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The Decline of the American Laundromat

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Re: The Decline of the American Laundromat

#131

Post by pm90 »

Veratyr wrote: post #26
justinjlynn wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds quite nice. I wonder why public baths never really took off in the States. In the records I can find, they seem to have a less than savoury perception.

I don't mean to offend but I suspect it's because people in the USA, at least in cities, just can't take care of public places. There's urine in the train stations (either visible or smellable), elevators shut down by faeces, people shouting, yelling and preaching in the streets, also, toilets, often even in private restaurants, are disgusting. I don't mean to say that things are always like this, all the time or in…

I'm sure racism also plays into this a lot. So public baths are very common in Korea as well, which is a pretty homogeneous country (similar to Japan).

Like you mention, Urban areas in most of the US tend to be overrun by poor and downtrodden and are generally unsanitary. But my personal experience, of having seen gentrification here in Austin, Texas, has been that Urban areas in America are maintained well when those areas are out of the reach of said poor and downtrodden. e.g. in Austin, the downtown region is infested with homeless people and panhandlers, whereas the new development in north austin (called the Domain) is much much cleaner. So I don't think Americans in general are prone to littering or keeping urban areas dirty.

Re: The Decline of the American Laundromat

#132

Post by JBReefer »

justinjlynn wrote: post #24
minikomi wrote: post #5

I live in Japan where Laundromats are often attached to Public Baths. I love going to my local, taking a soak while the load runs, and then coming out and having a coffee while my clothes go through the drier. Not much to add.. just felt like professing my love for that Sunday arvo ritual.

That sounds quite nice. I wonder why public baths never really took off in the States. In the records I can find, they seem to have a less than savoury perception.

These responses are peak HN, it's hilarious and disappointing. The actual answer to your question is that tons of cities had beautiful public baths (I live next to a locked one), and shut them down when they became ground zero for AIDS transmission. Men were having risky sex in the locker rooms, and the closing of the public baths is seen as the turning point for the US taking the AIDS crisis seriously. The below address mostly private baths, but the rules ended both.

http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Sex_Panic_Closes_Bath...

http://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/26/nyregion/state-permits-clo...

Re: The Decline of the American Laundromat

#133

Post by Retric »

al2o3cr wrote: post #77

One thing I didn't see mentioned in the article or here: a good laundromat typically has machines you wouldn't want to squeeze into your house. For instance, the one close to me has washers that accept 70+ pounds of laundry at once - great for washing blankets & other large items. Having that machine at home wouldn't make any sense, given that it's really only needed a couple times a year for an individual person.

Having an over sized washing machine is actually well worth it so you wash that comforter more frequently. IMO, every 2-3 weeks is completely reasonable. It also makes washing pillows much easier.

Re: The Decline of the American Laundromat

#134

Post by pm90 »

Pulcinella wrote: post #91
lr4444lr wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This U.S. resident agrees with you. It's a definite downside to our individualist priorities and inability of law enforcement to do much about public nuisances.

There is also a huge emphasis on being a "taxpayer." "I paid taxes this year, therefor I am entitled to do whatever I want with public property." It's one of the reasons something like the autobahn can't work in the US. Some Americans just love to drive 20 mph under the speed limit in the left lane because "I'm a taxpayer and this is my road! I can do what I want." A no-speed-limit highway in the US would require one…

Honestly, I've never seen this kind of belligerence. I mean, I understand that the feeling exists that since one paid taxes, one is more entitled to public services than those who don't (and vice versa). But Americans in general seem to be very law-abiding citizens (there are exceptions, as is everywhere).

Re: The Decline of the American Laundromat

#135

Post by booleandilemma »

dsfyu404ed wrote: post #96
Veratyr wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't mean to offend but I suspect it's because people in the USA, at least in cities, just can't take care of public places. There's urine in the train stations (either visible or smellable), elevators shut down by faeces, people shouting, yelling and preaching in the streets, also, toilets, often even in private restaurants, are disgusting. I don't mean to say that things are always like this, all the time or in…

> There's urine in the train stations (either visible or smellable), elevators shut down by faeces, people shouting, yelling and preaching in the streets, also, toilets, often even in private restaurants, are disgusting. This is a very SF-centric view of the US. The closest I've come to this in Boston is seeing people sleeping on subway benches. >I can kind of see it working in smaller US communities Communities that…

I thought it described NYC quite accurately.

