May 7, 2017
by Laundry Expert
Comments Off

How To Repack Dirty Laundry

coin-op laundry raleigh ncGoing on an extended trip or a family vacation is so much fun. When the fun is over and it is time to return home we usually do not look forward to the dirty laundry we will have once we get home. Planning for the inevitability of our dirty laundry at the beginning of our trip will save some time at the end. In this post let’s talk a bit about your dirty laundry and how to re-pack it at the end of your trip.

Re-packing Dirty Laundry | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

How careful you will need to be with your packed clothing will depend a lot on what type trip you are on. If it is one in which you will be moving from place to place requiring you to re-pack constantly this can be trickier. If you are simply on a week long, stay in one place, family vacation it might be easier. The biggest challenges are keeping your clothing smelling good and keeping clean separated from dirty laundry.

One of the easiest ways to keep laundry smelling good is to prepare for how you will take care of your soiled laundry ahead of time. While planning to pack your family’s clothing for your time away also pack a few laundry bags to keep the soiled laundry in. Once you reach your destination you can then set up your bags and be ready to deal with the clothing as it is used. In today’s market there are all kinds of laundry bags made specifically for travelling. Look around to locate what would work for you. Some bags are even made to be washed with your laundry which will eliminate one step when your trip is over.

If you will be doing multiple activities you will want to take specific care with how you re-pack your clothes. If there is swimming involved you will need a bag that is made just for wet laundry. We do recommend that you get these items as dry as possible before re-packing. Beach towels will also fit this category.  A wet or even damp item mixed in with your regular clothes can spell disaster. Mold and mildew grow quickly in the right situation. The smell will also be hard to remove later.

If you must keep your clothing all in one suitcase a plastic bag can be used if nothing else is available. If you forget one sometimes the hotel provides one or two for sending out laundry. Use these only in a pinch because they are not made to be super sturdy. If you choose to re-pack using them take care to not let any wet or damp items in. Once you arrive home you will be able to dump these directly in your washer.

Taking the time to separate your clean items from the dirty ones will save you time and stress once you arrive home. If you know which clothes need laundered then you are able to take these straight to your laundry room. Those that are still clean can be sprayed with a fabric refresher and hung up in your closet. You might want to take some time to give your suitcase a good cleaning as well. This way it will be ready for your next trip away.

Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

If you find yourself short on time but needing to get your laundry done quickly come see us at Laundry Express. We have a state of the art laundry facility with plenty of machines to get your laundry done fast. Visit our coin-op laundry in Raleigh NC, today!

Share

May 2, 2017
by Laundry Expert
Comments Off

More Vacation Laundry Tips

laundromat raleigh ncWelcome back. We are here to talk more about doing your laundry on vacation. These tips should help. If you are in the area, stop by our laundromat in Raleigh NC to get all the laundry done at once. It will be a big help!

More Vacation Laundry Tips | Laundromat in Raleigh NC

There are some laundry washing bags on the market that many well seasoned travelers swear by. These are used by adding clothing to a waterproof bag. add in your water and detergent. Once sealed you massage the bag to wash and distribute the clothes. Allow to soak for 10-15 minutes then you will rinse them in the tub or sink.

When it comes to drying your clothes there are some options. Take your wrung out clothes and wrap them in a fluffy towel. Lay an item flat on the towel and then roll it up together. you can gently squeeze and allow a bit of time before unrolling. This will absorb most of the water and allow for quicker drying times. Some find that an absorbent cloth specifically sold for this purpose works great. These are usually microfiber, thin cloths.

A really useful trick is to bring your own clothes line. These are available from many big box stores and can be hung in the shower to dry your wet laundry. No clothes pins needed just drape. You can also freshen up clothing this way and dry swimwear. Along this line of thinking if possible bring along clothing that will be easy to wash and dry. Many active wear clothing is thinner and easier to dry.

Of course there is as always the option to send out your laundry or use a laundromat in Raleigh NC, close by. Both of these options will cost you more money but save you lots of time better spent relaxing and enjoying your vacation. Ask at your hotel about what is available for your laundry. To get the most use out of your clothing hang up things that can be worn again. Bring a fabric refresher spray. This will help remove odors. A stain stick will be a really useful trick to get out small superficial stains as they happen.

Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

We know that vacation time is good family time. Stop by to use our coin laundry in Raleigh NC is here to help you with all your laundry needs. We offer wash, dry, fold services as well as a great dry cleaning facility. Come by to discuss all your laundry needs today.

Share

April 30, 2017
by Laundry Expert
Comments Off

Vacation Laundry Tips

coin laundry Raleigh NCWith summer comes the opportunity to vacation and travel more. We love it when the children are out of school. Many of us plan our family vacations during those months. One of the things that causes us stress however is what to do about dirty laundry while vacationing. Dealing with this issue is easy enough at home but on the road it becomes much trickier. Today’s post will offer some tips and tricks to making your vacation laundry more manageable.

Vacation Laundry Tips | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

First things first, decide how much clothing you will need during your vacation. This will depend of course on your family. Infants and toddlers will require much more in the way of extra clothes. The biggest question is Do I want to do any laundry while I am on vacation? The second will be how many suitcases can I feasibly bring? If your family is on the larger size then this question will become really important. The amount of time you will be gone will also factor into your decision. You may be able to locate a laundromat close by to do a load or two of laundry along. If not then we have some ideas for you to consider.

One of the biggest considerations is what to do with the dirty laundry. Some of us cannot handle the thought of our dirty’s snuggling up to our clean laundry. If this is you then a laundry bag of some sort will be a top consideration. There are many different kinds and sizes but find one that will work for you. This way you will always know that the clothes still in the suitcase or drawer are clean.  This is also a help if you want to pre-treat any stains you or your family might get on clothing. Laundry bags are also useful to pack your shoes in. This way no dirt from your shoe bottoms will get on the clean clothes you have packed.

If you want to save space and try to muddle through your time away with as few clothing items as possible then you will need to get creative. Pack some detergent and fabric softener and you will be able to do some laundry in the room. Today’s detergent pods are really small and compact. Some may even have the softener built right in. This saves even more space.A rubber stopper will be a key item for using the sink or bathtub as a temporary washing machine. These come as round or square with the square ones being more universal. Hand washing a few items  this way will be helpful.

We know that vacation time is good family time. Our laundromat in Raleigh NC is here to help you with all your laundry needs. We offer wash, dry, fold services as well as a great dry cleaning facility. Come by to discuss all your laundry needs today.

Share

April 25, 2017
by Laundry Expert
Comments Off

How To Wash Sneakers

wash dry fold raleigh ncNothing excites us quite like finding the perfect pair of sneakers. We have some “rules” when it comes to choosing a pair. They must not only look good, they have to be comfortable. Once we get them broken in and know that they are absolutely the most perfect pair possible we want to keep them forever. The problem is that eventually they will get soiled and dirty. We really don’t want to wash them and perhaps risk that great fit. There are some really great ways to clean them up however and we are going to share these tips with you! Don’t forget about Laundry Express’s wash dry fold in Raleigh NC if you need help getting sneakers clean for the whole family!

Wash Your Sneakers | Wash Dry Fold Raleigh NC

The first step is to give them a good freshening by deodorizing them. Do this by removing the insoles inside the sneakers. Give them a good wash by using a mix of water and liquid detergent of your choice. Take a small brush and scrub the insole gently to help remove any dirt or staining. Rinse away the detergent and allow them to dry. If you still detect a smelly odor you can try this trick. Place them into a bag containing baking soda. Shake them around to coat and leave them all night. By morning you should be able to tell a big difference. If your insoles are really smelly soak them in some white vinegar and water. Leave them for a couple of hours and then place them in some hot water and baking soda. Adding some kind of essential oil will also help with really strong odors.

The washer can be used to clean most sneakers. To do this take out your shoe laces. They can be cleaned separately or put into a wash-bag and tossed in. Before putting your sneakers into the washer take a few minutes to clean off any mud or dirt on them. A brush can be used to remove excess dirt. Place a few bath towels into your washer. This will protect your sneakers and balance the load in the wash cycle. Using a liquid detergent is recommended as powders will not always dissolve as well. You will end up with powdered detergent inside your sneakers after washing. You can also add some white vinegar to the wash to help with any odors.You will want to run a cold water cycle and the delicate setting to keep your sneakers from coming to any harm.

