Until I moved into my first apartment, I never realized how spoiled I’ve always been when it came to my laundry. With the exception of very rare occasions, I’ve always been lucky to have lived somewhere where with a washer and dryer (and usually lucky enough to have someone else doing my laundry for me). So the whole concept of going to the laundromat on the regular was definitely a new experience for me. So now after a few years of lugging my dirty clothes to and from the laundromat, I’ve figured out a few important laundromat skills:

1)Always bring your own soap: Not only is it significantly cheaper per load when you buy the jug of detergent someplace else, I have yet to find a laundromat where the detergent vending machine is not out of order. And rather than risk the machine being out of order and then having to lug all your clothes elsewhere, it’s just easier to bring the whole jug of Tide with you.

2)Bring something to do: doing laundry takes time, and if your phone's not charged, and you don’t have a book or something to do you’re going to get bored. It can also help to fine a laundromat that isn’t your typical “boring laundromat”. Recently a new laundromat opened a few miles down the road from me. It has Wi-Fi, a pin ball machine, and it’s right next door to a convenience store where I can get a snack while I’m waiting for my laundry to finish. Almost makes doing your laundry fun (almost).

3) Use fewer washers and more dryers: If you have the option to use one of the extra big washers, do it! Not only is shoving three loads of laundry easier and more convenient it ends up being cheaper per load. Of course, be careful not to over stuff any washing machine though (putting twenty towels into one washer WILL cause it to leak all over the floor. They won’t get washed and then the other people at the laundromat will stare at you and judge you for not realizing you can’t stuff twenty towels into one large washer). When possible, spread out your items to dry. The fewer items in the dryer the faster they can dry. And the faster they dry the less quarters you spend, and the sooner you can be doing something other than laundry with your time.

4)Choose when you go wisely: trying to do your laundry is probably the most important piece of advice I have to give. If you show up when its busy, there is a chance there won’t be any empty washers and dryers available for you. Weekends are busier than weekdays. A lot of people try and get their laundry washed after work. Rush hour in a laundromat is no fun either. Instead, try to go earlier in the morning or later at night instead. With less people there, that means less waiting, and less fighting for one of the coveted few chairs in the laundromat. A lot of laundromats are even open 24-hours a day now. So there is no need to ever go and have to stand around even longer waiting to use a machine if you don't have to There is nothing more frustrating than getting your car all loaded up and then realizing the laundromat is too crowded and that you’ve wasted your trip.

5)Find a laundromat you’re comfortable at: Before I found the great laundromat near me, we had tried several others. One closed really early, one we saw several dead mice at, and one was run by a man who wore only crock shoes and dirty sweatpants and would constantly stare at me when I went there (super creeper status right there) but my point is that doing your laundry should only be as much of a hassle as any other chore. So look around and find a laundromat where you can be comfortable spending a couple hours a week at.