LAUNDRY!!!

Brighton Beach woefully needs more laundromats. There are only two on Brighton Beach avenue, each about the size of a walk-in closet and always crowded because, well, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH LAUNDROMATS!. 

This is a big problem for me.  I'm really picky about how my laundry is done, and while I hate to do it I prefer to wash my own clothes.  It's the only way I can be sure that the right temperature is going to be used, etc.  The last building I lived in had laundry in the basement, but there are no washing machines in this 100 year old building.  When I first moved here I made the grand mistake of trying to do my laundry myself in one of the laundromats on Brighton Beach avenue.  But it was hot, crowded, and there was nowhere to sit down.  Kind of like the subway with fabric-softener.  I swore I would never do it again.

It was such a miserable experience  I  decided to try dropping off my laundry.  But when I brought my laundry home, I was pretty certain that they hadn't used detergent, and they definitely hadn't used fabric softener.  So I went on the lookout for other laundromats.  

I found one on Neptune Avenue, and one Jewish holiday I thought I'd give it a try.  (This was back when I worked for a Jewish non-profit and would get Jewish holidays off.) Unfortunately this was on a Monday and what I didn't know (has anyone heard of this?)  Monday is WASH day and is apparently the worst day of the week to do laundry.  The place was absolutely packed  with husbands, wives and screaming children.  I had to spend an entire two hours standing in front of the washing machine, and fight tooth and nail for an available dryer.

Then I found a place that was actually in Sheepshead Bay that was nice, clean, not too crowded and open 24 hours.  I actually used that place for awhile, but it was too far to go and one time I nearly got caught in the rain and had to duck into a funeral home to keep my clothes dry. 

It got so frustrating that I actually considered buying a car. But it seemed rather silly to take on such a huge expense for something as mundane as laundry. 

Finally, I gave the drop-off place another whirl.  I found out that they will use Tide and Downy, but you have to tell them, and you must pay $1 extra for it...

So I caved. I've been using them ever since and have been pretty happy so far.

Comments

[dana michelle]

Your post has given me a new appreciation for my old laundramat. I could fill up several washers and dryers and be in and out of there in a little over an hour.

Also, I'm beyond horrified that you have to ask (and pay extra!) if you want them to use soap!