If you are really stressed about damaging your favorite sneakers you can simply hand-wash. Use some warm water with a liquid detergent added to scrub the outside and sole of your shoes. Do this as gently as possible to avoid harm. Use a clean sponge to rinse away detergent afterwards. This method will work best if you keep a close eye on your sneakers and hand-wash them as needed. Once a week will be plenty and your sneakers will stay clean and looking new longer.

When it comes to drying sneakers you can use the dryer. You will want to do so cautiously. Heat can damage the soles of your shoes quickly. Some dryers come with a special rack that attaches inside the dryer for this purpose. You can also find a mesh bag in some big box stores that attach to the dryer door. This can help dry your sneakers without causing any damage. Whichever way you choose to dry them use low heat and a delicate cycle. Place the shoes again with some towels to help buffer them. You can also air dry them but watch putting them in the sun. Although it will dry quicker it can also bleach them.

Wash Dry Fold Raleigh NC

If you have special laundry needs Laundry Express can help! Stop by and take advantage of all our services, including wash dry fold in Raleigh NC!

Share

April 15, 2017
by Laundry Expert
Comments Off

Packing Tips For Summer

With the warming months of summer come the itch to vacation and travel.When packing for your trip or adventure you will want to be certain to pack all of the essentials you will need. Forgetting stuff can be annoying, not to mention expensive. It can also take away some of the free time we look forward to on a vacation. If you are flying packing is even more important. Those baggage fees are more expensive than ever. It is important to pack carefully and be as organized as possible. This post will offer some great packing tips and strategies to help you get packed up and ready to enjoy your vacation.

Vacation Packing Tips | Raleigh Laundromat

We know that you were probably taught how to fold your clothing to place it in a suitcase early on. Did you know however that Rolling is the best way to pack? People who travel a lot have learned to pack weeks worth of clothing by using this method. Roll your clothing tightly to take up less space. Rolled clothing also does not develop deep wrinkles from creasing. This will keep your clothes looking better and save you time at your destination.

Always have a packing list before you begin. You can start this list weeks in advance of your trip. This allows you the proper time to consider all you will need to make your trip as fun as possible. An added plus is that you can add to your list other items you might have forgotten you will need. Be sure to include any medications you will need as well.

If you are flying make certain you check your airlines baggage policies carefully. Do this before you begin packing. Some airlines allow one free checked bag per person and some charge for all baggage. Many now weight your baggage and charge for any overage per their guidelines. This can add up to a lot of extra money you might not have planned to spend. There are also other guidelines to look at concerning what you can or cannot take on board and how to properly store certain toiletry items.

A good tip is to call ahead to your hotel and see if you are able to launder your clothing on site. If so you can pack less. We do not recommend this if you must send your items out to be laundered. This can be very expensive and add to your overall vacation spending. You can carry a sink stopper and some travel sized laundry detergent to hand wash some items in the sink or tub. You can also find a portable laundry drying line that will help with drying your items.

The following are some great clothing items to include in your packing:

  • Shirts – At least 5 for a week long trip
  • Pants or shorts – 2-4 pairs
  • Underwear – 5
  • Socks – 5 pairs
  • Shoes – At least one sturdy walking pair and others as you need
  • Sweater or light jacket
  • Swimsuit
  • Sleepwear
  • Lounging clothes

An important thing to remember is toiletries. This will include all of your bathing need. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, razor, shaving cream, and any other items you need. A hang-able, toiletries kit is ideal for ease of use and to avoid the cramped space of a hotel bathroom. Make certain you pack your vitamins and any medicines you will need. Glasses, contacts, and sunglasses are a must.

Laundry Express | Raleigh Laundromat

Vacations are so much fun and with a little planning can be as relaxing as you need. Laundry Express can help you get ready by helping with your laundry needs. Our was, dry, fold service will have you vacation-ready in no time at all. Come check out our Raleigh laundromat!

Share