Under the Spotlight: Washing Machines
Why do so many people own washing machines, and dryers? Sure, they're a sign that you've made it in this world, a status-symbol somewhere between houseplants and pearl-handled revolvers, but are they justified on economic grounds? Clothes-washing technology has come a very long way, but it's still a fussy business. Every 40-odd minutes you need to empty the washer, empty the dryer, fill the washer and fill the dryer. If you wash your clothes at home, and have a fairly large wardrobe, this can take all day. Ever tried to parcel a day's activities into discrete half-hour chunks? You're going to watch a lot of TV.
The main alternative is to go to the laundromat, which is cumbersome if you have to carry your whole collection around. Nevertheless, it has the under-appreciated advantage that because there are dozens of washers and dryers, you can wash all your clothes at once, in less than two hours. It costs money, but the cost is only significant to the poor. Someone rich enough to afford a washing machine could easily shoulder laundromat fees, and find the savings in time that much more valuable.
Indeed, I don't know why anyone would consider a washing machine a wise investment. The first rule of manufacturing is to keep your machines busy as much as possible, because you want the maximum return on your capital. A household washing machine is only in operation a tiny fraction of the time. How much more efficient to "rent" a laundromat for the few hours per month when you need its industrial capacity.
There are so many household industries that we don't literally invite into our households. What about car repair, aluminum recycling, butchery, or publishing? We all read books, but why own a printing press?
P.S. This doesn't really fit in with my other arguments, but washing machines will make your house smell like soap forever and ever.
The main alternative is to go to the laundromat, which is cumbersome if you have to carry your whole collection around. Nevertheless, it has the under-appreciated advantage that because there are dozens of washers and dryers, you can wash all your clothes at once, in less than two hours. It costs money, but the cost is only significant to the poor. Someone rich enough to afford a washing machine could easily shoulder laundromat fees, and find the savings in time that much more valuable.
Indeed, I don't know why anyone would consider a washing machine a wise investment. The first rule of manufacturing is to keep your machines busy as much as possible, because you want the maximum return on your capital. A household washing machine is only in operation a tiny fraction of the time. How much more efficient to "rent" a laundromat for the few hours per month when you need its industrial capacity.
There are so many household industries that we don't literally invite into our households. What about car repair, aluminum recycling, butchery, or publishing? We all read books, but why own a printing press?
P.S. This doesn't really fit in with my other arguments, but washing machines will make your house smell like soap forever and ever.
posted by apk01004 at 2:24 AM
5 Comments:
yes, but you're missing a critical fact in all this - laundromats are akin to greyhound terminals and secondhand clothing stores in that they perpetually reek of old cigarette smoke, very cheap fabric softener, and despair. i'd pay good money to avoid having to subject myself to that.
yr. brother
What the world needs is luxury laundromats. Good coffee, free wireless, overpriced espresso drinks, maybe a bar. With some soundproofed partition and good air circulation, people like anonymous here could pay good money to an enterprising businessman to avoid the despair of the local laundromat. All you need is some startup capital, a bit of space in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, and a punny name, maybe with a pop culture reference.
You would pay good money to avoid subjecting yourself to a transitory bad smell? Seriously?
I wouldn't.
@john: right when i moved to seattle, the illustrious 'sit-n-spin' was just closing due to gentrification. punk venue + laundromat, i kid you not.
@alex: ask me the last time i've been to a laundromat. or a greyhound terminal.
CAPTCHA word for this post: 'toopa'
The owners of Laundromats are not known as the most responsible of owners ... more absentee than maybe even their cousins the carwash owners. So ... one decides to damn it all and buy a washer and dryer after one has not had the laundromat's: washer drain or rinse after the soap part of the cycle; not have it do the final spin; eat your money and not do anything; tint your clothes grease black from the last user's wash; have the dryer eat your money and not work; heat to 10 degrees C; work for 2 minutes on a buck ... and on and on. I like the laundromats where someone takes your basket of dirty clothes and for a set price gives them back to you folded ... now that's a time saver and a service ... and a route to full employment.
APK's pop
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