The Golden Rules for Proper Laundromat Etiquette

Most laundromats have basic rules that they expect their customers to follow. This includes no smoking, no food or drinks, no pets, no children (unless accompanied by an adult), and no loud music or cell phone usage. Additionally, many laundromats have specific guidelines regarding payment methods, time limits, sorting colors/fabrics, using detergents/bleach, etc., so be sure to check with your local laundromat for specific rules before doing your laundry.

Let’s take a look at the rules that most laundromats follow and some tips on how to make the most out of your visit.

1. Cleaning Up After Yourself is Proper Laundromat Etiquette

While most modern laundromats are attended with staff to help keep the laundromat clean, it helps to clean up after yourself. It’s always polite to leave the area cleaner than when you arrived.

That means gathering all your clothes (including those left in dryers), folding them neatly where possible, discarding lint or fabric softener sheets properly, wiping down machines after use (if necessary), etc. Nobody wants to see piles of discarded clothes left behind!

If you spill some softener on the floor, wipe it up! If you use dryer sheets while drying your clothes, throwing them away instead of leaving them scattered on the floor helps the next person who comes to use the dryers. If you ever need any help cleaning up after yourself, ask the attendant for assistance or simply let them know that there is something that needs cleaning.

The laundromat is a public space! Having a sense of pride and ownership in your local laundromat is an important part of keeping it clean and well-maintained. Cleaning up after yourself is good laundromat etiquette.

2. Do Not Leave Clothes Unattended After Washing/Drying Cycle

No one wants to be that person who has their clothes removed from the machine if they are left unattended. Proper laundromat etiquette is simply setting a timer on your phone for your load’s cycle. Laundromat cycles typically last 20-40 minutes. You might have enough time to leave and run a few errands and be back in time for transferring your load to the dryer or packing it up. Do not expect someone else to put your clothes in the dryer for you. In fact, most orders that are left unattended are moved out of the way by an attendant to make room for the next customers in line at the laundromat.

At The Folde, orders that are left unattended for an extended period of time are logged into our lost & found inventory and moved out of the way. This creates room for other customers. If you come back and your clothes are gone, ask the attendant to look your order up in our lost & found inventory system. You’ll get your clothes back. But, there is a $10 fee…

Vice versa, if no other machines are available and you’re caught in the situation of being forced to set aside someone’s clothes after patiently waiting for at least five minutes for their return, contact the laundromat attendant. Do your best to not handle other laundromat customer’s laundry – that’s bad laundromat etiquitte.

Do not place their load in the dryer, as there is a risk of misplacing items or doing something unpreferable with their load.

3. Avoid Overusing Detergent, Bleach, or Fabric Softener

No, excessive amounts of liquid sanitation products like detergent, bleach, and fabric softener will not make our clothes any cleaner and/or softer. In fact, too much detergent can have the opposite effect. When there are too many suds in the cycle, the soap suds actually prevent the dirt, dust, and grime from being rinsed out properly.

In addition to trapping all the dirt into your clothes, it will also create a headache for the next person in line who will need to clean sticky residue from the inside of the machine, and they could have allergies towards or dislike the scent of your products.

With bleach especially, there runs a high risk for the next user’s load of colors to be stained permanently. Not convinced? Using too much detergent or other liquid can stain your clothing, pose a safety hazard, and can wear down machines over time.

Proper laundromat etiquette is to use the proper amount of detergents, softeners, and solvents!

4. Respect Other Customers

The main rule of etiquette is simple—be courteous! That means being respectful of other people’s space and not monopolizing machines unnecessarily (i.e., if you’re going to be away from the laundry room for more than 10-15 minutes). It also means keeping conversations civil and not engaging in any disruptive behavior such as arguing or fighting.

5. Be Prepared & Plan Ahead

You can save yourself some time by being prepared ahead of time with enough coins or tokens (if needed), detergent/fabric softener/bleach, etc. Also, make sure you plan ahead so that you don’t run out of time; many laundromats limit the number of time customers can use machines so it pays to plan accordingly!

Laundromats are a great way for busy people who don’t own a washer/dryer to get their clothing clean without having to lug it out somewhere else or pay hefty cleaning fees at their local dry cleaners. By following these etiquette tips and adhering to the general rules mentioned above, everyone will have an enjoyable experience while getting their laundry done!

Remember—respect other customers’ space, clean up after yourself, and plan ahead! Following these simple steps will ensure that everyone has a pleasant visit at their local laundromat!