July 13, 2017
by Laundry Expert
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Should My Laundry Room Go On The Second Floor

When considering a new home build or a simple remodel, the placement of the family laundry room is a huge consideration. In years past the laundry room was placed in the basement of a home. The more modern trend is to put it off the kitchen, or in a mudroom. One of the newest ideas in design places it on the main living floor or upstairs in a two story home. Today’s post will look at reasons why this could be a great idea for you and your family.

Laundry Room Location | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

In many home designs today a growing trend is to have a main floor laundry room and an extra stackable located in the upstairs area. Once located in small apartments, stackable washer/dryer combinations are being used in mainstream home designs today. one popular use is a stackable that holds wet towels and linens off the main bathroom in the home. If you have children of any age you know hoe awesome this idea is.

If you have plans for an upstairs  laundry of any type it does require lots of advance planning. The following are some important things to consider:

  • Think extensively about the placement of the machines. Today’s machines are indeed quieter than they were in years past. They are still quite noisy as they vibrate more. You will certainly not want the laundry location to be against a bedroom wall. Most machines will not rock on your floor but if the home is older the floor could be uneven resulting in rocking. As you plan make sure to include motion arresting pads under the washer as needed to stabilize it.
  • When thinking about noise take care in choosing your pipes. Cast iron will keep water noise down verses PVC pipe. You can always wrap the pipes as well to hold down any noise. When doing your shopping look for washers and dryers that are engineered to be as quiet as possible.
  • Pay attention to how you will vent your dryer. This usually requires an opening cut into an outside wall. An outside vent is always best to use if there is an outside wall. If not then a ventless dryer will be your best bet. These dryers use a condenser that will wring the water out of your clothes. This dryer will however be a pricier option so keep this in mind as you plan.
  • Of course when planning a second story laundry area you must consider flooding. It will be a good idea to place the washer on some type of shower bade that includes a floor drain. Check your local building codes as many require this to be in place. There are also pans that can help drain the water to the plumbing lines in your basement. The biggest thing to do is install a cutoff valve that is automatic in case of a hose failure. The absolute worse thing for a homeowner to face is coming home to a flooded home where the hose to a washer has failed. Many times this goes on for hours and causes loads of damage to your home before you know it.
Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

The laundry room is certainly one of the most used rooms in the home. Plan yours to be as fantastic as possible. When it comes to all things laundry, Laundry Express is your go -to laundry facility in the Raleigh area. We offer you a wash-dry-fold service that will keep your laundry done and you free to enjoy life. Give us a call today to find out how all of our laundry services can help you!

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July 1, 2017
by Laundry Expert
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Laundry Room Design Ideas

There was a time when laundry rooms were always placed either in a dark, damp, basement or in an out of the way little used space that was uninspired. Today’s laundry rooms are much improved and are moving up in the world, literally. In homes today laundry rooms are more likely to be located upstairs and are likely to function much better than in the “days of old”. If building a new home is on your agenda or maybe you are in a remodel, we have some great tips for you when it comes to designing the perfect laundry space for your families needs.

Laundry Room Designs | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

One of the first things you will want to do when either building or remodeling is to consider the laundry needs of your family. Is your home a two-story structure? If so and you have children you might consider placing the laundry on the second floor of your home. This make it convenient to the bedrooms and bathrooms. After all this is where the laundry accumulates. Make certain when doing the planning and design that if placed on an upper floor the joists in the floor need to be reinforced. This will help handle the load, and will reduce excessive noise that is common with laundry machines.

If your laundry room or area is in close proximity to your kitchen or another room in the home you will want to add as much insulation as possible to the walls to reduce the noise as well. Washers in particular move around a lot so the closer it is to a more lived in area the more excessive sound will be an issue. You will also want to make certain reinforced, braided, stainless steel hoses are used to install the machines. Water leaks on any floor of the home can cause lots of damage. Take the time to incorporate all the safety features you can in the initial design to alleviate problems later.

Stacakable or Traditional? | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

Once you figure out the where, consider the how. Will you use a stackable set or have separate machines side by side? How much cabinet and storage space will you need? What about counter space for folding and organizing? These are all really good questions for you to consider in your design. Many of today’s washers and dryers are front loading. This allows for a counter top over them with pedestals to raise them up and make transferring clothes easier. Many of these pedestals also have extra storage.

