Nobody wakes up excited about laundry day. But what if you could cut your time at the laundromat in half? Here are seven simple tricks that actually work.
1. Sort Before You Leave Home
This sounds obvious, but most people skip it. Spend five minutes at home separating whites, darks, and colors. When you arrive at the laundromat, you can start washing immediately instead of sorting piles on a folding table.
Even a basic “lights versus darks” split saves time. You won’t need to rewash anything because colors bleed, and you won’t waste time deciding which clothes go where. Your future self will thank you.
2. Don’t Overstuff the Machines
Cramming too many clothes into a washer is tempting when you want to finish quickly. But overstuffed machines don’t clean well, which means you’ll need to rewash everything anyway.
A good rule: the machine should be full but not packed tight. Clothes need room to move around and get clean. If you’re pressing down hard to fit more items in, you’ve gone too far. Leave a little breathing room at the top, and your clothes will come out cleaner the first time.
3. Go When It’s Quiet
Weekend mornings are generally busier at any laundromat. Everyone has the same idea, which means waiting for machines and competing for dryers. Instead, try these quieter times:
- Mid-morning on weekdays (around 10 AM)
- Early afternoon (between 1-3 PM)
- Late evening (after 7 PM)
Fewer people means more available machines. You can wash multiple loads at once instead of waiting for machines to free up. That alone can cut your time in half.
4. Make Waiting Time Work for You
Even with perfect planning, you’ll have downtime while machines run. Use those 30-minute windows smartly. Fold clothes from your last load while the dryer runs. Pre-treat stains for the next wash. Clear lint from dryer screens so your clothes dry faster.
Or just relax. Catch up on texts, read a chapter of your book, or scroll through your phone guilt-free. The key is having a plan so you’re not just standing around feeling frustrated.
5. Don’t Skip Wash Cycles to Save Time
It’s tempting to use the quick-wash setting for everything. But if your clothes are actually dirty, you’ll end up rewashing them anyway. That quick 15-minute cycle becomes a 45-minute do-over.
Use the right cycle for your load. Most regular clothes need a normal wash with a full rinse. Lightly worn items can handle a quick cycle. Really dirty work clothes might need extra time. Doing it right the first time is always faster than doing it twice.
6. Pack a Laundry Kit
Keep a small bag with everything you need so you’re not running home for forgotten items. Include:
- Mesh bags for socks and delicates
- Detergent pods or a small bottle of detergent
- Stain remover pen
- Dryer sheets or wool dryer balls
- Hand sanitizer
Having your supplies ready means no mid-laundry store runs or borrowing detergent from strangers.
7. Use a Reloadable Card
Digging for quarters is annoying and slow. At Super Suds, our reloadable payment cards make everything faster. Tap the card, start the machine, done.
Check your card balance before you leave home. If it’s running low, reload it at the kiosk when you first arrive, not when you’re standing at a machine with wet clothes. This small habit saves surprising amounts of time over multiple visits.
Your Pre-Laundry Checklist
Before you head out the door, run through this quick list:
- Sort clothes into lights and darks
- Estimate how many machines you’ll need
- Grab your laundry kit
- Check and reload your payment card if needed
- Pick an off-peak time if your schedule allows
Keep this checklist in your phone. After a few trips, it becomes automatic.
Why These Hacks Actually Matter
These tips aren’t just about saving ten minutes here and there. When you add them up, you might cut your laundry time from three hours to 90 minutes. That’s an extra hour and a half to do something you actually enjoy.
More importantly, these tricks reduce stress. No more forgotten detergent, no more waiting in line for machines, no more rewashing clothes that didn’t get clean. Laundry day becomes less of a headache and more of a quick errand.
Make Your Next Visit Easier
At Super Suds, we want your laundry experience to be as smooth as possible. That’s why we maintain clean, modern machines and offer convenient features like card payment. We know your time matters.
Try a few of these hacks on your next visit. You might be surprised how much easier laundry day becomes.