“In early autumn, people especially appreciate the opportunity not only to quickly wash their laundry but also to dry it immediately. It is already cool and damp outside, and the heating in homes has not yet been turned on, so even ordinary everyday laundry can take a long time to dry. Additionally, several drying racks in a small apartment are not only inconvenient but also add extra humidity to the room. In a self-service laundromat, there is no need to keep an eye on the weather forecast or wait for a sunny day: in one visit, a large amount of laundry can be washed and brought home already dry,” says Monta Purkalne, head of marketing at Laundromat. In September and early October, washing laundry does not become more complicated than in summer; however, the conditions for drying it change significantly. Laundry can no longer be left outside or on the balcony without concerns, as rain and high humidity become more frequent, and in unheated rooms, the drying process takes significantly longer. As laundry dries, the water contained in it evaporates and enters the air of the room. If laundry from several washing cycles is drying at the same time, and the room cannot be ventilated well enough, the humidity in the air can remain elevated for a long time. This is particularly noticeable on windows: on cool days, condensation may appear on the glass. If this situation occurs regularly, moisture can accumulate on other cold surfaces — for example, on exterior walls, in window openings, and in the corners of rooms. In turn, prolonged moisture retention on surfaces creates favorable conditions for mold development. Therefore, in autumn, it is important not only to ventilate the living space but also to avoid creating additional humidity whenever possible. In self-service laundromats, this problem can be solved in one visit — after washing, the laundry is immediately transferred to a professional dryer. Depending on the amount of laundry and the material, about 15–20 minutes may be sufficient for drying, and the entire washing and drying process can be completed in approximately one hour. This means that at home, there is no need to look for space for several drying racks and wait a day or two for clothes to dry completely. This is especially convenient when a large amount of laundry has accumulated for washing at the same time. Another advantage of professional equipment is its capacity. In the largest washing machines at Laundromat, up to 17 kilograms of laundry can be washed at once. Thus, the volume of laundry that would require several cycles in a home washing machine can be handled much faster. Large machines are also convenient for bulky items — blankets, pillows, throws, bedspreads, and curtains. However, it is always advisable to check the care label for specific clothing or textile items before washing. At the beginning of autumn, another task is added to everyday laundry — the gradual change of wardrobe. Before putting away summer dresses, t-shirts, shorts, light blankets, and other textile items used in summer for several months in a closet or storage boxes, it is advisable to wash and completely dry them. Self-service laundromats in Latvia are becoming increasingly accessible. Laundromat, which started operations in 2022, has now opened 42 laundry points in 17 cities in Latvia. Laundromats are located in places where visiting them can be conveniently combined with daily activities — near shopping facilities and residential areas. While the laundry is being washed or dried, time can be used for shopping or other tasks.
