The Truth About Laundromats' Cleanliness and Sanitation

Laundromats are a place where dirt and cleanliness meet. You come in with a load of dirty laundry; you leave with fresh, clean clothes. But are your garments really clean?

It's normal to assume that laundry and dry cleaning facilities are sanitary. After all, the washers and dryers are frequently exposed to water and detergent, which are both cleaning agents. However, you never know what the person before you washed in the same machine you're using, and if there is residual dirt and bacteria, as a result.

This doesn't mean, though, that all public laundromats are unsanitary. If that's the case, these laundry facilities would have been closed down long ago. With that said, it's still better to go to laundromats that exhibit the essential characteristics of cleanliness and sanitation outlined below.

Attendants at Your Service

One of the best signs that a laundromat is clean and sanitary is the presence of an attendant. During business hours, attendants not only welcome you to the facility, but they're also responsible for maintaining the place.

Laundromat workers clean the washers, dryers, folding tables, and other surfaces of a laundry facility every day. They're the ones who make sure there isn't any detergent residue and that surfaces get disinfected. These tasks that laundromat attendants perform multiple times a day, every day, help minimize cross contamination between patrons and their laundry.

The Place Looks and Smells Clean

Apart from having the insides of washers and dryers clean and sanitized, the laundromat facility itself must be clean. Floors must be swept, mopped, or vacuumed, without any debris lying around. The floors of the laundromat must also not have puddles of water that leaked from the machines. An unkempt facility and messy floors are signs of an unsanitary place and you wouldn't want to do your laundry there.

Additionally, a fresh, clean smell is indicative of a well-maintained and sanitized laundry facility. You might think it's easy to achieve this, but laundromats that do not maintain their facilities often give off an unpleasant, dank smell. This may be from standing water, strong chemicals, or other things that indicate a lack of proper maintenance. A clean and sanitary laundromat, on the other hand, will smell of laundry detergent or fabric softener without the odor being overpowering.

Clean Restrooms Mean Clean Facilities

A sanitary laundromat will also have clean restrooms. A clean restroom indicates that the laundromat is serious about their business's upkeep. If they make the effort to clean their restrooms, which aren't directly connected to the services they offer, then all the more they must have time to clean their washers and dryers as well.

Clean restrooms also minimize the possible source of germs and bacteria. A clean restroom shows that the laundromat owners care about keeping the rest of their facility sanitized, preventing restroom germs from contaminating the laundry space.

Keep in mind that there aren't any specific diseases you can only get from a laundromat. Generally, public laundry facilities are clean. Still, keeping an eye out for signs of proper sanitation in laundromats means you are less likely to be exposed to germs and viruses that lead to some short-term health issues.

If you're looking for a local sanitary laundromat, find a Starcrest Cleaners branch near you. We have well-maintained facilities in Nebraska, Missouri, and Illinois. Apart from actual laundromats, we also offer laundry pickup and delivery services. Contact us today at (877) 722 2209 to learn more.