Self-service laundry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A self-service laundry is a facility where clothes are washed and dried. They are known in the United Kingdom as launderettes or laundrettes, and in the United States as laundromats (from the genericized trademark of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation) or washaterias. Facilities which have staff to wash the clothing are sometimes referred to as fluff-n-fold or drop-off services.
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[edit] Staffed laundries
Some laundries employ staff to provide service for the customers. Minimal service centres may simply provide an attendant behind a counter to provide change, sell washing powder, and watch unattended machines for potential theft of clothing. Others allow customers to drop off clothing to be washed, dried, and folded. This is often referred to as Fluff & Fold, Wash -n- Fold or bachleor bundles.
[edit] Launderettes UK
The first UK launderette was opened on 9th May 1949 in Queensway, London. UK Launderettes in the main are fully automated and coin operated and generally unmanned, the use of coin operated large washers and giant gas dryers are more cost effective compared to home laundry when taking all evidence into consideration including cost of repair and purchase, the large commercial machines use of utilities ( gas, water, sewage and electricity ) are more efficient and are therefore a greener way of carrying out the washing and drying of clothes, and very often a full weeks family washing can be processed in a little under one hour per week. The Dryers have very large capacities and when the dried washing is folded immediately, the requirement for ironing is almost eliminated. Many households find that by using their local launderette it saves them valuable space in their kitchens as well as time and money. A typical self-service launderette saves a considerable amount of water compared to washing at home, the large-capacity washers wash multiple loads of laundry at a fraction of the water consumption. Most launderettes have washers as large as a 40lb capacity which enables customers to launder four to five loads in a single machine. Customers are more likely to run machines with a full load because they are paying cash at the time of use, therefore water usage per lb of washing is far lower in a launderette than at home. In an age of water shortages and drought, self service launderettes are a significant way to conserve water. In the UK, average domestic washing machine capacity is only 10lb to 12lbs so any chance of laundering large items such as blankets, duvets, chair covers etc at home is very low. [1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Coin Laundry Association, a not-for-profit trade organization serving the self-service laundry industry
- Your Local Laundromats and Dry Cleaners, Find and Schedule Appointments with your local Laundromats / Dry Cleaners
