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John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints |
Alternatively, most towns large enough to have a motel will also have at least one launderette (also called a "laundromat" or a "coin laundry"). Consult the local yellow pages in each town for information.
It is very difficult to obtain a small amount of soap powder in supermarkets, although most launderettes have machines which dispense small single wash packets of powder. However, plastic bottles of liquid laundry detergent are widely available in supermarkets and represent far superior value for money. We purchased a quart bottle of Sun liquid laundry detergent for $1 in an Alco store (Apr-01). This gave over twenty washes and we found it to be most effective.
The washing machines and dryers in launderettes tend to be faster and capable of providing a more thorough wash than those in motels. Because there are many more machines, they are also far more likely to be immediately available. They are no more expensive than those in motels.
A single wash packet of soap powder costs 50c (summer 1999). A quart bottle of liquid laundry detergent costs $1 and gives over twenty washes (Apr-01).
Wash $1 (Motel 6, Roswell, New Mexico, Apr-01).
Dryer 25c (summer 1999) but we needed two sessions.
Dryer $1 for 45 minutes (Motel 6, Roswell, New Mexico, Apr-01).
All washing machines and dryers take quarters (25c coins). Most launderettes have change machines but it is a good idea to build up a supply of quarters in advance.
Most recently modified 29-Mar-02