Finding the right laundry near you is often a difficult task. You want to find a place that allows you to quickly (and cheaply!) clean your laundry and be on your way with minimal interruption. While that should be a pretty easy task, it’s not always so simple.
So if you’re in the market for a laundry service in your area, we want to help you out. This post has five simple tips to help you make sure you’ve found a good laundromat — no matter where you are!
Tip #1: Check Reviews
First and foremost, you should always check the online reviews of any laundromat! It doesn’t matter if you’re going to a chain service or a local neighborhood laundromat, you’ll want to see what others have to say first. This is where you can find your first red flags, such as:
- Cleanliness
- Safety
- Price
- Parking
- Inside space
You want to make sure that these elements especially aren’t called out as lacking. If they are, you may want to continue your search.
Tip #2: Look for Cleanliness
Once you step into your newly vetted laundromat, it’s time to make some quick evaluations for yourself. At the top of that list is cleanliness.
Check the floors, walls, and surface areas around you to make sure that there isn’t a lot of dirt, mud, or general dirtiness from daily use. A good laundromat will be cleaned regularly, so this is the best way to complete a quick check.
The other place to check cleanliness is in the machines themselves. After all, what’s the point of cleaning your clothes in a machine that’s likely to put stains in your clothes? Dirty machines are a no-go!
Tip #3: Evaluate Their Maintenance
While you’re checking out the machines, be sure to take a peek around you and see how many of their washers and dryers are out of service. While servicing machines is absolutely necessary, there shouldn’t be too many that are out of service at any one time. Regular maintenance should keep things running smoothly (and relatively quietly, too!).
Tip #4: Don’t Overlook Amenities
While you’re not necessarily going to a laundromat to do anything but your laundry, you don’t want to have to stand around doing nothing the entire time. That’s where even basic amenities — like seating — play a huge role.
But laundromats aren’t just a place to do laundry. They’re also a part of your community, and they should help foster that. Many local laundromats now offer libraries, have televisions, and offer a place for kids to play safely. If you’re going to spend some time getting everything clean, you should look to be comfortable!
Tip #5: Look for Reasonable Prices
Last (but certainly not least!) is pricing. Laundry services should be reasonable, simple as that. If you feel you’re overpaying for laundry, chances are good that your intuition is correct. Don’t be shy about shopping for a good price, because you never know what you’ll find!