A self-service laundry is a facility where clothes are washed and dried. They are known in the United Kingdom as launderettes or laundrettes, and in the United States, Canada, and Australia as laundromats (from the genericized trademark of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation)[1] or washaterias. George Edward Pendray created the word "laundromat" for Westinghouse.[1]
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Some laundries employ staff to provide service for the customers. Minimal service centres may simply provide an attendant behind a counter to provide change, sell washing powder, and watch unattended machines for potential theft of clothing. Others allow customers to drop off clothing to be washed, dried, and folded. This is often referred to as Fluff & Fold, Wash-n-Fold, bachelor bundles, a service wash or full-service wash. Some staffed laundry facilties also provide dry cleaning pick-up and drop-off. There are over 35,000 laundries throughout the United States.[2]
The evolution of self-serve laundry services have been seen in some "fluff n fold" services provided by various laundromats. These services provide the end user with wash, dry, and folding services on a per pound basis. Some services offer free pickup and delivery as well as complimentary laundry bags as part of their customer appreciation. Additionally, dry-cleaning services have been known to utilize the pickup and delivery as a means to help generate additional revenue.
The first washateria opened in 1936 in Fort Worth, Texas by Noah Brannen. Most washaterias in the United States are fully automated and coin operated and generally unmanned operating 24 hours a day.[3]
The first UK launderette was opened on 9 May 1949 in Queensway, London. UK launderettes are mainly fully automated and coin operated and generally unmanned.
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