I had to use the laundromat tonight... my house STINKS!

[2manyrocks]

I don't even like walking down the laundry detergent aisle at the store because of all the strong fragrance.

 

[wmfamily]

My brother owned a laundromat for several years until he got tired of idiots breaking the machines. They would wash anything they could fit into the machine no matter how dirty or greasy. They did not recycle the water, it went straight into the sewer just like any other water. They did have traps on the outlets to collect the big stuff. He would have to clean them out weekly and collect the money washed down the drain. He made quite a bit from it but the money was disgustingly dirty. I remember he had 5 gallon buckets full that he would run through a brass tumbler to clean them up before taking the money to the bank.

 

[seville009]

My washing machine has a “pure” mode, which is cleaning mode. I put in some bleach when I run the pure mode. Kills off any mold and such.

 

[MossRoad]

For years my mom would only buy washers with the "suds saver" feature. Not sure why, but I think it may have to do with not wanting to overload the septic tank field.

Yes, I know that a properly installed septic field can handle the output of a an automatic washer. But, the house I grew up in did not have indoor plumbing until 1954. Who knows what the standards were for septic fields back then and if it was installed correctly.

Doug in SW IA

THAT's what it was called. Thanks. I couldn't remember it.

 

[MossRoad]

Might depend on with whom you are sharing...

View attachment 775003

Nope. Nope. and perhaps, a Nope.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

My brother owned a laundromat for several years until he got tired of idiots breaking the machines. They would wash anything they could fit into the machine no matter how dirty or greasy. They did not recycle the water, it went straight into the sewer just like any other water. They did have traps on the outlets to collect the big stuff. He would have to clean them out weekly and collect the money washed down the drain. He made quite a bit from it but the money was disgustingly dirty. I remember he had 5 gallon buckets full that he would run through a brass tumbler to clean them up before taking the money to the bank.

Oh...a money laundering business
We have washers now in house & garage which is really handy, separate septic systems. I really would rather wash clothes in a big tub or bucket rather than laundromat, wring and hang on clothesline.

 

[Oaktree]

Washing machines are the only thing we're allowed to not go into the septic here, so mine does into a separate line.

Not even a bathtub/shower? Not sure what the rules are here. Was thinking of putting in a gray water drywell, but the way the property is laid out doesn't really lend itself to it.

I bought a $60 tarp at Mardens, but that disintegrated last month in a wind storm and I haven't replaced it.

Yeah, those Marden's tarps are pretty flimsy...make HF ones seem good!

 

[Streetcar]

I know, for sure, that car wash facilities recycle their water. But - Man - I certainly hope you are mistaken on laundry facilities and recycling. I know the laundry here in our little town does not recycle.

Many do not realize this - The highest bacterial/pathogenic source from any normal household comes from the clothes washing machine. Bar NONE.

How does washing machine have higher bacteria count than the toilet

 

[dodge man]

I remember as a kid she put an old pantyhose over the tube that the water from the washing machine dumped in the laundry tub for recycling. It always got full of lint and other crap. Looking back at it today, kind of nasty. Going by memory though it used it during the same batch of cloths, going by vague memory of that though.

 

[Mcdust]

Most "septic systems" until relatively recently were cesspools, stone leach tanks. Massachusetts Title five requirements put an end to that when a property was sold, and I'm sure elsewhere.
when I was a kid (of 4) it was a problem and my father would get quite cranky when the cesspool over flowed and needed to be pumped.