Skip to the content
Laundromats and the off-grid lifestyle
- Much like not having internet access at home, I think I wouldn’t want to have a better washing machine or drier at home
- Simply said it’s more efficient to a laundromat to wash your clothes unless you have a large family with young dirty children
- And it keeps the process separate from your home, discourages wasteful use of resources – when your paying you reuse your jeans only wash when necessary
- By using the laundromat you avoid having to buy a washing machine or dryer, you are not responsible for any repairs to the machine
- Washing machines require a high voltage feed, and a lot of water fed from a public water supply or a deep well, a pressure tank and often a water filter
- Washing machines take up a lot of space that has to heated and cooled, they’re not a good fit for the small house on an off grid property
- Washing machines have to be purchased, repaired and ultimately disposed off – I’m sure the tubs make good fire pits but I’m sure you can find an old tub at the junkyard
- I find I spend about $5 a week or roughly $260 a year at the laundromat (not a big expense when you consider the utility and equipment costs of doing it at home and the neccesity to live on grid)
- It time when I can use the free wi-fi to get the files I need
- Or run to the grocery store to stock up the pantry or get books from the public library
- I’ve never had a problem with people bothering my clothes in the washer or dryer – I mean I guess that’s an issue in some places but I don’t know wear fancy clothes and when I eventually own land it will be near a small town