Raleigh Laundry | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

August 15, 2017
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Laundry Tips for College Kids, Part Two

There is nothing more exciting for a new high school graduate than planning to leave home for college. What an exciting adventure this will be! New friends, new teachers, great classes, all away from the parents. Unfortunately once the initial excitement begins to wear off reality will hit. Along with this fresh taste of freedom comes the shock that you are also away from Mom’s wonderful cooking, a somewhat clean room, and “gasp” no clean clothes. That’s right. You open the drawer and there is no replenishment of clean underwear and socks. There is also no more clean jeans and t-shirts. Welcome to the real world! We hope that your mother trained you over the years to do a little housekeeping and laundry. If so you will have no trouble doing your laundry on a weekly basis to keep up. If not then never fear, we have some really great tips for you.

Laundry Tips for College Kids | Laundromat Raleigh NC

The following simplified steps should get you ready for doing laundry and we offer a few tips for problems as well.

Be sure you separate all clothes into 5 different piles.
We are sure your Mom sent you a laundry bin, tub, or bag. Find t! Go around your room and gather up all of your dirty laundries. Strip the bed as well. Place it all in the laundry bin. If it is too much to fit into the container then you will need to consider doing your laundry more than once or twice a month. We recommend weekly. This keeps it from becoming such a huge chore. If you need more room use your pillow case to hold more clothes. Dark, Lights, Somewhere in the middle, Towels, Linens (sheets).
This is also the time to empty out your pockets. Gum wrappers, candy paper, and tissues will make a terrible mess. Remove all loose coins, wallet, and cell phone!
Locate the detergent, fabric softener Mom also sent along with the rolls of quarters she knew you would need. Now you are ready to head out.
Locate the laundry facility on campus. Usually, each dorm has one nearby. Place your clothes in the washer. Use one for each separated pile. No combining! You will also not want to over-stuff the machine. Your clothes will not get clean. Use two if you need to.
One capful of detergent is plenty. Pour it into the dispenser that will be clearly marked for detergent. Add your quarters check the temperature settings, then close the lid and push start.
A wash cycle will take about 45 minutes so take some reading or homework with you. It’s never a good idea to leave your laundry alone.
Once the cycle is complete move the wash to the dryer. If you give each piece a shake it will reduce the amount of wrinkles later. Add a fabric laundry sheet and load your quarters again. Check the temperature settings again and turn on the dryer.
Go back to studying!
Once dry you will need to immediately take your clothes out and fold. Wrinkles will happen if you don’t.

Some things to remember are:

Use cold water if in doubt.
Be careful to wash new or really dark clothes separate from other things.
Wash things that tend to be fuzzy together.
Do not wait for a visit home to do your laundry!
Find a laundromat in Raleigh NC if you need to! It will be a great help.

If you need a great laundry facility in the Raleigh area give our laundromat in Raleigh NC a try! We can help you with all of your laundry needs. Call or come by today!

August 11, 2017
by Laundry Expert
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Laundry Tips for New College Kids, Part One

raleigh laundromat Believe it or not, it is almost time for back to school. If you are sending one or more of your kids off to college this is the post for you. You have hopefully taught them how to be pretty self-sufficient and they will be able to manage without you always being around. This will be a new and exciting adventure for your child. There is likely a pretty good cafeteria to feed them. Laundry is a whole other matter. Hopefully, they have learned from you how to do their laundry. Maybe they even know how often to do it so that it does not pile up. Over the next couple of post, we will help your college student by outlining the steps in doing your laundry. This post will offer up some great tips for your college student.

Tips for College Kids | Raleigh Laundromat

The first step is to gather together all of your dirty laundry into one place. We are sure Mom sent you a really nice container to keep this dirty laundry in. Find it and get the gathering done. Once it is full, Empty it! As you empty it sort the clothes into piles:

Dark’s
Whites
Those somewhere in the middle
Linens (sheets and bedding)
Towels

Once sorted into the right piles take the time to check the pockets of both pants and shirts for any stray paper, cell phones and wallet. You will only appreciate this step once you have ignored it and caused yourself a huge headache later. Paper will make a mess. Washing your cell phone or wallet – DISASTER!

Next, you will need to locate the laundromat. Many colleges have several and these are usually conveniently located for you near your living quarters. You will need stacks of quarters for the machines as well. Hopefully, you can locate the detergent and dryer sheets we know Mom sent as well. Take your laundry, quarters, and laundry items and head to the laundromat.

