How to Save Time at the Laundromat

A laundromat can be faster than doing several loads sequentially at home because multiple washers and dryers may be available at the same time.

Sort and check pockets before you leave home

Handle your sorting and pocket-checking at home rather than at the machines. Our full sorting guide covers the details; the short version is to separate by color, fabric, and soil level, and pull out anything that needs special care before you arrive. Pretreat visible stains before you leave when the product instructions permit it.

Bring what you need

Depending on the laundromat, that may include laundry detergent, stain pretreatment, laundry bags or baskets, hangers, and the payment method accepted by the store.

Choose the right washer size

Do not force a large load into a machine that is too small. Clothing needs room for effective washing and rinsing, and a laundromat's advantage is having multiple sizes available to actually use.

Run compatible loads in parallel

At home, you may wait for one washer. At a laundromat, you can often run several compatible loads simultaneously. That is one of the largest potential time advantages, and it's the main reason a laundromat trip can finish faster than doing the same laundry one load at a time at home.

Match dryer loads intelligently

Heavy towels take longer to dry than lightweight shirts. Separating fabrics with very different drying times can prevent one group from sitting in heat while another finishes.

Fold before leaving if that works for you

Folding at the laundromat means the job is truly finished when you get home. Use folding space considerately and keep clean laundry off floors and machine tops.

Sometimes the fastest laundromat strategy is simply arriving organized.

Princeton Laundry is a locally owned laundromat in Princeton, Texas.