CoronaViruses like COVID-19 can survive on metal, glass and plastic surfaces for many days if not properly cleaned, so here are a few best practice recommendations.
1. Wipe down all shared and frequently touched surfaces including machine exteriors and folding tables with antibacterial wipes or a disinfectant spray like Lysol or with an antibacterial solution daily. A bleached-based solution is not recommended as it can affect and discolor clothing and other articles being cleaned.
2. Advise tenants to also wipe machines down after each use and it is advised that you provide access to wipes or a spray bottles and paper towels in laundry room.
3. Wearing a cloth-based mask or 2-ply garment secured over the nose and mouth when doing laundry is advisable as well as reminding tenants to not make contact with their eyes, nose or mouth while doing laundry.
4. Optimizing your machines with a contactless payment solution like ShinePay is advisable as this method minimizes touched shared services and using bills and coins which can facilitate the spread of germs.
5. All wash loads are recommended to be run at a temperature of 120 degrees or higher and for a longer duration (30mins+).
The above recommendations are clothing laundering best practices ONLY and should not be taken as medical advice or public health advice, or to replace advice provided by any medical professional or public health official. Any recommendations put forth by the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, the National Institute of Health, or any other local, state, national, or international health body should take precedence. ShinePay, Inc. will not be liable for illness, disease, or any damages suffered through contact with those infected by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus or ill with COVID-19 who are also using these facilities. Please continue maintaining social distancing, washing your hands after using high-contact surfaces, and all other recommended practices while using these facilities and washing your clothes. Stay safe!
Locations that have historically been open 24/7 are recommended to restrict hours and to have an attendant present at all times to sanitize machines and enforce social distancing measures
It is recommended that Pickup and Delivery Services be conducted in the evening to prevent having to explain to customers why some people can fold and others can’t.
Limit the number of people in the store at one time. A good measure is to allow in half the number of people when compared to the number of machines available. So if you have 230 machines, only allow in 10 people at one time and maintain one machine inactive between customers.
Only allow one person per machine (unless the others are children under age 10).
Offer hand-wipes or hand sanitizer and cloth masks to customers as they enter the store.
Post signage that encourages the practice of social distancing and instruct attendants to politely enforce those measures.
Block off folding areas and prohibit extended folding to decrease the time each customer spends in the location, “Wash, Dry, Go.”
Enable a contactless payment solution like ShinePay. This reduces the touch-points customers come in contact with. No cash or coin exchange machines, coins, and coin mech inputs. Same with touch screen interfaces on credit card readers or VTMs. Mobile payment systems where customers interact with their own smartphone vs a “common” touchpoint are the best way to reduce the transmission of the germs.
Reducing coin usage by attendants. Giving attendants an app to activate the laundry machines vs handfuls of Quarters highly reduces their chances of contracting or spreading the virus and reduces the need for future coin collection.
Laundromat store owners should consider that while some of these tactics limit revenue, it is important to be mindful of the appearance to the community, and to be exemplary in our diligence toward preventing the spread of disease and viruses.
The above recommendations are clothing laundering best practices ONLY and should not be taken as medical advice or public health advice, or to replace advice provided by any medical professional or public health official. Any recommendations put forth by the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, the National Institute of Health, or any other local, state, national, or international health body should take precedence. ShinePay, Inc. will not be liable for illness, disease, or any damages suffered through contact with those infected by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus or ill with COVID-19 who are also using these facilities. Please continue maintaining social distancing, washing your hands after using high-contact surfaces, and all other recommended practices while using these facilities and washing your clothes. Stay safe!
In these trying times brought on by the spread of Coronavirus, we are all concerned about being safe and remaining healthy. A major action to take is to ensure that you are providing sanitary laundry facilities for your tenants, customers etc and to be informed when questions around laundry arise as we all strive to do our part to #FlattenTheCurve.
Here at ShinePay, we have been raising awareness around how coins and cash are havens for pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus and even Coronavirus among others from our very beginning. Similarly, the touch screens that are required for use with card-operated laundry systems are also to be avoided if possible based on what scientists have found living on them, and they certainly need to be sanitized before every use.
