To do laundry at a laundromat, sort your clothes at home and bring detergent, a way to pay and bags to carry everything. Pick a washer that fits your load, add detergent, choose the water temperature and start it. Move everything to a dryer as soon as the wash finishes, clean the lint trap first, and fold before you leave.
When the washer is down the hall, laundry takes a few steps. Without machines of your own it means loading up bags, planning around opening hours and hoping no one's snagged the last working dryer.
What to bring to a laundromat
- Your laundry, sorted at home into lights, darks and delicates, in soft-sided hampers or totes (easier than a basket if you're walking a few blocks)
- Enough detergent for every load. With detergent sheets, count them out at home: 1 sheet for a small load, 2 for a medium load and 3 for a large load, plus 1 extra sheet if the load is heavily soiled.
- A way to pay, plus a small stash of quarters
- A stain stick or travel-size spray
- Mesh bags for socks, bras and anything fragile
- Dryer sheets or dryer balls, if you use them
- A book, headphones or a crossword, since a wash and dry takes about an hour and a half
Some laundromats take coins, some take cards, and some use an app or a card you load up at a machine. Even the digital ones sometimes eat your balance mid-cycle, which is what the quarters are for. Check the setup online before your first visit.
Choosing a laundromat
Laundromats vary a lot, from spotless and well run to fairly grim. Five minutes on Google or Yelp reviews and photos before you go saves a wasted trip.
Look for good lighting, a reasonably clean floor and machines that are wiped down, not covered in lint and detergent spills. Someone on site is a bonus. A row of washers is no good if half are out of order, and reviews that mention broken machines or long waits are worth heeding. You'll want large-capacity washers if you ever wash comforters, sleeping bags or pet beds.
Check the hours too. Some close early and some stay open all night, and turning up with a full load to find the lights off is a wasted evening. Folding tables, seating that isn't broken, Wi-Fi and a wash-and-fold service are all nice to have.
A growing number of laundromats use high-efficiency washers or offer cold-water cycles by default. The saving per load is small and adds up over time, and with a low-waste detergent it keeps your routine a little more eco-conscious.
How to wash clothes at a laundromat, step by step
- Pick a washer that fits the load. Most laundromats have regular top-loaders, front-loaders and bigger machines that hold two, three or four regular loads, and the price goes up with the size. If the drum looks full before the water hits, it's too much. About three quarters full is right.
- Look inside the drum for anything the last person left behind, like a crayon, a tissue or a stray red sock.
- Load the clothes and add detergent. Liquid and powder go in the dispenser if the machine has one (on many laundromat washers it's on top). If you're using liquid, take the time to measure. Guesswork leads to residue and spills. Detergent sheets and pods go in the drum with the clothes.
- Choose the water temperature. Cold suits most clothes and keeps colors from fading, and warm or hot is better for towels, bedding and very dirty clothes. Our guide to hot or cold water has a table by fabric.
- Feed the coins, tap your card or start the machine in the app, and check it fills with water before you walk away.
- Set a timer. Most laundromat wash cycles take around 25 to 40 minutes, and getting back before it ends means nobody has to move your clothes for you.
Drying at a laundromat
Commercial dryers run hotter than most home dryers, and medium heat is right for most loads. High heat might shave off a few minutes but often costs you shrinkage or wear. Save it for towels and jeans. Clean the lint trap before you load: a clogged one slows drying and you pay for the extra minutes.
Two half-full dryers often finish sooner than one stuffed one. Most dryers sell time by the minute, so check the clothes before you buy more.
Wool, silk and anything marked "lay flat to dry" should stay out of the dryer and go home in a bag. At home, use a rack if you have one, or lay things over a clean towel or the back of a chair near a window, with air around them and out of direct heat. Our guide to air drying vs machine drying covers what else to keep out of the dryer.
Saving time and money
Early mornings and weekday afternoons are usually quiet. Weekends and the hours right after work are the busiest, so avoid those if you can.
Start all your washers at the same time and the whole trip gets much shorter. One larger load usually costs less than several small ones, if the machine can handle it. Don't overfill, though. Clothes need space to move to get clean. For a comforter, one large washer costs less and works better than squashing it into a regular one (see how to wash a comforter).
Fold on site while things are still warm from the dryer. They wrinkle less, and the tables are bigger than your bed. Some laundromats offer punch cards, points or discounts for regulars. Look for a sign by the counter or ask whoever is on duty.
A few manners keep everyone happy. Take your clothes out promptly, wipe up any detergent spills, and if someone has left a finished load, ask the attendant before you move it. If you have to move it, put it in a clean basket or on a clean table, never on the floor.
Why sheets suit the laundromat
A full jug of detergent is the heaviest thing in the bag, and it's the one that leaks on the bus. HeySunday laundry detergent sheets come as a flat pack of 60 that slips into a tote. Tear off what you need and drop them in the drum on top of the clothes, in cold or warm water, in whatever machine is free, HE or not. It handles dirt, sweat and whatever else you've got in the basket.
| Feature | HeySunday Laundry Sheets | Traditional Liquid Detergent |
|---|---|---|
| Portability | Compact, lightweight sheets | Heavy, bulky bottles |
| Ease of Use | Pre-measured | Requires measuring, spill-prone |
| Laundromat Compatibility | Works in all machines | May not suit high-efficiency machines |
A pack is $15 on a 30-day subscription.
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring to a laundromat?
Your sorted laundry, detergent, a way to pay and stain remover cover the basics. Two things people forget: a clean bag for the clean clothes, so they don't go back into the bag the dirty ones came in, and the laundromat's payment app set up at home, because signal inside can be patchy.
Should I use the laundromat's detergent vending machine?
Use it only in a pinch. The single-use boxes cost more per load than your own detergent, and you get whatever brand they stock. If you go every week, bring your own.
Where do you put detergent in a laundromat washer?
Liquid and powder go in the dispenser, usually on top of the machine or above the door. Many coin-op washers also have separate slots for bleach and fabric softener. Detergent poured into the softener slot only releases during the rinse, so read the labels on the dispenser before you pour.
How long does laundry take at a laundromat?
About an hour to an hour and a half. Drying is the part that varies, from around 30 minutes for a light load to 50 or more for towels and jeans. Give heavy things their own dryer and the lighter loads come out first.
Can you use detergent sheets at a laundromat?
Yes, in the drum on top of the clothes, not in the dispenser. Tear off what you need at home and keep them in a dry pocket of your bag. Damp sheets start to dissolve and stick together.
