a bit surprised to see washing machines in garage forecourts per se, though no good reason why not I suppose!

faustus5 · 28/12/2023 16:57

Thanks though @Itslegitimatesalvage . Now I know! Smile

DisforDarkChocolate · 28/12/2023 17:02

The rule is you empty a machine that's been left if you want to use it.

Muchof · 28/12/2023 17:22

Princesspollyyy · 28/12/2023 13:01

@Catza So that you could see how silly you were in your misunderstanding.

I'll skip on the eggnog thanks, rancid stuff.

Perhaps Catza has not seen one of these before, I am in my 50s and can also say I have never seen one so was equally perplexed at first.

starynightskys · 28/12/2023 17:35

Going of topic here but i think launderettes are making a come back.
I love my one 4 small washers 2 large 3 large dryers.
Our other one has 8 washers and 8 dryers.
Once a fortnight everything is washed and dried all done dusted.
Coffee shop next door or i just go for a walk.
On the topic just hang your washing where you can over the doors heaters anywhere.

mottytotty · 28/12/2023 17:39

You say he should have removed the washing but where would he have put it in an outdoor launderette?

In the indoor launderette they provide baskets so you can just put someone’s washing in one if they’re not there.

I suppose next time DH could take a big bag like a bin liner or IKEA bag to put the previous person’s washing in there.

The woman was an utter twat for not staying with her washing.

Princesspollyyy · 28/12/2023 17:41

@Muchof

I completely agree, but 'I don't think I've seen a laundrette like that before' is preferable to 'your husband is telling porkies'.

mathanxiety · 28/12/2023 18:41

She was rude.

He was an eejit to have brought the heavy, wet wash home. Why couldn't he have split it up between several smaller dryers? Why couldn't he have driven to a laundrette that was indoors?

RumJerrySailorRum · 28/12/2023 18:56

Whilst I realise this is an unmanned one.......the 'etiquette' dilemma is precisely why I pay for the staff to dry my washing st our local laundrette.

I also tip them everytime too, I hate touching my own washing never mind randomers, they deserve it.

Glasgowgal200 · 28/12/2023 19:06

I wouldn't want a total stranger touching my clothes!!!!!

Universalsnail · 28/12/2023 19:10

I would have taken her clothes out tbh.

Universalsnail · 28/12/2023 19:10

Glasgowgal200 · 28/12/2023 19:06

I wouldn't want a total stranger touching my clothes!!!!!

Surely then you make sure you are there to take your clothes out the public launderette machine when it finishes

SisterhoodNotCisterhood · 28/12/2023 21:18

mathanxiety · 28/12/2023 18:41

She was rude.

He was an eejit to have brought the heavy, wet wash home. Why couldn't he have split it up between several smaller dryers? Why couldn't he have driven to a laundrette that was indoors?

I'm going to guess that the petrol station laundry service is there because of a lack of local laundrettes? We have a petrol station laundry set up less than half a mile away. The nearest actual laundrette? 54 mile round trip!

Princesspollyyy · 28/12/2023 21:26

@SisterhoodNotCisterhood

We have a petrol station laundrette 1 mile from our home, and an actual laundrette 2.4 miles from our home.

itsmylife7 · 28/12/2023 21:37

I'm fascinated by this post. What areas are these outdoor laundries in ?

HerMammy · 28/12/2023 21:42

stores.revolution-laundry.com/en-uk/

Itslegitimatesalvage · 28/12/2023 21:47

itsmylife7 · 28/12/2023 21:37

I'm fascinated by this post. What areas are these outdoor laundries in ?

They’re everywhere.

itsmylife7 · 28/12/2023 21:56

Itslegitimatesalvage · 28/12/2023 21:47

They’re everywhere.

Show quote history

I've been in plenty of petrol stations and never seen one !.

Assume we're talking about England 🤔