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If 10,000 Biters wash only full loads, in a year we'll save the water weight of 1,890,400 Prince Charmings.

COCKTAIL FACT

In the pre-Laundromat days, college students commonly shipped laundry home by mail for cleaning; roundtrip shipping to Mom and Dad was cheaper than using a laundry service.

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home ›   tip library ›   Laundromat Tips

Wish your trip to the Laundromat was as eco as a pair of postconsumer-glass slippers?

The Bite

Even without a fairy godmother, it's possible: Easy tricks such as bringing your own detergent help save monetary and earthly resources. Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo-yeah.

The Benefits

  • More gas for your pumpkin carriage. If you stay 'til your loads are done instead of driving away and coming back, you'll save a precious - and nonrenewable - resource.
  • An eco-happy ending. Making use of double- or triple-load washers (if you've got more than just one load's worth of clothes) saves energy and water over using multiple single-load washers; if you have less than a full load, use the appropriate setting (duh).
  • Saving up for a new magic wand. Bringing your own detergent (especially if it's concentrated) can cost as little as 1/4 of what you'd pay for the stuff in the vending machines.

Personally Speaking

In her twenties, Heather conceived a (usually) surefire way to avoid getting hit on by those random creeps who seem to live in the Laundromat (you know the ones): Go in looking as ratty and ugly as possible. Then again, maybe that was the creeps' theory, too.

Wanna Try?

Use our laundry list:
  • Bring your own eco-detergent and fabric softener.
  • Bring an iPod and a book or something to do, so you're less tempted to drive back home.
  • Try to wash only full loads. Use the double- or triple-load washers if you've got more clothes than will fit in a single-load washer.

Aug 04,2008


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Hey, That’s (hiccup) My Underwear…

Apparently I'm not alone in hating to do laundry: One survey revealed that 78% of normally rational and reasonable folks transform into the unfriendliest people on Earth upon entering Laundromats.

OK, I just made that up, but the washateria has got to be one of the more joyless places I'm forced to make a habit of visiting. At least we have BrainWash café/Laundromat here in SF. It's still full of dispirited people, but at least we can all order beer.

-SF Editor Mike...off to do an additional round of smell testing...


Biter Comments...
I'm glad to see that Ideal Bite said TRY to have a full load whenever you do laundry. The full load idea is OK for multiple-member households, but, being a solo act, if I were to wait to do laundry only when I had a full load, I'd rarely -- if ever -- have any clean clothes to wear!
I am not sure if this applies here but I did not know how else to go about finding out. I was wondering is there an eco-friendly way of getting rid of used lingerie and undies. I am not sure if this is something goodwill, salvation army etc. would take. Thanks for any help you can provide.
I highly recommend laundromats located near bars or coffee shops. It makes the experience much better. Also group trips to the 'mat make for really funny stories later. -PS. There are places that accept used underthings, just google it.
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