When Was the last time that you were at a laundromat?

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10k+5.1 yrs OP
~ 3 days, 5 hrs ago

When Was the last time that you were at a laundromat?
I went today so that I could wash my large comforters that don't fit in my washing machine. I haven't been to a laundromat in over 30 years. They now have an app that can be used for payment. I still just stuck quarters in because I won't go there again anytime soon-or maybe never. I didn't want to fool with getting the app. Anyway, it was $8.75 to use a large washer and over $4 for a large dryer. I am literally going to shop for lightweight bedspreads that can fit in my washing machine. This was a pain in the neck. And I have to wash them because of my allergies.

ladybeachbum, eighteen and Wanderer + 4 more reacted

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10k+5.1 yrs OP
~ 3 days, 4 hrs ago

Looking for bed spreads because I've already spent more cleaning the comforters than I paid for them. Crazy.

lynnsgirl + 2 more reacted

5k+2027.9 yrs
~ 3 days, 4 hrs ago

@RajunCajun :
Back in Chicago we also called these establishments a laundromat. When I moved to Texas they were referred to as a washateria. Don't know why this seemed strange to me, but it did.

eighteen, RajunCajun and KathyMarshall + 1 more reacted

10k+10.2 yrs
~ 3 days, 4 hrs ago

I bought a comforter once and threw it away when I realized I couldn't put it in the washer 😂 Since then I have quilts on the beds.

eighteen, Wanderer and RajunCajun + 1 more reacted

1k+4 yrs App
~ 3 days, 4 hrs ago

*Edited

@RajunCajun :
Back in Chicago we also called these establishments a laundromat. When I moved to Texas they were referred to as a washateria. Don't know why this seemed strange to me, but it did.

@CarolS: I had to giggle the first time I saw that word on a sign. Thought it was a joke.

I’ve been to about half of the states in the US and so far the only time I’ve encountered this name is here in Texas!

RajunCajun reacted

1k+4 yrs App
~ 3 days, 3 hrs ago

@RajunCajun: Last time at a washateria was last fall as I was getting the large duvets cleaned. It was right across Lake Houston in Huffman. I forgot how much it cost but we, too, used quarters. And DS went with me to do his at the same time. Always nice to have company while you're waiting.

RajunCajun reacted

25k+11.6 yrs
~ 3 days, 3 hrs ago

*Edited

@KathyMarshall @RajunCajun @CarolS :

Here's some interesting history for you ...

The word "Washateria" was created first, in 1934 (in Texas). "Laundromat" didn't come into existence until 1940.

So "YAY" for Texas!!!

EDIT: It wasn't just the word that was created; it was the actual washateria itself.

CarolS, eighteen and Luckysis + 2 more reacted

25k+18.5 yrs
~ 3 days, 3 hrs ago

@RajunCajun :
If use them all the time when I travel. In Spain, most I've used have a video panel where you select the machine, time, if you want detergent, etc. and then pay with a card. In Prague I used one that had a guy behind a counter that would tell you which machine to use, give you detergent if needed and tokens to put into the machines.

When I travel in the Lower 48, I usually stay at Holiday Inns... they have card operated machines.

I have never gone to a "traditional" laundromat in the States... yeah, those in decrepit strip malls.

Catmae, KathyMarshall and RajunCajun reacted

10k+5.1 yrs OP
~ 3 days, 3 hrs ago

I bought a comforter once and threw it away when I realized I couldn't put it in the washer 😂 Since then I have quilts on the beds. #msg2185164

@Luckysis : A-MEN!

KathyMarshall and Luckysis reacted

10k+5.1 yrs OP
~ 3 days, 3 hrs ago

RajunCajun: Last time at a washateria was last fall as I was getting the large duvets cleaned. It was right across Lake Houston in Huffman. I forgot how much it cost but we, too, used quarters. And DS went with me to do his at the same time. Always nice to have company while you're waiting. #msg2185166

@KathyMarshall : Yeah. I was thinking as I sat there with my phone that we've come a long way since the last time that I was in a laundromat. At least I was able to entertain myself with my phone instead of just staring into space.

KathyMarshall reacted

10k+5.1 yrs OP
~ 3 days, 3 hrs ago

Thanks for the education and interesting replies. I really didn't expect that much response to this post.

KathyMarshall reacted

25k+18.7 yrs
~ 3 days, 3 hrs ago

@RajunCajun :
I have no idea how long but really LONG! I have a large washer and dryer and I put the big comfortors and all kinds of stuff in it and it gets the dog hair and spills.

RajunCajun reacted

1k+
~ 3 days, 1 hr ago

Last time I went to the Washataria in Humble, next to the Mexican restaurant in Wilson Rd. The dryer was so weak that I nearly spent more than ten dollars just to dry two baskets of clothes. At the time, my dryer needed repair, and I went to this location temporarily.

RajunCajun reacted

10k+10.3 yrs
~ 3 days, 0 hrs ago

@Wanderer : When I was a kid we went to the one on Wilson often, that tells you how long it's been there. 😂. They sold cracker jacks and had a few old arcade games.

When my kids were still in daycare I would use the one across from the police station. I had an issue with my dryer that I wasn't prepared to fork over the money to fix.

RajunCajun reacted

1k+
~ 3 days, 0 hrs ago

@MrsT :
Exactly, my oldest was a freshman when I was last there and my oldest is now a junior in college. I ended up buying another dryer rather than waste on repairing old one.

RajunCajun reacted

25k+7.3 yrs
~ 2 days, 24 hrs ago

*Edited

@Wanderer @MrsT :
It's funny that this is the place I thought of while reading this thread. I always thought washateria was the name of that laundromat. I don't think I differentiated the names until I was in adulthood. I didn't even know only Texas called them washaterias.

Now that I'm really thinking of it, people called those quarter machines. "I need to go to the quarter machines to wash my clothes."

Wanderer reacted

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