Talk:Laundromat

Shouldn't Laundromat in the text of this article and in the photo cutline be capitalized?

I have a silly question: is it cheaper to load many many clothes into a commercial dryer rather than using many dryers with smaller loads? Boy, do I feel dumb. Thanks, B.

My family ran laundromats for nearly 20 years. It kind of depends on the dryers and washers involved. If one were using single-load Maytag A-class washers, then 1 load (usually less) would fit in a single-load Maytag B-class gas dryer. If one had Saharas, Raynors, Cissells, or certain Speed Queen industrial gas dryers available, though, the load ratio could approach nearly 3:1. Other variables include whether the dryers are gas or electric, how well the washers extract water from the load (or if an intermediate water extractor is used), the type of clothes involved, and/or whether wrinkles were an acceptable risk. 147.145.40.43 21:31, 2 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"solar cells" on the roof of a laundromat in California.

Obviously these are solar panels for heating water , and not for production of electric power .

Producing electric power for big washing machines with photo voltaic cells should take much more than this roof.

The legend should be "solar panels for hot water " , and not "a laundromat powered".

Also it should be added that Californians are hippies.

That pic doesn't seem to be in the article now, but I'd sure like to see it. It would almost be easier to believe, for me, that the roof be covered with either photovoltaics (for incidental electrical use like vending machines and lights, not for heavy equipment) or space heaters for keeping room air warm in winter. A water system would have to be huge to keep up with 30+ washers using 30 gallons of hot water every 45 minutes at peak usage. 147.145.40.43 21:31, 2 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Washateria not a Southwestern term.

I live in the Southwest and I've never heard this term used so I entered it in Yahoo and the one of the first results I got mentioned the state of Mississippi now I know MS isn't located in the Southwest so I'd suggest we take the part claiming it to be a SW term out. Deathawk 23:02, 3 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Strange Question

So, I was having a conversation with some friends about why on many laundromats the sign for "Laundry" appears upside down. I think it would be an interesting bit of trivia for the Wikipedia article if anyone knows the answer.--WW79 19:37, 9 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Nevermind, I answered it myself. Please see Kwik Wash Laundries for more information.--WW79 20:17, 9 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

OK, so it's a genericised trademark, but...

I think this article should be renamed "laundrette", or similar. The name "Laundromat" is (was) a brand name, and although it has become genericised to refer to all and any such institution in the USA.. please bear in mind that this applies in one country (or maybe Canada too?) only. The word is not used outside North America, in any case... and the English-speaking world extends far beyond one continent! It is not right to use it as this article's primary title. We should use a more generic term. Opinions, anyone? EuroSong ^talk 21:49, 1 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Since there have been no other comments here, I've gone ahead and made the changes: This article now reflects specifically the "Laundromat" brand name, and the generic facility for public clothes-washing is a new article at Self-service laundry. EuroSong ^talk 20:45, 16 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]