When most people think of homemaking essentials, they most likely imagine things like refrigerators, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners. These machines have slowly become more and more important to an average person’s style of everyday living, and have a huge impact on an individual’s quality of life.
They have become so standard and run of the mill that it’s almost impossible to imagine what life would be like without these appliances. In this sense, they are vital tools in any modern individual’s life, and are becoming even more so by the year.
At the same time, there are some appliances that you are less likely to find in an individual’s home with every passing year. Some of these devices, like calculators and bagged vacuum cleaner, are simply being phased out because the modern marketplace offers alternatives that are preferable to them in one way or another.
Other machines, like treadmills or snow blowers, are not dwindling because they are not useful or outdated, but simply because many people have found that owning a personal unit is a worse decision than sharing one among the neighborhood or local community. Washing machines and dryers fall into this second category.
While most families owner their own sets of washers and dryers the decade before this one, fewer and fewer adults who are entering the workforce are electing to buy these once vital home goods. One of the reasons is of course that many young adults are no longer interested in home ownership, and have no room to store a clunky washing machine and dryer in their small apartments. But even new homeowners are often forgoing these appliances when stocking their recently purchased houses. Instead, many individuals have elected to make use of business like washeterias.
What is a washeteria?
Like the name suggests, a washeteria is a business that helps people who do not own their own washing machine and dryer clean their clothes. Unlike traditional dry cleaning services that serve more or less the same function, washetherias allow individuals to wash their clothes themselves using one of the business’s machines. For a small fee, a person can bring all of their clothes, bedding, and towels to a washeteria and clean them independently.
Washeterias have become increasingly popular throughout the last few decades. Their rising popularity has largely mirrored the growth of the urban middle class, a group of people who are less likely to own a large enough property to house a washing machine and dryer, but at the same time are likely to have more pressing laundry needs. Washeterias allow people in these types of circumstances to get their clothes cleaned, without having to work around someone else’s schedule.
How to Use a washeteria
The question that often follows “What is a washeteria?” is “How do I use one?” In practice, making use of a washeteria is decidedly quite simple. The first thing to do is to gather all of the clothes and other items that are to be washed into a travel friendly container – a laundry bag or hamper both work beautifully. If you are planning to separate your loads by color or clothing delicacy, it is a good idea to do it beforehand so you won’t have to worry about it once you’re at the washeteria.
It is important to note that most patrons of these types of businesses bring their own detergent, bleach, and fabric softener. This is because the products offered at the washeteria are generally not of the highest quality, and are dramatically overpriced. Either way, it’s better to err on the side of caution and ensure that you have all of the materials you need to get your washing done.
Once you’re at the business, select a machine that is empty and load your clothing and detergent. Most machines take either coins or credit cards. You will most likely want to stay in the building during the washing and drying cycles, as theft can sometimes occur. It’s a good idea to either double up with a friend, or bring something to entertain yourself.
Soapy Savings
The most obvious benefit of being a washeteria patron is the amount of money you save. Washing machines and dryers are not cheap appliances, and not having to purchase these machines makes a tight budget look a lot more generous. Keep in mind that you also won’t have to pay for the energy cost that goes into powering the devices through their respective cycles, and the water costs that result from a round of washing.
Aside from financial benefits, using a washeteria also helps save the environment. Not buying two large appliances for yourself helps ease up on the global resource consumption rate, and has a huge effect if everyone sticks to it.
Cleaner Clothes
Finally, many people do not realize that it’s actually easier to get clothes cleaner in a washeteria than with a home setup. These businesses generally have industrial grade machines, which are much more powerful than the average consumer model. They also usually feature at least a few over sized units for washing large loads or big items, which makes it easier to clean things like bedding and towels.
So what is a washeteria? A washeteria is a great way to save money, but is also a fantastic method of being envionmentally friendly and getting clothes cleaner. Using a washeteria is a great option for anyone who wants to make better choices, whether fiscal or moral.