To that end, we here at ShinePay have put together a few best practices for you to consider beyond removing cash, coins and touch screens from your laundry room requirements. Recently, a number of great articles from trusted sources have been published on how long can the Coronavirus survive in the air and on surfaces, which we link to throughout this post.
Clothes and Covid-19
Clothing bedding and other types of garments can contain and transport droplets according to this article from Huffington Post, quoting former Chief Medical Officer of the CDC, Robert Ambler saying that, “Some researchers believe the fibers in porous material catch the virus particles, dry them out and break them apart,” Amler said. “Smooth surfaces like leather and vinyl can be wiped clean.”
Sanitize all surfaces daily
The latest research has shown that the virus and similar pathogens can live on surfaces like cardboard, glass and steel for anywhere between 24 hours and up to 3 days. Also, there is What this means is that frequent cleaning of all surfaces is certainly an action to take, as well as washing clothing worn outdoors as soon as possible. Also, if possible, providing disinfectant wipes or spray for your customers is recommended.
Wash and Dry at Higher Temps
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing loads at, “[...] a temperature of at least 160°F (71°C) for a minimum of 25 minutes is commonly recommended for hot-water washing.” A good suggestion is to dry loads at high temps and to do so for a longer cycle than you normally would.
Use Bleach or Detergents with a Bleach Compound
If using bleach, (which is recommended for white garments and bleach-resistant items) it is important to know that: Chlorine bleach becomes activated at water temperatures of 135°F–145°F (57.2°C–62.7°C). In general pathogens and viral substances do not survive in a harsh environment like bleach solutions.
Mobile Payments over Coins
Mobile payment apps, ahem...like ShinePay offer a more sanitary solution to coins. Coins and shared surfaces like change machines are certainly to be avoided if possible. When using an app like ShinePay to operate washers and dryers, please be sure to frequently sanitize your smartphone as well.
(Image) A transmission-electron microscope image of an isolate from the first US case of Covid-19.PHOTOGRAPH: HANNAH A BULLOCK; AZAIBI TAMIN/CDC)
The above recommendations are clothing laundering best practices ONLY and should not be taken as medical advice or public health advice, or to replace advice provided by any medical professional or public health official. Any recommendations put forth by the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, the National Institute of Health, or any other local, state, national, or international health body should take precedence. ShinePay, Inc. will not be liable for illness, disease, or any damages suffered through contact with those infected by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus or ill with COVID-19 who are also using these facilities. Please continue maintaining social distancing, washing your hands after using high-contact surfaces, and all other recommended practices while using these facilities and washing your clothes. Stay safe!
Choosing to partner with a company for dry cleaning and laundry cleaning can help you save time and get better results. When deciding between dry cleaning versus laundry, you might be curious to know difference between dry cleaning and laundry services. Read on in this article to learn more about dry cleaning and laundry services and how these work.
What Is Dry Cleaning?
Dry cleaning refers to a specialized process carried out by professionals who clean textiles and clothing using any chemical solvent other than water. This is not a dry process since clothes are indeed soaked in a liquid solvent. The most widely used solvent in the industry is called PERC for short.
What Are the Pros of Dry Cleaning?
Dry cleaning can be an appropriate method to ensure that your clothes are not only cleaned but are also pressed and/or starched. In some situations, when you have a stain in your clothes, it is recommended that you use dry cleaning services rather than laundry cleaning services.
Laundry Cleaning
There are several different laundry cycles that can be utilized for different kinds of clothing when you choose to partner with a laundry cleaning services provider. Although laundry cleaning might sound similar to dry cleaning, it is actually quite distinct. Laundry cleaning refers to the use of cleaning agents such as detergents, soaps or softeners along with water to remove dirt from clothing. This method can be very effective for a broad range of different types of laundry that you might have.
What Are the Pros of Laundry Cleaning?