Once at the laundromat place the clothing into washers. Take care not to over stuff the machine. Doing so will only result in clothes that are not clean. This will double the work as you will have to re-wash. Nobody wants to have to re-do the job! Measure out the proper amount of detergent and pour one cap full into the proper area. Check to see that the settings for the water are at the right temperature for your clothing. Push start.

While your laundry is washing this is a chance to do some homework or catch up on some reading. Your wash cycle will take about 45 minutes. If the laundromat is in a safe place you may want to stay and wait.

Once the wash is done immediately remove them from the washer. Give each item a shake to help reduce wrinkles. Place into the dryer. Add a fabric sheet. Choose the proper temperature for your clothing. Push start. Do some more homework.When your clothes are dry it is very important to fold and hang your clothes immediately. Wrinkles will form really fast!

Congratulations! You have now done some adulting! You are done!!! Taking the time to do the laundry regularly will be important to keep this from becoming a huge problem. Be sure to check back for more great tips for college students.

Raleigh Laundromat

If you need to get “caught up” on your laundry, Laundry Express can help you! We offer a great Raleigh laundromat and a wash, dry, fold service. You drop off the laundry and pick up it up as it is convenient for you. If you would like information about this really great service, stop by today! We promise you will be glad you did!

August 5, 2017
by Laundry Expert
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Laundry FAQ

Although it is a weekly, if not daily chore in our long list of chores, laundry issues bring a special kind of questions. We do not always have the luxury of just throwing it all in the washer and forgetting about it. Today’s post will look at some frequently asked questions about laundry. Hopefully, we can help you answer some of these questions. The following are some of the answers for all your problems with laundry in Raleigh NC.

How do we stop the fading of our clothing, especially dark items? If you did not take the necessary precautions up front and your items faded the only way to restore them is by dyeing them. If they are new then adding one cup of white distilled vinegar in the final rinse cycle will be your new best friend. This will help remove any detergent residue which can begin to dull the fabric of clothing. White vinegar can aid in relaxing the fibers of your clothing so the detergent won’t adhere as badly.
Another question is about removing dye that ends up on other clothes during a wash cycle. The best advice is to make certain clothes are sorted properly to prevent this from happening. Unfortunately, it does still happen no matter how careful we are. If it happens to you there are some products on the market that will help remove the dye stains. You will want to do this promptly so that the dye does not get a chance to set.
How to brighten dingy white clothing and linens is a question most of us have. This dinginess can happen over time. Clothes will over time develop a gray and sometimes yellow tint to them. The yellowing color on white items can be the result of too much bleach. Try re-washing them with less or no bleach and hanging them in the bright sunlight to dry. Sun is a natural way to bleach clothing and linens. To prevent this in the future use as little bleach as possible. For graying items use a solution made from warm water and an oxygen based bleach product.Soak your items with this solution overnight then wash as usual. Add 1/2 cup vinegar to your rinse cycle.
What about stains that have become set in? This is one of the most difficult of all laundry problems. Once a stain has been washed and dried it is really difficult to remove. It could actually be impossible. To prevent this from happening to make certain to pre-treat any stains and defiantly do NOT dry until you are sure the stain is gone. Drying the item will set the stain and make it almost to remove. To attempt to remove a set in stain try a solution of an oxygen based bleach and cool water. Allow the item to soak overnight and check the stain. If it is gone launder as usual. If not repeat a few times until stain is gone.
Grease stains on our clothing come from many sources. Cooking, car repairs, and salad dressing are just a few of the problems. To remove these greasy stains we suggest treating the stains directly with an enzyme based stain remover as soon as possible. Allow the product to work as long as possible then wash with a good detergent and as warm a water temperature that the item will allow.

Laundry Raleigh NC

Laundry Express is your go-to laundry expert in the triangle area. We offer laundry in Raleigh NC services and a state of the art laundromat to help you with all your laundry needs. Contact us today!

July 25, 2017
by Laundry Expert
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Front Loading or Top Loading Washing Machines Part 2

coin-op laundry Raleigh NC Last blog we began the conversation about top loading washers verses front loading ones. Traditionally only top loader washers were prominent on the market place but in recent years front loaders are gaining ground. Interestingly enough this has only been the case in the US. In most overseas markets front loaders have been standard. This post will look at the advantages and disadvantages of both kinds of washers.

