I Hate Laundromats

I've had to go to laundromats a few times in my life; like when we were on vacation, when the washer was broken or if I needed to wash something really big like a sleeping bag or a bedspread. Well, today I needed to give our summer bedspread it's annual cleaning and run it through a washer, but not OUR washer...it's a California King bedspread and it's way too big.

So I looked in the Yellow pages, found the nearest laundromat, loaded up the huge bedspread and headed to town. Several miles from home I remembered that I forgot to bring detergent...oh well, I thought, I'll get some at Safeway not far from the laundromat. Later, I struggled into the laundromat with my purse, the new bottle of Tide and the bedspread...so what if the bedspread was partially dragged across the parking lot...it's going to get washed...right?

The washers in the front of the facility were all so small...much smaller even than my washer at home. But on the back wall I saw the industrial washers, three of them. I stuffed the bedspread into one of the front loaders, poured an appropriate amount of liquid Tide into the receptacle on top and then checked for quarters. Not having the $3.50 required to start the machine, I grabbed my wallet and went over to the change machine. Luckily, it took $1,$5,$10 and $20 bills. I tried a ten dollar bill...it kept spitting it back out at me, so I tried another ten...same result. Reluctantly, I sent my twenty dollar bill into the machine. It was accepted at once and poured out 80 quarters!

With my pockets bulging, I headed back to the washers and began inserting quarters. I was only able to plunk in about four coins before the machine became plugged up...no more would go in and none were being returned.

So, out came the bedspread and into the next washer it went. Once again detergent was poured in and once again I attempted to insert the required $3.50, only to lose about $1 before realizing it too was out of order.

The third washer had a sign taped to it, "Out of Order", so I was at a dead end. I looked around for someone in charge, or even a number I could call for trouble, inquires, or lost money, but no such luck...I was the only one in the building. I gathered up my bedspread, purse, Tide and stalked out of the laundromat never to return. What am I ever going to do with $18 in quarters?!