Most individual homes have in-home washers or dryers or a communal laundry room accessible to everyone living in an apartment building. This means that you have to think about things like whether or not someone else has left the laundry room machine dirty or ensuring that you can properly load the washing machine, so you don’t over fill it. A pro of using laundry services, however, is that these can be much more affordable than dry cleaning. You can usually pay with credit cards, quarters or even mobile payments to do your laundry cleaning. There are pros to being able to do your laundry from home, but you need to think of things like using the right detergent, not overloading the washing machine, and not forgetting your clothes in the washer.
Laundromat vs. Dry Cleaners—Which Is Better?
Depending on your individual circumstances, laundry cleaning is recommended as a first avenue for cleaning your clothes because of its greater accessibility and pricing.
Now that you have a better sense of the differences between dry cleaning and laundry, make sure you send your clothes where they truly need to go. For assistance with all things related to laundry, remember—ShinePay is here to make everything easier!
FAQ
1: Should you wash clothes before dry cleaning?
Clothes that are marked as dry clean only should only be sent to a dry cleaner, but most people will attempt to wash clothes that have stains or other issues before resorting to dry cleaning because at-home washing is cheaper.
2: What is the average price of dry cleaning?
The average price of dry cleaning depends primarily upon the area in which you live and the type of clothing you are having laundered. For clothes that are more difficult to clean or bulky, this can be quite expensive, and you should always ask your dry cleaning provider upfront. Shirts can cost anywhere from $5 to $15 to have these dry cleaned. This is one of the biggest differences between dry cleaning and laundering, as laundry prices are much lower.
3: What happens when you wash dry clean only?
Dry clean only clothes can be seriously harmed as a result of being washed. It is important to review the type of fabric involved to make proper considerations and deciding whether or not to use dry cleaning.
Laundry habits might seem like an unlikely place to find new ways to reduce CO2 emissions. Yet despite being mundane and easily overlooked, a few basic changes to the way you do your laundry can reduce your carbon footprint.
One new technology already helping to reduce the carbon footprint of laundromats is our app based laundry payment service, Shinepay.
How can an app help reduce a laundromat’s carbon emissions? Well, three ways:
Skip the coins: Coins are more than just a hassle. They end up generating carbon emissions as they must be constantly transported on vehicles, consume electricity being automatically counted, and require infrastructure such as ATMs and change machines to withdraw. What’s more, coins represent a form of environmental pollution.
Ditch the cards: Why bother with another senseless piece of plastic in your wallet? Manufacturing plastic creates CO2 emissions, and too many of those plastic cards end up polluting the environment or clogging landfills.
Focus on the laundry: Shinepay dramatically simplifies payments for laundromat owners and customers alike. This frees up both to focus on getting their laundry done as efficiently and effectively as possible, reducing unnecessary expenditures.
What Is CO2?
CO2 is the chemical shorthand for the molecule carbon dioxide. It occurs naturally in the Earth’s atmosphere, where it takes the form of an odorless, colorless gas.
Produced by all aerobic organisms as an essential part of respiration, CO2 is an element essential to life as we know it.
In addition to organisms, CO2 is also produced in the chemical process of combustion. As a result, CO2 is released into the atmosphere as a byproduct of a wide variety of machinery, including automobiles, power plants, and any device which relies on a combustion engine.
Despite being a natural component of earth’s atmosphere, CO2 is classified as a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases such as CO2 trap heat in the planet’s atmosphere, slowing the rate at which it radiates into space.
This effect contributes to a rise in the planet’s overall temperatures, speeding up climate change through global warming.
Since the Industrial Revolution, human activity has released large quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere. The large quantities of CO2 produced by our evolving technology have contributed to the planet’s rising concentrations of atmospheric CO2.
With an eye on the health of our planet, environmentally savvy individuals and companies are banding together to reduce their CO2 emissions for the sake of our environment.
How Does Laundry Affect The Environment?
It might not seem like doing your laundry has much of an impact on the environment, but keeping our clothes and fabrics clean actually extracts quite a toll on the environment.
Here’s how:
Power Consumption: Every time you use your washer or dryer, you’re consuming electricity. For most of us, this means actively increasing our electricity demand and (theoretically) forcing a power plant to emit more CO2.