Another consideration is really great lighting. Lighting will help you with stain fighting by allowing you to see clearly those stains that need treated. It can also help you determine if the stain has been removed before drying the item. There are all kinds of lighting on the market for under the cabinet lighting, ambient lighting, and task lights.

Cabinetry

Peking up the design of a laundry room is easier today than ever. Fold out ironing boards, pull out trash cans and clothing rods for hanging laundry are all things that make doing laundry a bit easier. The use of great cabinetry, and color also improve the look of this area. Use a bright color on thew walls for a pop of color or a really great wallpaper. A nice shade on the window will also add to the overall design of the room.

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Laundry Express knows how important getting your family’s laundry on time is to you. We are here to help! Come by our laundry facility today and check out our services. We specialize in all things laundry! Call us today!

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June 25, 2017
by Laundry Expert
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Hard Water Laundry Tips

Have you begun to notice that your clothes have a dingy look to them? Have they lost their softness and feel harsh? Is there residue that you can see on the clothing? If your answer to these questions is yes then you may have a hard water problem. As much as 85 percent of the U.S. has hard water. Hard Water is when their are high levels of magnesium and calcium present in your water. The higher the concentration of these minerals in your water the harder the water will be. People who live in an area serviced by a well will be especially prone to hard water issues. Below, our Raleigh laundromat experts talk more about this problem.

Hard Water | Raleigh Laundromat

The problem with these higher concentrates of magnesium and calcium is that these minerals will attach themselves to the fabric of your clothing.When this happens your clothes will begin to feel stiff and have a residue that will actually dull the colors. If your water is really hard you will begin to notice hole in your clothing. If you need to determine if you do have a hard water problem your local city water company can help. They will test your water for you . If you have a well then there are some do it yourself test kits you can use at home. There are also some companies out there that will test for you as well. This will help you determine how you should be doing the laundry when it comes to hard water issues.

If you have hard water there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to doing the laundry. Pick a detergent that has the most cleaning ingredients possible. This may be labeled heavy duty. Keep in mind you will want to use more detergent than usual and a much warmer temperature. This will help get the clothes as clean as possible. It will be a tough balance for you to figure out. Using more detergent and warmer water can also damage your clothes so try to figure out just the right amount you need. This can take some trial and error to get it just right.

If you are getting a white residue this may be coming form a powdered detergent so switch to a liquid. You can also try adding laundry borax to your wash. One half cup will help to soften your water which can help a lot. If you make your own laundry soap you will need to add more borax, up to 3/4 cup, to help soften the water so your soap will dissolve in the harder water. If you want to help your hard water problem all you can there are non-precipitating ion-exchange water conditioners available on the market. You can also find some that connect to the water lines coming in to your home. Be aware many of these add sodium to the water so if anyone is on a sodium restricted diet you must be careful.

Take the time to research your options when it comes to hard water problems. Call an expert for good advice on what will work best for you.

Sometimes we all need a little help getting our laundry done. Laundry Express offer a full service Raleigh laundromat for your convenience. Just drop them off and pick them up! It’s that simple. We also have a dry cleaning service for your items that need dry cleaning verses regular laundry. If you find yourself in need of a great laundry service call Laundry Express today!

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June 21, 2017
by Laundry Expert
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Common Laundry Problems and How to Fix Them, Part 2

Last post we began talking about some everyday common laundry problems and how to fix them. Laundry is a part of our everyday life and we bet that even as you read this you have already either done a load of laundry today or you need to. Sometimes there are some laundry problems we all need a little help with. Today, we will continue the conversation on how to fix some common laundry problems. Don’t forget, if you need the best services for wash dry fold in Raleigh NC, stop by our facility!

Laundry Issues | Wash Dry Fold Raleigh NC

Some of the biggest problems are stinky smelly clothes. These smells can be the hardest of all to get rid of. Give your laundry a sniff test immediately after you run them through a wash cycle. If they do not pass the test then you will want to re-wash using some white vinegar and detergent. Add an extra 1/2 cup to the final rinse. Do the sniff test again before drying. Some have luck drying the items in the sun. The sun will help remove lingering smells.

If you are having trouble with clothing that looks gray or yellow it can be the result of not using enough detergent. Adding the correct amount is critical to getting your clothing clean. Too little or too much can be problematic to your laundry. Use the right water temperature as well. Sometimes you may need to add a detergent booster of some kind. Make certain that you have sorted your laundry properly as well. Colors can bleed onto your whites and cause a graying of your clothes.

