It’s called the Laundromat. YES!!! Me, Judy Ludy, who hates dirty anything, had to tackle the task of dirty clothes, in the least amount of time. So, I thought to myself whatever can’t be dry-cleaned, I’ll take to the local Laundromat! I can wash and dry 3 loads all at once, and be done in little over an hour. Perfect!

So, I loaded up the laundry basket, detergents, hangers, and reading material and headed off to the local mat (that’s what the regulars call it). The good news is it’s literally a block from the house, so the drive is nothing. The bad news is, it was Saturday around 12:30 pm, and the place was pretty busy.

Picture this….I had just gotten back from my hair stylist and facialist, so there I was with my freshly coiffed hair, newly waxed brows, fully make-up face, with designer clothes in my basket. I thought before I haul everything in, I should case the joint to see what types of machines they have, and how the place operates.

And you know what I discovered…they have every type of machine you could ever need. Washers that do single loads, double loads, and triple loads, and even equipment that launders huge amounts of bedding. Amazing! They also have vending machines with detergents, bags, and coin changers; however, I am very particular about what I use on our clothes, so I brought everything with me. I recommend you bring your own change as well, because if the changers are out of order, you’re screwed.

Anyway…I go back to the car and bring in my basket. I find a folding table, and arrange my items next to the washer I’m going to use. Load up a double and single washer, add the detergent and softeners, put the coins in, and sit back to people watch.

This was the fascinating part of the chore. There are soooo many different types of people in the mat. Who needs reading material! I saw an older woman who came in with all of 3 items in a grocery cart from the supermarket next door; I couldn’t believe it! Wheeled it right down the aisle as if she owned the place. The cart was so big and cumbersome; after she loaded her one machine, she left and left the shopping cart in the middle of the Laundromat. Thought nothing of it, just left.

Next I saw a young 20-something female, with about 10 loads of clothes, dragging them in by herself, and sitting up shop at the end of the mat. I thought those can’t possibly be all her own clothes, and why isn’t something helping her. If that were me, I would have said to whoever owned all those clothes, get your lazy-ass up and help me. She must have been there for hours!

A single, young Keanu Reeves looking guy, came in with a bag of dirty clothes slung over his shoulder, I-Pod in one ear, cell phone in the other; threw his clothes in a washer, then left to go who knows where. This got me to thinking…here’s the deal. If you’re going to do clothes at a laundry mat, commit to it. Don’t throw your clothes in and leave for hours, so when they’re done, the machine is tied up so no one else can use it. You’re not at home doing laundry, try using some laundromat etiquette.

So, I made a list of Laundromat etiquette tips.

Judy Ludy Laundromat Etiquette Tips:

1. Stay and commit to doing your laundry. Don’t leave for hours and leave your clothes in a washer or dryer, tying up the machine from others. Both wash and dry time is little over an hour. If you can’t commit to something for an hour, then you’ve got a whole other set of problems, and probably relationship issues, as well.

2. If you make a mess, clean it up! Don’t leave your spilled laundry detergent, or worse yet spilled bleach, all over the machine so the next guy that comes along has a newly tie-dyed shirt.

3. For God sakes, control your children. I don’t need them touching my things because you’re too busy reading about Britney’s possible pregnancy to see how annoying your children are to others.

4. The Laundromat is not a hotel room. Keep your make-out sessions at home.

5. Leave all shopping carts outside the Laundromat. There are no groceries to buy inside the mat.

6. A little common sense (and courtesy) goes along way. Please try to bring it with you.

Simple and painless!

I completed my laundry in about an hour, loaded up the car, drove home, put everything away and was done with this horrible chore, in about an hour and a half. If I had done it at home, easily about 3 hours!

Amazing!