Water Consumption: Doing laundry takes quite a bit of water. Moving that water around requires electricity, which means CO2 emissions. It also means less available fresh water, and likely more work (and more emissions) for your local wastewater treatment plant.
Transport Costs: Laundry is heavy. If you have to go to a laundromat, transporting it by vehicle or even public transit means adding to your carbon footprint. Even taking it down the elevator in your apartment building adds emissions.
Pollution: There is a lot of stuff associated with laundry, such as detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, baskets, clothes hangers, all sorts of gizmos and gadgets. All of that stuff has a carbon footprint in its manufacturing and transport. Worse, much of it is not properly disposed of, creating sources of plastic and chemical pollution. Meanwhile, every load of laundry produces a sizable quantity of wastewater which must be treated or disposed of.
How Can I Reduce The Environmental Impact Of My Laundry Habits?
A growing practice known as Green Laundry focuses on educating people about the environmental impact of their laundry habits and showing them how to minimize the environmental impact of laundry day.
Done right, Green Laundry can reduce your environmental impact and even help you save a bit of money.
Here are the fundamental tenets of Green Laundry:
Be as efficient as possible with the size of your loads and the settings (temperature, cycle type, etc.) on your washing machine. Use cold water as much as possible.
Minimize dryer time by hanging up clothes to line dry.
Reduce how frequently you wash clothes by re-wearing items which aren’t noticeably dirty.
Hand wash whenever possible.
Avoid dry cleaners.
Minimize waste from laundry products and properly dispose of all laundry related waste.
Taking the time to learn how your laundry habits affect the environment is all it takes to help you work smarter and not harder when it comes to laundry day.
What Other Ways Can I Reduce CO2 Emissions Besides Changing My Laundry Habits?
If you look at the four ways that laundry affects the environment we laid out above, you might notice that it’s a list of things which could apply to many of the things we do everyday.
Our laundry habits are far from being the only thing which consume water and power, require transportation, and generate pollution.
Spend some time reflecting on what you do in the average day and you’re likely to find yourself doing all four of these things on a regular basis!
Thankfully, you’re now armed with some powerful knowledge. The same sort of steps you take to minimize the environmental impact of your laundry habits can be put to work to help you reduce your environmental impact and carbon footprint from any number of any day activities.
How Can I Reduce CO2 Emissions From My Laundromat Or Apartment Building?
If you’re the owner or manager of an apartment building or laundromat and want to reduce the CO2 emissions from your property, one excellent shortcut is Shinepay.
Shinepay lets you skip all sorts of unnecessary hassle, expense, and carbon emissions by liberating you from dealing with huge amounts of coins or constantly issuing plastic cards.
Join the modern world with a modern payment system -- and do your part for the environment while you’re at it.
Reducing Environmental Impact With Shinepay FAQ
1. What’s the best way to make environmentally friendly laundry detergent?
Homemade laundry detergent is sometimes considered to be more environmentally friendly than store bought brands, which often contain a wide array of chemicals such as fragrances which can be toxic and pose an environmental hazard. Laundry detergent can be made at home utilizing ingredients such as borax, baking soda, and lye soap.
2. How much money can I save by drying my clothes on a clothesline?
In the United States, it costs on average around 45 cents to run an electric dryer for 40 minutes. That means if you forego an hour in the dryer to hang that load up on the line, you’re saving about 67 cents by doing so, as well as reducing your carbon footprint. At a coin laundromat where the rate is often 25 cents for six minutes of drying time, a 42 minute spin in the dryer would cost a whopping $1.75.
3. Is washing powder more eco friendly than liquid detergent?
More important than the consistency of your detergent is its ingredient list. Both washing powder and liquid detergent can be equally environmentally friendly. It all depends on what ingredients are used.
Since the inception of the self service laundromat, coins have been king when it comes to currency for getting those washers and dryers spinning.
It might seem like coins are an inseparable part of the laundromat experience. However, future thinking laundromat owners have begun to pursue a coinless laundry experience -- with exceptional results.
Although coins have served us well, they have a lot of drawbacks. Lucky for lovers of clean clothes, these drawbacks have been largely eliminated by laundry payment apps which can seriously modernize any laundromat.