Sometimes the issue is detergent residue on your clothes. Nobody likes that because it will most often mean a re-wash of your clothes. That is way to time consuming. We are busy, busy and do not have time for all that! If you are using a powdered detergent the residue means it is not dissolving correctly. First check to see that your load is not too full. If you are using cold water then a liquid detergent will dissolve better. You can also try filling the washer with water first, them add detergent, adding your clothes last.

Clothes that have pilling are also common. This will usually happen with synthetic fabrics. One solution to try is to turn these items inside out before washing. This is because pilling comes from the abrasion of fibers by the action of wash and dry cycles. Liquid detergents may help cut down on the pilling. To remove them you can use a pill remover that is battery powered. This can help you save your clothing for further use.

Lint on your clothing can be a real nuisance. This is where proper sorting can really help. Things like fleece, chenille, terry cloth, and flannel are all huge lint producers. This lint will be attracted to your other clothes especially corduroy, synthetic blends, and dark fabrics. To get this lint off you will need to use a lint remover like a lint roller. This has a sticky surface that will pull the lint from your fabric. You can also try tape. Always check pockets for tissues and other types of paper before washing. Clean your dryer lint filter after each use to cut down on lint making its way onto your clothes.

Wash Dry Fold Raleigh NC

When you find yourself behind on your laundry and need to catch up give Laundry Express a try. We offer a state of the art laundromat facility and services for wash dry fold in Raleigh NC, with the latest in washers and dryers. We can help you get caught up and back in control of your laundry. Visit or call us today!

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June 17, 2017
by Laundry Expert
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Common Laundry Problems Part 1

In our crazy, chaotic, busy family lives it is a reality that household chores eat up a lot of our extra time. Laundry is one of those have to do chores that we cannot afford to just ignore or skip over. Laundry is for most of us busy parents a reality. The reasons why we dread this chore actually make little sense. After all you put the clothes in, add a bit of soap, push a few buttons, and viola, clean clothes!

Well, maybe not that simple always but at least it is simple enough that we should not dread this chore quite so much. Sometimes we do have some laundry problems to deal with. This post will address some really common laundry problems and how we can deal with them. Be sure to visit us for the best laundry service in Raleigh NC!

Smelly Clothing | Laundry Service Raleigh NC

Once in a while, even after washing clothes, they will retain smells. If you have gym clothes, or sports uniforms this can be a huge problem. If these types of clothing are giving you a hard time then there are some detergents specifically designed to clean these clothes. Look for them at any big box store. You can also try adding white vinegar to the rinse cycle to help remove smells

Yellowing Whites:

There are many things that can cause your whites to yellow in the wash. The biggest culprit is hard water. The extra minerals and rust in our water can yellow or cause our whites in particular to look dingy. If you have well water especially this can be a problem. Over a long period of time your clothes can be damaged beyond repair. Try adding some all fabric bleach or a boost product to your wash. There are products available for whites only that will help keep this problem at bay.

Colors that Bleed:

One of the biggest laundry problems that is also the most damaging is color bleeding. This is when the dye in a garment bleeds its color onto another garment. The easiest way to fix this problem is to be certain to sort your clothing by color before washing. Skipping this all important step will be a problem. If you do have an accident there are a few products on the market that claim to catch the color if used promptly. Some detergents today are made to help prevent this from being an issue. Look for these products at your local store.

Grease Stains:

One of the toughest laundry problems is grease stains on your clothing. This is one problem that will need immediate attention. A pre-treat product will come in handy and will need to be used as soon as you know you have grease stains. Use a small brush and a little elbow power to rub it in and hopefully this will help get it out. If your job or a spouses job involves heavy dirt and grease you can stay on top of this a lot better. These clothes also need to be washed separate from all of your other clothing.

Children’s Clothing:

This is one area where parents must stay on top of all stains. Food and juices will create stains that will be hard to get out if not treated properly and immediately. Carrying a stain stick product in your diaper bag or purse is a great idea when traveling.

We have lots of other common laundry problems coming up in our next blog. Be sure to come back and read more. Laundry Express, laundry services in Raleigh NC, is your go to laundromat and dry cleaning facility. Come by and check out all our services today!

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