Self-service laundry

A launderette is a business operation that provides the premises and the machines for washing, dewatering, drying and optionally smoothing of clothes available for a fee. Most laundromats are self-service coin-operated machines equipped with (so-called Münzwäschereien ).

History

In the 1920s, electric drum washing machines became popular, by which accounted for the hitherto customary hand washing. The acquisition of such a machine was still unaffordable for the majority of households. Therefore, the first public launderette was opened on April 18, 1934, probably in Fort Worth, Texas (other sources call Chicago). By avoiding the high investment machine washing was therefore affordable for many less wealthy households.

Laundromats have enjoyed in subsequent decades worldwide popularity.

The laundry room today

In Laundry is not operated normally, the customer fails to operate the washing machine itself with the use of the launderette comes between users (customers) and the company a contract for work about.

In the industrialized nations of the stock in the last few decades is gone back again, as most households now have their own washing machines here. Nevertheless, one can still find in any major city laundromats. Users of the facilities are individuals whose washing machine is defective or for certain textiles is too small or who do not have their own machine.

Due to the rare use of a washing machine the shared use of a washing machine of several residents of a house is always interesting. In residential projects, the private washing machines are often replaced by machines in the community over time. This is both economically and environmentally beneficial.

In addition, the laundromat has partially achieved cult status. Thus, the laundry room is, for example, a popular object in advertising, especially for clothes, scenery was in the film " My Beautiful Laundrette " and served until 2007 even as the WDR studio for the TV show "Night Wash".

The laundry room in Transition

With the rise of more affordable expectant household washing the laundries are displaced in their original form from the market. According to surveys by the Federal Statistical Office from 2004 is an electric washing machine in 94 % of all German households. In contrast, the early 1960s, only about 27% of households in the former West Germany had a spin-drier; a washer extractor function that time had just 9 %.

During 1960 Laundromats contributed to the improved supply situation will enter this sector at least since the 1990s, a change instead. Many laundromats have since switched to a "comprehensive services ".

Unlike before, laundromats are similar today increasingly used as a " wash adoption center " of a chemical cleaning. The laundry can be picked up by the customer cabinet ready again. Since the garments of pure linen and no chemical cleaning is subjected to the launderettes can offer their services at much lower prices than most dry cleaners. In addition, it can be observed that more and more often Alterations are included in the service.