What are the rules for a laundrette?

[Icepop79]

Apologies - posting for traffic.

Our washing machine is broken so I’ve got to head out to the laundrette this morning. I haven’t used one for a very long time! What’s the protocol? Do I have to stay in there for the whole wash cycle or can I leave and come back? If so, how do I know how long the cycle will take? I’ve read stories on here of people being pissed off that someone has left their washing in a machine and I don’t want to be that person.

I don’t know either. I’d take a book and be prepared to stay. Presumably they’ll have a timer/count down on them though?

The machine will probably have a timer on it so you can see when you need to get back.

Don't forget to bring washing powder!

I think you'd need to stay there, see how long a cycle is to make sure you're back in time if you really must leave or risk your clothes being dumped or even stolen

In mine, some people leave some people stay while a wash is on. It will tell you how long is left on the machine. But yes, do make sure you are back in plenty of time or risk your clothes being removed and dumped on the side! The washing machines in laundrettes tend to be faster than your home machine. With the dryers, people usually stay at ours because the dryer doors don't lock unlike the washers (so you can open them at any point). I mean, it's very unlikely anyone would steal your washing but I don't like to take the risk!

Other tips - usually in the ones round here you need coins to operate them. Remember your washing detergent. Bring a laundry basket or big Ikea bag to carry it all back!

Can't you get a service wash. I used to love picking up my laundry all dry and folded.

I take my bedding and towels to dry in the launderette. It is a two minute walk from my house so I leave and go back. Etiquette if you leave is to leave your bag on the handle of the machine and if it finishes before you get back the attendant will dump into the bag for the next person to use.

If its staffed ask someone how long the cycle takes or check to see if its displayed on the machine. I use 1 of the petrol station ones and it tells you how long is left and you can select how long you want for the dryer

All the above and remember a big bag. If you are not drying it there just washing remember that it's heavier when wet so make sure you have one big bag or 2 to distribute the weight

I take a book.

Big ikea bags.

No service washes near me.

The cycles are usually 45 minutes to an hour. It will say or there will be an attendant who can tell you.

I usually find a nearby cafe and have breakfast while I wait when I take stuff that is too large for my machine.

Ask for a service wash and dry, they'll do it all. It doesnt cost much more.
If you dont want to then take lots of pound coins or change at least. And washing liquid/powder/tabs.

It all costs more than you think, so plenty of money.
I took a weighted blanket, it cost five quid to wash it in the large machine that could take the weight. It then cost a pound to spin it then iirc 4 pounds to dry it.
Frankly I could have bought another weighted blanket instead.

Some will depend on how busy your laundrette is. When my washing machine broke I had to use the laundrette and there was rarely anyone else there and plenty of machines, I used to leave the wash and come back. The machine would say how long it was going to take, think it was an hour or maybe a bit longer so I tended to go to the supermarket and do a shop whilst it was on. I didn’t worry about it finishing whilst I was gone as I’d never known there not be a free machine so my clothes being in there a bit longer than necessary wasn’t likely to be an issue for anyone. Once shopping I would go back to put stuff in the dryer, dryer only took about 20 minutes so sometimes I’d stay but it wasn’t very comfortable sat in there so I’d usually go for a walk and again I wouldn’t worry about getting there at the exact time it was due to finish. Obviously if the laundrette had been busier I would have been more conscious of the timings. There was no attendant there either although there was a number you could ring if there was an issue and I assume someone would have come.