Coin laundry services work like vending machines. Rather than dispensing goods, laundry machines process them. The cost is often low considering the water you conserve doing your laundry away from home. Moreover, commercial machines offer a greater capacity and come in different sizes.

Loading Laundry into a Coin Machine in 5 Easy Steps

1. Look Inside. Always check the machine for stray clothes and/or pocket contents. If the person before you left items inside, ask around for the owner. Some coin laundromats offer lost-and-found bins, so toss the strays in there if you can’t find them.
2. Wipe Clean. For hygienic purposes, bring a disinfectant wipe and clean the machine’s drum. Out of courtesy, do the same to the top and side surfaces if dirty.
3. Add Clothing. Load your clothes into the machine, separating by colour or fabric (your preference).
4. Set Controls. Pull out the detergent tray and add your cleaners. Alternatively, toss pods into the machine with your clothes before shutting the door. In case the machine requires special detergent, check for nearby signs or instructions. As well, read the labels under the wash settings to select the right one.
5. Insert Coins. Some machines take specific coins (i.e. loonies and toonies only). Consider this when bringing change to the laundromat.

Common Courtesy and Safety

Some washing machines take upwards of 30 minutes to finish. Depending on what’s around, you may want to leave and come back for your clothes. Should you do so, ensure to return in time. Leaving clothes unattended is bad for two reasons.

1. It’s Inconsiderate. Busy coin laundromats might not have enough available machines. Thus, occupying a machine longer than you need inconveniences everyone else. Some services even penalize customers who do this.
2. It’s Risky. Not every laundromat has supervision. In fact, most don’t. For this reason, leaving clothes attended could invite theft. During the cycle, this is not a concern; but the moment it ends, you risk someone else touching your clothes.

A blog on Apartment Therapy offers some useful advice on the above. The writer recommends leaving both a laundry basket and note next to the machine. The basket signifies use whereas the note ownership. Although this might not deter some folks from rifling through your clothes, it does raise awareness for your property.