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Doing laundry is a chore that some people hate because it can be time consuming. It gets more difficult when there is no washing machine or dryer at home because this means either paying someone to complete the laundry, washing by hand or making that fated trip to the laundromat.

There is no need to fear trips to the laundromat because the time it takes to wash, rinse and dry four loads of clothes simultaneously is less than the time it will take to wash two loads at home. Washing clothes at the laundry is not difficult but some planning is needed to ensure that the money and time spent are used wisely.

Plan Ahead for the Laundry Chore

• Tip 1 - Have coins or money set aside: If the laundromat has coin-operated machines, have a roll of quarters ready to walk with. If there is a change machine available, walk with a ten or twenty-dollar bill and exchange for quarters. Do keep in mind that change machines can malfunction.
• Tip 2 - Check detergent, bleach and softener levels: Do not wait until arriving at the laundromat to realize that the softener bottle is empty. A good habit is to check the levels after completing the laundry so that if any detergent, bleach or softener is needed, it can be added to the shopping list early.
• Tip 3 - Sort clothing at home: Sorting clothes at the laundry wastes time. Sort clothing at home into manageable loads that can fit in the washing machines of the laundromat. E-How.com in " How to Do Laundry " describes this simply by stating "to do laundry, first sort your dirty clothes, making separate piles for whites, bright colors and darks". A helpful hint is to put loads into pillow cases.

Helpful Hints for the Laundry Rush

• Tip 4 - Secure washing machines: Never walk into the laundromat empty-handed. Always walk with at least two loads of clothes and on arrival place them in available washers thus securing the use of the machines. One load of clothing can be spread to secure as many washers as needed.
• Tip 5 - Follow washing machine instructions: Instructions are given to ease processes. Most commercial washers have instructions on the inside of the lid. It is helpful to review the instructions to ensure that clothing is washed properly. It is important to add bleach and softener as directed to avoid damaging garments.
• Tip 6 - Be aware of temperature settings: Always check garment labels for the washing instructions so that while sorting, clothes are placed in the correct pile and are washed at the appropriate temperature setting to avoid shrinkage, bleeding or other damage. In Babette Wilson-Durso's article "10 Essential Laundry Tips for College Freshmen", she states that "all white clothes should be washed in hot water and you can add bleach if desired. Clothing with color should generally be washed in warm water, however, be sure to read the tag for washing directions."
• Tip 7 - Never leave clothing unattended: It is always best to stay at the laundromat while clothes are washing and drying. Leaving clothing in the machines wastes the other users' time and causes unnecessary work for the laundry attendants who have to remove the clothing and find places to store them.

Maximizing Your Time at the Laundromat

• Tip 8 - Walk with an activity to occupy downtime: Walk with a novel, textbook, newspaper, bible or a hand-held video game to keep occupied. Re-connect with family and friends by calling while using a hands-free device. There is no need to sit and be bored while the washers or dryers are spinning.
• Tip 9 - Sort clothing for the dryer too: If all the washing machines have completed the cycle, ligher clothing and sheets can be dried together and heavier items such as jeans and/or towels, depending on how many, can be dried together. The lighter clothing dry faster than the heavier ones and spare change and energy can be saved by doing this.
• Tip 10 - Walk with hangers: If the laundromat has carts with the hanging bar at the top, then walk with hangers to hang shirts, pants and skirts to ease ironing after.
• Tip 11 - Fold as much as possible: Folding clothes helps to save time with ironing. If there is limited space, fold as soon as is convenient at home as this will reduce creases.

Use these 11 tips to ease visits to the laundry. There is no need to be frustrated with this chore. Plan ahead, use the helpful hints for the busy times and maximize the time and money spent at the laundromat so that the washing, drying, hanging and folding are lighter tasks.