Take a tour of the subway and you'll agree.

Urine, feces, and homeless people, oftentimes who are mentally disturbed, are part of my commute.

Re: The Decline of the American Laundromat

#136

Post by jandrese »

justinjlynn wrote: post #24
minikomi wrote: post #5

I live in Japan where Laundromats are often attached to Public Baths. I love going to my local, taking a soak while the load runs, and then coming out and having a coffee while my clothes go through the drier. Not much to add.. just felt like professing my love for that Sunday arvo ritual.

That sounds quite nice. I wonder why public baths never really took off in the States. In the records I can find, they seem to have a less than savoury perception.

I think the answer is much simpler. In the US almost every home has a bathing/showering facility built in. There's not much need for a bathhouse. Because they weren't used by regular people very much, people got this idea that the only reason you would go to one is for some other reason.

In reality the total number of incidents of unsavory rendezvous in the bathhouses were probably not much higher than in countries with more extensive public bath house culture, but the percentage of patrons who went there for other reasons was considerably higher.

Basically without the normal activity masking it, the unsavory activity stood out.

Re: The Decline of the American Laundromat

#137

Post by pm90 »

Camillo wrote: post #82
Veratyr wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't mean to offend but I suspect it's because people in the USA, at least in cities, just can't take care of public places. There's urine in the train stations (either visible or smellable), elevators shut down by faeces, people shouting, yelling and preaching in the streets, also, toilets, often even in private restaurants, are disgusting. I don't mean to say that things are always like this, all the time or in…

Public baths in Japan also typically ban guests with tattoos, because tattoos are associated with the Yakuza in Japanese culture, and the presence of Yakuza would make other guests uncomfortable. Imagine doing anything even remotely similar in the US. OTOH, the US does have public pools. I've never been to one, though, so I have no idea what they are like. If anyone has experiences, please share.

There are many public pools in Austin (some charge a small access fee) and they are wildly popular. e.g. Barton Springs Pool, Hamilton Pool etc.

Re: The Decline of the American Laundromat

#138

Post by fundabulousrIII »

thrownblown wrote: post #119
fundabulousrIII wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Years ago I travelled through norcal without stopping in to SF. Started in Crescent City, traversed into Oregon, past Shasta region and the farthest south I achieved was to Santa Rosa. Headed east to Oroville and then back to Crescent City to catch my prop flight to SF for the flight east. Wonderful personal trip on the winding mountain roads and experiencing the abrupt climate|vista changes in an hour+ from pacific…

That's not really California. That's Hela Nor-cal, or the Jefferson State.

Explain please, I'm an easterner. (edit) I see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_(proposed_Pacific_st...

Re: The Decline of the American Laundromat

#139

Post by woobar »

int_19h wrote: post #42
freetime2 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this article is less about the benefits of laundromats vs. in-unit washing machines (most people would choose the latter), and more about the struggles of people who are unable to afford apartments with in-unit hookups and who now have to walk an extra couple of blocks to do their laundry.

It's really weird, because this is literally lower quality of life than USSR circa late 70s. Sure, we had really crappy and tiny in-unit washing machines ( http://pics.rbc.ru/img/cnews/2007/09/04/41a.jpg ) - but most people did have one. We didn't have anything like a laundromat.

> We didn't have anything like a laundromat.

They were called 'prachechnaya'.

And the situation in the USSR wasn't that rosy. Only 70% of the population owned these tiny machines.

Re: The Decline of the American Laundromat

#140

Post by jandrese »

ams6110 wrote: post #15
freetime2 wrote: post #7

From the article: Laundromats’ margins are further thinning as the price of water and sewage services have risen across the country. Utilities make up by far the heftiest of Lavanderia’s expenses, costing over $100,000 each year. Add to that the roughly $30,000 Tillman spends fixing his aging washers and dryers, and the laundromat is left with about $140,000 of profit each year, a number that continues to dwindle. Fo…

Solar water heating seems like a no-brainer for a laundromat. Most are in strip malls or freestanding box-type buildings with a lot of flat open roof space. Article also didn't seem to mention cost of emplying attendants. Never seen an unattended laundromat -- people need help with jammed coins, etc. and to prevent vandalism.

I've never been in a laundromat with an attendant.
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