Laundromats... and a shed-raising.

 
 ~outside a Mt Pleasant laundromat, along US Highway 17N~

~~~~~

I have been going to a laundromat since mid-December.  A pipe in the wall of the falling-down house (which still houses my washer and dryer) burst during the unusually cold December days that we had - and it simply wasn't worth fixing it - so I had the plumber disconnect the water going to the house, and to just connect the Airstream directly to the water line.  Hence, there was no longer any water going to the house and therefore to my much loved Whirlpool Duet front loader.

I've gone to the laundromat three times now.  At first it was a bit of a shock:  for a small load it cost $4.75 to wash, for a medium load it cost $6.25 and for a large load it cost $9.25.  On my first visit, I washed two small loads, one medium load, and one large load (required for rugs) for a grand total of $25... just to wash four loads of laundry.  That just took a little getting used to.  The drying cost 25 cents for every three minutes and thirty seconds of drying time.  So I got out of there after spending about $32.

Although the experience has been expensive, it hasn't been terrible.  The upside, of course, is that you have all four loads going at once so it's quick.  A number of friends have graciously offered their washers and dryers for my use - but doing one load at a time would really draw out the whole process, which isn't always a bad thing, but when you're busy it just isn't very efficient.  So, thus far, I've dragged myself to the laundromat.

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One funny thing about the whole laundromat experience is that I've been trying to remember my past laundromat experiences - and truthfully, I've drawn a blank.  It's as if I've selectively removed all of these experiences from my memory banks.  I lived in a dorm for two years in college, in an apartment for two years, then in a five-bedroom house - and in all of these different situations I can't remember how I did laundry.  It was therefore either (1) uneventful or (2) so terrible that I've buried the memories.  I'm guessing it was uneventful.

~~~~~ 

The plan all along, with the new house-building thing, was to build a small shed and to move the washer and dryer from the house into the shed - but I've been a bit frozen (no surprise) with the multitude of different things going on in my life (I mean, wasn't isn't going on in my life?).  But the frozen pipe spurred me on - and before Christmas I ordered a lovely 8 x 10 ft resin 'Lifetime' shed from Lowe's.

[Footnote: this is not the shed of my dreams.  But it is (1) reasonably priced, (2) plastic, so it won't rot in our humid summers), and (3) relatively easy to assemble.]

So the shed arrived by UPS during the first week in January - all of the pieces were contained in two large cardboard boxes.  After it's arrival the weather turned colder, there was even a winter weather advisory and ice and bridge closures - but fortunately, last weekend, the weather improved:  low 50s and mostly sunny.  Yep, we had an old-fashioned barn-raising party, only there weren't any amish present, there was no barn (or wood of any kind) - but there was a nice fire, delicious snacks, snack-eating dogs, good conversation and gracious company, and quite a bit of wine.  Close enough, don't you think?  And the end result was that a resin shed was raised!  One that will soon house a Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer. 

~~~~~

 

~highly industrious shed-raisers, in action~

Somewhere I read that it would take two people about four hours to assemble the shed - so I thought, why not invite a dozen folks over (make a pot of soup, provide some beer and wine) and make a fun afternoon of it?  Then everyone brings a little something - homemade cookies and bread, fruit, cheese, chips - you name it.  More wine.  Yes, there was plenty of wine.  But back to the shed...

  The one review found on the Lowe's website:    

Very easy to follow instructions. I assembled by myself in about five hours. I would however recommend two people. The only problem I encountered was that I had to add some extra caulking around the skylights because of rain leakage. Other than that this was a great buy. So far it has withstood the summer heat of Las Vegas.

 

Here is my review not yet placed on the Lowe's website:

 

It took 12 adults precisely five hours to assemble the shed.  We estimated that for every advanced degree and bottle of wine, it added 30 minutes to the time - so four attorney's, three PhDs, a bunch of MS and BS degrees later (and with some poetry tossed in) - well, you know what I'm talking about.  Also, pay attention when the instructions say that it's important to build the shed on a level surface - and don't listen to one of the PhDs who never reads instructions (and who'll spend next week shoveling sand into areas to help level out the surface after the fact).  On the upside, it's been assembled for two days and it's still standing, and after a night of light rain, it has remained dry inside.  I'd say that's a miracle.

 

 

 

A call has been made to the plumber and electrician - who will soon move the washer and dryer into the shed, and hook it up to water and electricity (after the frozen pipe, when the water was disconnected from the house and plumbed to the Airstream - a water line was also connected that ran out to the shed location).  I'd say that this is progress in this little Airstream life of mine - I'm looking forward to having my most recent (and uneventful) laundromat experiences erased from my memory - and to having access to my own washer and dryer again.  Ahhhh...what becomes a luxury in this challenging life of mine!

~~~~~     

Comments

[Pat]

Wow, I remember laundromats costing 75 cents per load and dryers 50 cents. I had no idea they were so expensive now! The shed looks great. I'll need one when I get my tiny house - thanks for the idea!

[Janet]

I remember a couple different times in my life having to use the laundromat...college and then after Hurricane Isabel. You are right about the sticker shock! I was floored when I found out how much it cost. My kids tried to tell me this when they were in the dorms...but I thought they were just scavenging for coin.
Your review of the shed assembly is a riot. Glad you will be washing in your new shed.

[kate]

progress! It is quite a handsome shed! enjoy. I wish we had been there to help. looks like quite a party!

[Les]

I remember all too well what an onerous chore the laundromat was. When my wife and I first moved in together, we had to use one. This first couple of trips were mildly romantic with the newness of cohabitation and playing house together, but that feeling was quickly washed away.

[Annie in Austin]

Fun story, Pam! We had to temporarily use a local laundromat a few years ago and were likewise shocked by how much the cost had risen. They're sometimes called Washaterias here in Texas, a word I can't resist!

In your photos, your new little community-built shed resembles a chapel in the woods... appropriate if like Ben Franklin, you believe cleanliness is next to godliness ;-]

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

[Jess]

lol. I haven't read through your blog in quite a while. This sounds like my kind of party.

[Kermit Lukacs]

The shed is looking nice. Well, on the bright side, it didn't take that long to set up that shed, and it must have been a pretty fun event thanks to all the extra hands and beer. Time will tell if the shed can stand tall, if the assembly was done properly.