washing machine broke down just before Xmas not going to be fixed untill new year, had to use a local laundrette, I was quite surprised how easy it was and quite a social place with people from all walks of life chatting to each over while there clothes were spinning around, I remember in the early 80s lots of people didn't have washing machines and the laundrette was a very busy place.

quite warm & cozy too, as I remember.
Not been in one since 80s.

Kids,tired of being bothered by your pesky parents?
Then leave home, get a job & pay your own bills, while you still know everything.

A mate was working in Berlin he loved going to the launderette he would dump his clothes with the manageress walk through a door into a sports bar. At the end of the evening he collected his washing on the way out.

A combined Launderette and bar a good business opportunity for publicans who are always moaning about their earnings.

One more point

So he saw your Alan Whickers on day one then

I used launderettes in my student days,(late 1980's). At first it was a couple of hours out with your housemates, but the novelty wore off quickly.
Service wash for an extra £2, and come back at the end of the day to a collect a bag full of clean washing. Job done.
When i used to go abroad, i found hotel washing service was extortionately expensive. (£6 to clean a shirt, it was cheaper to just buy a new one). So I used to go find a local launderette that did service washes. £10 for a weeks worth of washing, all dried and folded neatly when finished. I kind of felt good about it, because I was putting money back into the local economy and not in the hands of corporate hotel owners. - Clean washing and clean conscience

We still have a couple of launderettes in town and I also
notice the local Morrisons has a launderette area outside the shop. However, it is a student town.

"The facts have changed", Rishi Sunak

Crimewatch?