an easier way to do laundry...send it out

I like to imagine winning the lottery.  Two luxuries I would immediately get would be a driver and a washer/dryer for my apartment (and of course a big apartment that would allow for my very own laundry room).

Most people who don’t live in a city already have these luxuries.  Okay, the driver may be a car, but in New York, it would be pure indulgence to be able to call on a Henry.   “Good morning Henry,” I’d begin most days.  “I need to run over  to Fairway and it’s pouring out.  Could you pick me up in about ten minutes?”  or, “Hi Henry.  Alexander wants to come home for the long weekend.  Could you go up to Ithaca and pick him up? Thanks so much.”  I can think of endless scenarios where having a Henry would be helpful.

When I visit my parents, I actually enjoy doing my laundry.  I like the feeling of warm clean clothes as they emerge from the dryer.  But here, in NYC, I hate doing laundry.  It’s expensive and pure drudgery.  Lugging my clothes down to the basement laundry room.  Putting in $2.75 for every washing machine, and the same for every dryer, then hoping they work.  Cleaning a stranger’s lint off the dryer.  Making two round-trips to the semi-clean laundry room.  The whole thing is just a giant pain, and totally unsatisfying.

A few months ago someone told me about a local cleaners nearby that does laundry, and does it well.  I finally decide to try them.  Alexander and I lug over 35 pounds of laundry (they do pick up, but I want to go since it’s my first time).  The place is small and hot.  There are about eight Korean women busy at work.

Yesterday I get my laundry back.  They’ve done a great job, even folding our T-shirts the way I prefer.

Like this:

Not like this:

I am so impressed I decide I’m never doing my own laundry again.  Sending it out costs less than doing it myself.  I add M&I Laundry to my Contacts.

I go over today to thank them.  The atmosphere has changed.  It’s quiet.  No workers folding anything.  I wonder if they are not yet open.  But it is ten o’clock.  They should be.  Finally, a guy comes out from the back room.  Before I say anything he says, “We closed.”  I ask when they will be open.  He says, “No, we closed.  Gone.  No more work here.”  His English may not be good but his message is clear. 

I go online and find another service in the neighborhood that costs less and has fantastic YELP reviews (http://fluffnfold.weebly.com).  I hope this relationship lasts longer.  Or at least until I win the lottery.