But is all this high technology really worth leaving the simplicity of coins behind?
Let us assure you: it is. Let’s have a look at why and how.
Shinepay Outshines Coin Payments
We all know that doing laundry isn’t exactly exciting. It’s a chore that we’d all probably prefer to avoid if we could.
Worrying about doing your laundry is one thing, but having to make change, fuss with a bunch of coins, and constantly keep track of large amounts of change just to get your laundry clean adds another level of inconvenience.
Fortunately, a solution such as Shinepay not only makes laundry day a little easier, it completely eliminates the extra chore of handling change.
Shinepay makes it so simple to pay for laundry that once installed, you’ll never have to put any thought into paying for your laundry again.
The system is as simple as could be. Just download the Shinepay app, add a payment method, and scan the QR codes on the machines at any Shinepay equipped laundromat to pay automatically.
As simple as it might seem on the surface, the technology at the heart of Shinepay is a serious revolution for laundromat owners everywhere. Suddenly neither customer nor laundromat need to worry about handling tons of coins, making change, or chasing stray quarters ever again.
Why Coin Payments Are A Pain
One of the latest casualties of modern technology is small change.
With more and more people relying on credit or debit cards and phone apps to make payments, carrying cash at all has become something of a rarity. Even rarer still is having a lot of coins on hand.
This progression has turned services with coin payments into a real pain to use. Coins which used to be plentiful in our everyday lives have become more specialized.
Rather than simply having them on hand, customers often need to go out of their way to get coins. This process can even incur additional fees as they may need to make a withdrawal from an ATM or pay a processing fee for a change machine.
These obstacles to getting coins can often lead laundromat customers to limit the number of loads or the length of dry time to suit the number of coins available to them, potentially leading to lost profits for the laundromat -- not to mention clothes not quite as clean as they ought to be.
Coin payments aren’t just a hassle for customers, either. For laundromat owners, coin payments represent a serious security risk and a real logistical challenge.
Having a large quantity of coins on hand can be a tricky business. They are easy to steal and difficult to count, making them tricky to account for and ready targets for thieves. They are also bulky and heavy, and must regularly be transported to a bank.
All of this time and energy spent wrangling a coin collection can affect the bottom line for laundry businesses. In fact, going old school and relying on coins may be costing your business more than you would spend upgrading to a modern mobile payment system.
Shinepay Allows You To Generate Intuitive Reports
Shinepay not only solves all of the logistical issues of handling physical coins, but it also works wonders for solving all of the accounting problems coin payments can bring with them.
Instead of being forced to manually collect and collate all of the data about your earnings from a variety of machines, Shinepay seamlessly integrates all of the data you need into an intuitive reporting system.
Rather than doing guesswork, you have all of the information you need about your machine's earnings readily available in an easily digestible format.
Sure beats counting quarters.
Don’t Get Left Behind
Once a customer experiences the simplicity and convenience of a mobile payment system, they will never look at an old coin operated laundromat the same way again.
Don’t let your laundry business get left behind. Take the plunge into the modern era and upgrade your laundromat’s payment system to Shinepay. Your customers will thank you (and so will your accountant!)
Shinepay Mobile Laundry Payment System FAQs
1. Is the Shinepay app easy to use?
The Shinepay app is designed to make everything as simple as possible. It takes just a few minutes to become familiar with the app, setup a payment method, and begin doing your laundry. After setup, all you need to do is scan any Shinepay QR code to make a payment.
2. Is the Shinepay app safe to have on my phone?
Absolutely! The Shinepay app is developed by professional app developers and is safe to use on your Android or iOS device.
3. Does the hardware for Shinepay take long to install on my laundry machines?
Shinepay is designed for quick and painless installation. It can often be installed in just a few minutes with minimal tools. However, the exact process for installation will vary depending on the make and model of your laundry machines.
When attempting to repair your washing machine, it is important to remain safe. Washing machine repair is best handled by an outside professional, so hiring a washing machine repair service could be extremely helpful for minimizing your risk of injury and additional issues while attempting laundry machine repair on your own. There are some situations where you can handle fixing your washing machine by yourself.
