This Time, It’s Laundry Stories
After a few days of settling into the new place, it was time to wash some laundry. The studios I checked out near downtown mostly had coin-operated machines in the basement, but the place I moved into, nestled in a residential area, lacked those amenities. Asking the neighbors seemed like a good idea, but it felt like I was the only one living in the building; I hadn’t bumped into anyone, not even a rustle for days.
In American shows, friends in the same building drop by each other’s places and sometimes even share beers on the rooftop. Do they really create such unrealistic dramas? Or are they secretly communicating without me? Either way, laundry needed to be done, so I decided to ask Grandpa Bob (the landlord) about it. Since it was a game day, I sent a quick email.
‘Hey Mr. Bob, I’m really enjoying this lovely house. By the way, do you have any tips for laundry? Looking forward to your reply.’
Apparently, the stadium wasn’t too crowded today, as Grandpa Bob replied promptly.
‘I’ll email the tenants to see what methods they’re using.’
Either the tenants weren’t busy or Bob’s leadership was exceptional because he forwarded responses from six tenants the very next day. Although living in the same place, each had their own unique solutions. Here are a few highlights:
- Use Apps (Washio, Rinse): With a smartphone, you can request a service provider to pick up your laundry and deliver it back to your doorstep.
- Dry Cleaner: Drop your laundry at a dry cleaner and pick it up after the agreed time.
- Coin Laundry: Head to a coin laundromat equipped with large washers and dryers to do it yourself.
Apps are cutting-edge, but waiting at home for laundry pick-up or drop-off wasn’t appealing. Dry cleaners also take a day or two, so I decided to try the coin laundromat first. Having never used one before – honestly, never used any other method either – I just grabbed my laundry and ventured out. If I needed anything else, I could always return. After all, I had as much time as a lifer in prison. ⏳
A quick internet search revealed a nearby coin laundromat. Slowly gathering my laundry, I walked five blocks to find more people washing clothes than expected. Or rather, more machines running as folks seemed to dump their laundry and run errands. 🏃♂️
Instructions on the wall said to buy a card from the vending machine, load it, and tag the machine reader to pay. I bought a card, loaded $20 without knowing the cost, hoping it was enough for today’s laundry.
Next to the laundry card machine was a detergent vending machine, offering a variety as diverse as yogurt flavors at a store. Not just different brands but different types like detergent, bleach, and softener, each with slightly different uses. With no detailed descriptions, I could only guess based on names and images. Detergent and softener seemed like shampoo and conditioner. Was ‘Tide’ for rinsing? But adding something during rinse means rinsing again… detergent, rinse, detergent, rinse…
And how do I add these extras while the washer is running with the door closed? Some detergents are powder, liquid, or even in pouches, and I couldn’t tell the difference. Dryer sheets soften clothes during drying, yet softeners in detergents claim similar functions. What’s the deal between softeners and dryer sheets? 🤔 Laundry’s world was deep and mysterious, but I wasn’t keen to explore it.
Relying on intuition, I bought a few detergents and softeners, then tossed my clothes into an empty washer. When I tagged my card to the reader, it beeped, deducting the fare. But, looking back, I realized I’d used a dryer, not a washer. This scenario was reminiscent of my McDonald’s kiosk experiences, ordering only to be surprised afterward.
‘Oops, meant to order Sprite!’
While I’d just drink cola in such cases, I couldn’t dry first and wash later. So, I asked the person next to me, ‘I accidentally paid here. Can I cancel?’ They replied, ‘Not sure, but why not dry here after washing?’
Genius.
Since this dryer wasn’t particularly popular, and there were plenty of empty ones, I could just leave it and use it after washing.
Over the weeks, I asked many people here, rarely getting a precise answer. Interestingly, no one ever admitted they didn’t know. Everyone confidently offered their ‘home remedies’ based on personal experiences. Most didn’t work, but they lived happily thinking, ‘Oh, I accidentally tagged the card. Well, no big deal.’ 😅
Anyway, I stuffed my laundry into another machine and tagged my card, and it started immediately. But there I was, still holding the detergent bought from the vending machine. I quickly unwrapped it and shoved it into the top drawer (later learning it was the detergent input slot). I hadn’t known how to add detergent mid-cycle, but human instincts are incredible… As I marveled at my animal instincts, the detergent safely flowed into the washer. The cycle took about 20 minutes, much faster than home washers. After washing, I tossed the pile into the pre-paid dryer and hit start again. Drying took another 20 minutes, ensuring I wouldn’t fall asleep waiting. 😴
As I folded the laundry, now imbued with an unknown scent and softness acquired somewhere in the process, I realized I could finish a duvet in an hour at this speed.
I might just take up laundry as a hobby. 🧺
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