Does anyone use a launderette?

Jami74

I do a couple of loads a week of clothes during E7 hours and hang them out overnight with the dehumidifier on but towels and bedding this time of the year can be tricky. I don't have a tumble dryer or central heating at home and it's been raining quite a lot lately and cold so things don't really dry on the line. 

Does anyone use one and can give me the idea of costs and how they actually work. Would I have to stay there for the duration of the wash or could I put it on and pop back later when it was finished? 

Is it likely to be cost efficient?

Slinky

It's a long time - 30 years or so - since I used launderettes regularly, but I don't think they've changed much in terms of the driers are large, but strangely money hungry. We visited a launderette in Canada when on holiday in 2013 and the driers there were much the same as the ones I used in the 1990s. There's lots of tossing around of the washing, but precious little drying taking place. They certainly were never as effective as the much smaller machine I have at home now. 

strawb_shortcake

We only really use  a laundrette on our last  day of a holiday and don't have one very local.
My Son uses one at uni and that costs him  £5 a time. 
Lots of launderettes are self served so you either wait or take a chance that no one is going to steal your washing.
There are some laundrette/cafes now that create a social space around doing your laundry but then you'd have to factor I'm the price of a drink too. 
Also noticed when I was in Cheltenham a few weeks back that there were mini launderettes consisting of a washer and dryer outside of a petrol station but as these were external I'm not sure just how practical they'd be?

TheGardener

We use one a few times a year for washing duvets and curtains as our home machine isn't big enough. The washers are much quicker than domestic ones - the one we use is about 30 mins for a standard cycle and costs about £6 a wash, the smaller machines are £5. Take your own washing powder as it's £1 for a plastic cupful from the wall-mounted dispenser.  However, we haven't been since last September so those prices may well have risen. The dryers are ok and you may not get 'cupboard dry' but pretty close and they eat £1 coins - I would say we spend another fiver on the dryer and the quilt will still need a bit of airing but that's ok. 
Usually, laundrette etiquette is that people using the washing machines get preference using the dryers but we find if we go on a Sunday afternoon it's very quiet and it's not a problem.  Also, you are expected to stay there until you're finished, particularly when using the dryers. The days of an attendant supervising and watching your stuff are over - I've never seen anyone in our local laundrette other than other customers. 

getmore4less

I used one when working away, paid the extra for a service wash where you drop it off and collect later very convenient but not cheap.

One near us charges £15 4kg service wash dry fold.

Bedding is £7.50kg wash,dry, iron

8kg from £6 wash self service

50p 4min or 3min(large machine) dry.

Alternatively look for option to improve the in house drying

If you have a separate room you could try running the dehumidifier longer to dry the room before the washing goes in.

Also try running an extra spin cycle.
What spin efficiency (not speed) is your washer?

A separate spin dryer if you can find one may reduce the residual moisture they are around £150-£200 new
Could look for a second hand one.

elsien

I don’t like the dryers in  the Laundrette. It’s either the hot setting which shrinks some clothes or the medium which takes forever to dry and feels like you’re feeding coins in. When I had to use one because the washing machine was broken I always washed the laundry then took things home to dry. 

The cost of the washer depends on the size. The biggest one was a fiver and took about 45 minutes. I’d go off and leave that but I wouldn’t leave when using the dryer. Ours took 20p’s  the last time I used it and I’d be keeping checking what was nearly dry so I could take things out before the creases baked in. 

Ours has an  attendant but all they would do is if the machine finished while you were out is move your laundry to a basket  so someone else could use the machine if it was needed. 

matelodave

We used a laundrette when we were refurbing our bungalow and all our furniture (including washer and dryer) was in storage. We did it for a week or so and then short term hired a washing machine.

The dryers in the laundrette were both expensive and nigh on useless unless you kept feeding them with coins and had plenty of time to wait for them.  TBH the washing left quite a bit to be desired as well.

Adding in the amount of time it took, especially if you had to wait for a machine to become free, we decided that hiring a washing machine from Hughes for three months was a much better proposition

poppellerant

I don't have to use laundrettes very often, only when washing the winter duvet.  Even then, I am slightly put off by the thought of the cleanliness of the machines and what others have washed in them previously.  Fair enough, a hot wash should kill anything nasty off, but that doesn't stop my mind wondering.

The staff in my local laundrette seem quite down to earth and seem to know something about everything and everyone.  I don't know how long my particular laundrette has been there, but I think it's been there long before my time.

wild666

he last time I used, well tried, to use a laundrette was 1983 and I wanted to dry some clothing but they said I could only use it if I was also washing the stuff. 

indebt80

Rather than use a laundrette, if you can afford it how about one of these drying pods they are advertised for £99 at Lakeland.  I have copied the link below.  But perhaps they have something similar on Amazon.  Then you could use this with economy 7.  I have economy 7 now, I didn't use it when I was with a smaller electricity company when everything was cheaper back in the day...but now I do my washing and use my tumbledryer at economy 7 times, but the pod which has good reviews will be good for you to get your drying done in the winter.
Dry:Soon Drying Pod Electric Clothes Dryer | Lakeland

pinkladyvenus

We were drying our towels and bedding at the local laundrette which was costing us £2.20 for 30 minutes, then once the energy prices went up, the cost rose to £3.20 for 30 minutes which was fine but after a while, we found more money was needed as 30 minutes suddenly seemed not enough to dry the same amount of bedding. So have reverted back to drying in the bathroom using a dehumidifier.