Safety Tips You Need to Know Before You Attempt Any Repairs
One of the most important things you can keep in mind before attempting any repairs on your washing machine is to ensure that the appliance is not only turned off but unplugged from the wall. Always unplug the appliance and turn off the water after use. Before opening the door of the appliance to check inside, make sure that all of the water has drained, and you should never open the door if you still see water. Check the appliance before each use to make sure that small children or pets have not climbed inside of it. Repairs made by unqualified or inexperienced people could lead to injuries or even the need for more serious and expensive repairs. Whenever you attempt washing machine repair, you must make sure to take washing machine safety into account.
What Causes My Washing Machine to Break Down in the First Place
Washing machines need to be treated properly and on a regular basis to ensure they operate as they are supposed to and do not break down.
Is It Expensive to Hire Someone for a Washing Machine Repair Service?
Choosing the right washing machines from the outset makes it much less likely that you will need a washing machine repair service. This is especially important when you use washing machines inside your business.
If you own a business that offers laundry service, you'll want to make sure that you know how to find the best washing machines for your business to make sure they meet the needs of your customers and aren't likely to break down this frequently. In many cases, you may be able to get to use washing machine repair services to get your washing machine back up and running sooner rather than later, and it can be less expensive than purchasing a new washing machine.
Determine If Your Washing Machine Is Under Warranty
One of the most important steps before hiring a washing machine repair service or calling in a technician to work on it is to determine whether or not your washing machine is under warranty. If it is under warranty you might not have to pay anything at all for the repair.
Can I Fix the Payment System for My Washing Machine?
If you have a mobile payment system from Shine Pay, there are steps you can take to try and fix any payment issues on your own. If they cannot be fixed, then Shine Pay’s support system will help to take care of you.
Washing Machine Repair FAQ
How long does a washing machine last?
A highly rated washing machine can last for many years but might need some repair in that period.
What are some of the most common issues with a washing machine?
One of the most common issues with a washing machine is the machine won't fill with water, the washing machine is noisy, the drum doesn't turn, the door won't open, or closed, and it does not smell right.
How often should you replace your washing machine?
Replacing your washing machine depends on how recently you purchased it. The average life expectancy of a brand-new washing machine is 11 years and consumer reports recommend replacing any appliances that are older than 8 years. If you have purchased a top of the line washing machine, however, you might not have to repair as often as you might expect.
Now that you know a little more about how to fix a washing machine (and how to do it safely), don’t forget about your friends at ShinePay! We’re here to help you with all your laundry questions, and we can also set you up with washing machines your customers will love.
Mobile systems change the game by turning a $10,000 endeavor into a $150-$300 endeavor. Paying with a credit-card on a laundry machine is nothing new. Card systems have existed for decades. You might wonder why you never see them anywhere. The simple reason is they are super-expensive. A small laundry room can be $10,000. Multiply that by multiple rooms or one large room and the cost clearly outweighs the value.
Have it All
With mobile payment systems you can go all electronic payment or it can work in conjunction with coins. You also have the option to switch back-and-forth when you choose.
Works With Your Existing Machines
ShinePay works with your new & old machines. It also works on all major manufactures.
Works with normal machines
Have a couple ‘normal’ non-commercial machines in the basement. Add electronic payments with the ShinePay PowerSpark.
Works With Other Vending
ShinePay can also vend electric-car charging. Allow your tenants to use one app for laundry and their car.
Increment Pricing
With electronic payment solutions you can easily adjust pricing and gradually raise prices.
Reduce the Hassle of Refunds
Your tenants can request the refund through their app. You can approve/deny the refund from your app. No more $1.50 checks in the mail.
Add An Extra Amenity
Your tenants hate getting coins more than you hate collecting them. Having a mobile payment option adds an additional level of convenience to your property. Charge an extra $10-$40/month in rent.
People Spend More With Credit Cards
Your tenants might want to break one load into two loads but might not have enough Quarters. Give them the ability to spend money easily. Overloading machines can also increase repairs and maintenance.
