Laundromat locations for District of Columbia (DC)

Laundry Tip:

Remove soap scum and clean the hoses of your washing machine with white distilled vinegar. Periodically run the machine with only a cup of white distilled vinegar in it - nothing else added to the wash cycle.

 

Fabric Care:

• Cotton is highly washable but can be prone to shrinking.
• Linen is highly washable but also prone to shrinking and wrinkling. Air dry or press immediately after washing, while still damp, to eliminate wrinkles.
• Nylon is also highly washable, but prone to static. Air drying will prevent static.
• Polyester is highly machine washable and can be machine dried on medium- or low-heat.
• Rayon and viscose are not highly washable. Always dry-clean rayon and viscose clothes.
• Silk is highly prone to color loss and to water staining. Silk, despite its water-averse reputation, silk doesn't benefit from overexposure to water, and keep the water temperature consistent.
• Spandex is machine washable, but it can hold onto odors, which means that it should be dried on a low-heat setting or air dried.
• Wools, including cashmere and merino, are prone to felting and shrinking when washed. It's best to hand-wash woolens in cool water and allow them to air dry, flat.
• Blends should be washed according to the instructions for the more sensitive fabric.

Cycle Speed:

Cycle speed refers to the speed and force at which clothes are agitated in the wash and spin cycles.

• Regular cycle in which both the wash cycle, and the spin cycle, which extrudes water from the clothes post-rinsing, are fast.
• Permanent press is a fast/slow cycle, meaning that the wash cycle is fast and the spin cycle is slow.
• Delicate cycle is a slow/slow cycle, and the one that should be used for fine or delicate fabrics.

Drying Settings:

• Regular: The highest heat setting, best used only for heavy items like jeans, sweatshirts and towels.
• Permanent Press: The medium-heat setting, with a cool-down period at the end designed to reduce wrinkling.
• Delicate: The low-heat setting, which is sometimes obviously labeled low-heat dry. Low-heat drying is also great for garments that tend to retain smells even after washing, like yoga pants or sweat-wicking shirts.
• Tumble Dry: The no-heat setting, which is sometimes called no heat or air dry.
• Air and Line Drying: A great choice for deodorizing and brightening whites, keeping gym clothes odor-free, making clothes last longer.