The following gives us a quick look at the basics attraction for each type washer:

Top Loading Washers | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

These washers have fewer bell and whistles as far as features are concerned.
They are however less expensive than the front loading machines.
The agitator is harder on clothing than the front loader. There are some units available that no longer have the center agitator so it is possible to get much the same in a top loader.
There is a much higher long term cost of ownership mostly because of the energy savings of newer front loaders.

Front Loading Washers

These washers have ALL the bells and whistles. They have almost every conceivable luxury possible.
They are much more expensive upfront.
The savings will come long term with more energy efficiency and water savings.
Clothing will stay newer longer due to the fact that these machines are gentler on the clothing.
Clothes get cleaner in front loaders.
Generally they are less noisy than their top loading counterparts, however, many do sound like a jet engine during the spin cycle and may take some getting used to.

One of the biggest problems in previous years with front loading machines has been many consumer complaints about mold, mildew, and horrible odors coming from them over time. It was determined that the door design was most of the problem. Owners were advised to always leave the door at least partially open after use. This allowed for the gasket to dry and not develop mold and mildew. Most manufacturers have reportedly corrected the door gasket problem and some added a tub cleaning cycle. Keep this in mind when shopping and ask really good questions before purchasing.

HE top loader machines are those being manufactured without the center agitator. These washers rival all the things front loaders are known for. The price remains cheaper than with front loaders. Because the center agitator is gone clothes are more gently washed. They use less water that ever. The load capacity is also greatly improved because of the agitator being gone.

If space is an issue then front loader are your best bet. They can be stacked with a dryer to make a great laundry space in a compacted space. If life expectancy is a concern for you then know that a top loader should last 14 years and a front loader 11 years. Repair cost also will be higher with a front loader.

As you can see there are a lot of things to consider when it comes to purchasing a new washer. We hope this comparison has helped you to begin thinking about which washer will best suit you and your family’s needs.

Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

If you find you are running at full speed and cannot keep up with all of your family’s extra laundry give Laundry Express a try! We offer a full service coin-op laundry in Raleigh NC for all of your washing and drying needs. Take advantage of our facility today to catch up on all your laundry and have some quality free time for yourself!

July 15, 2017
by Laundry Expert
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Front Loading or Top Loading Washing Machines Part 1

When it comes to washing machines most of us only had a top loading machine available in our homes growing up. Along with the new millennium generation front loaders came on to the market place. They have gained in popularity since the 2000’s despite some issues. Over the next couple of blog posts we will look at all of the pros and cons about both top loaders and front loading machines and see which might appeal most to you the consumer.

Front Loader or Top Loader? | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

As with all of technology washing machines have improved and become much more streamlined over the last couple of decades. Production has improved and front loaded washer have become more affordable as well as available. Many brands are still more expensive as a front load machine but the gap has closed closer to the top load machines. Lets begin to take a look at each type of machine and touch on the reliability, pricing, capacities, noise levels, and energy comparisons.

Top Loaders | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

The biggest advantage to buying a top loading washing machine is the price. You will find that these types of machine have the lowest pricing out there. This type of machine is preferable for small apartments, rental units, and commercially. If price is an issue for the situation then a front loader will be the best deal. Most laundromats will use this type as well.

In more recent time many manufacturers have taken the technology of the front load machines and applied it to the workings of the top load machine. If you look into the inside of some brands of top loaders you will see that the tall center agitator is gone. This means that they work similarly to a front loader. There is a learning curve however for this type of top loader. Clothes must be placed into the machine properly as sensors determine how the washer will clean the clothes. Proper time cycles must be used as well as the right detergent amounts.

Front Loaders | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

Hot on the market today are front loading washing machines. These machines are super efficient but one drawback is most of us will need to stack the washer and dryer or place each on pedestals. If not the stress on your back may just be terribly uncomfortable. This of course can add to the overall cost of the machine. If you have a top loader you can load the laundry at waist height. With a front loader you will have to bend over a whole lot moire to transfer the laundry causing joint stress every single time you do the laundry. This is why pedestals will be important. They need to be at least inches high to make this issue better for you.

There is a great deal to compare between the two types of washers and we hope that you will check back for our next blog post to continue the discussion. We will offer some really great information that should help you make your decision when it comes to buying a new washer.

Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

Getting the laundry done is not always a quick and easy task. If you need some help catching up come give Laundry Express a try. We offer state of the art laundry facilities with the latest in technology. We also offer plenty of advice about all your laundry needs. Come see us today!