Auditing
Track your laundry revenue accurately. Coins can be miscounted or even-worse, stolen. Prevent frustration before it starts. With electronic logs of laundry revenue increase the resale value of your property.
A vital yet often overlooked aspect of doing your laundry is finding the optimal load size.
If you stuff too many items into the same load, it can prevent them from getting cleaned properly. Worse still, it can even throw your laundry machine’s drum off balance and potentially cause damage to the machine itself, or even the clothes within which can become traped and rip during the spin cycle.
But if you put too few items into a wash, you’re simply wasting water, detergent, time, and electricity which could be made better use of by adding more clothes to the load.
To help you out, we’ve put together this quick guide on how much laundry you should fill your machine with for optimum results.
Finding the Optimal Laundry Load Size
The amount of space available for a load of laundry varies between different washing machines. Different brands and models of washing machines have different amounts of space available inside, within the washing machine drum.
The drum size isn’t the only factor in this equation, either. Another thing to think about is the type of washing machine you’re using. High Efficiency (HE) machines can wash more clothes in a single load than regular washing machines, which means they can be filled differently.
To get your laundry clean, there needs to be enough free space within the washing machine to allow water to circulate and for your laundry to move around during the wash. Packing it too tightly will prevent this, leading to your laundry not getting as clean as it could.
For some tailor made instructions, you can consult your washing machine’s operating manual, which probably has some suggestions for the optimal load size for your washer.
But for those of us who don’t have their washing machine manual handy (who does, really?) we have a few simple methods of determining the right size.
Three Methods for Quickly Determining the Right Load Size
1. Proportion of Drum
You can pretty easily determine a good load size by just eyeballing how much laundry you’ve loaded into the drum.
For a medium load, fill your washer until it’s about half-way full. For a large load, fill it up to three quarters full.
If you’re trying to do an extra large load and want to pack in as much as you can, fill the washer with clothes an insert the palm of your hand. If you can comfortably fit the palm of you hand in between the clothes and the wall of the drum, it should be okay.
2. Weighing Your Laundry
If you happen to have a scale handy, you can weigh your laundry to get an idea of the load size. This isn’t a perfect solution, since the weight of a load isn’t always directly proportional to the size of the items in the load.
This is a slight issue because the main thing we are concerned with when filling the washing machine drum is volume, not weight. Too much weight can be bad for your washing machine as well, but typically the limiting factor is the volume of the load.
However, here are a few rules of thumb if you want to weigh your laundry:
A medium load is around 6-7lbs of laundry
A large load is around 11lbs of laundry
An extra large load is up to 21lbs of laundry
3. Count Your Items
If you don’t trust eyeballing it and don’t have a scale handy, you can count the garments and items in your load to get an idea of your load size.
Here are some rough figures on how many of each type of item can be fit into a given load size. Note that these are just rough estimates, as the sizes of these items can vary widely based on other factors.
Medium or Regular Load: 5 T-shirts, 2 Sweaters, 3 Pairs of Pants, 3 Pairs of Underwear, 2 Skirts, 1 Pair of Socks.
Large Load: 12 T-Shirts, 2 Sweaters, 5 Pairs of Pants, 5 Pairs of Underwear, 3 Skirts, 6 Pairs of Socks.
Extra-Large Load: 12 T-Shirts, 15 Sweaters, 6 Pairs of Pants, 6 Pairs of Underwear, 6 Skirts, 12 Pairs of Pants, 12 Pairs of Socks.
FAQ's
How much does a load of laundry cost?
In the United States, it costs around $3 to wash and dry a load of laundry at a laundromat. Doing the same load of laundry at home would cost around $1-$2 in electricity and water expenses, depending on where in the country you live.
How often should you do laundry?
You should organize your laundry schedule to ensure you never run out of clean clothes. How often will depend on how many outfits you have in your wardrobe that are regularly worn. Any time you only have two or three outfits left, be sure to start up a load or two of laundry.
What size washer do I need for a family of 4?
For a family of four, you want a large washer which can tackle a high volume of laundry. Look for something with a capacity of at least 4 cubic feet.
