Wednesday October 14th, ‘The Laundry Room’ Broadway Market
video coming soon!
join us on the 14th October to hear more!
http://spinningstories.wordpress.com/night-wash-laundry-chorus/
Right. With your tumble drying you’ve obviously got to remember to find the dryer that’s currently being used – because that’s the one that’s going to be the hottest – and wait for it. And even if that means waiting five, ten, fifteen minutes it’s going to save you time in the long run and it’s going to save you money.
Obviously when it’s on a mixed load of washing you have to make sure that you put the lighter stuff in first because that will dry really quickly. Then the bigger stuff, like the towels you put in afterwards because otherwise the water, the moisture will transfer onto the lighter garments and mean that it’s constantly wet and never dries.
Transcribed from an interview on 2nd August 2009
In his famous work unpicking some of the iconic symbols of 1950s France, Mythologies, Roland Barthes turns his attention to soap powder adverts. He’s interested in how each product describes its relationship to dirt: chemical fluids are dangerous substances that need to be carefully regulated; they ‘kill’ the dirt, but could also (if used too abundantly) ‘burn’ the object. Soap powders are less aggressive: they gently separate the dirt from the object, ‘liberating’ clothes from the invasion of grime.
Two examples of adverts from the fifties: Persil compared two towels of different degrees of whiteness, appealing to our vanity and our shame, and presenting us with a finished product, miraculously cleansed of dirt. Omo, on the other hand, involved the consumer in the process of cleaning, describing the means through which its powder gently coaxes the grime away from the fabric, infusing its rich foam into the clothes with a light, airy, yet powerful cleaning substance.
What both adverts did was hide the abrasive action of soap powder with a persuasive narrative of air, foam, luxury and miracle. And Barthes also points out that hiding behind both products, despite their rival status on the market, is one and the same multinational company: Unilever. (Roland Barthes, ‘Soap-Powders and Detergents’, Mythologies, 1957)
Filed under: Contemporary Launderettes, Laundry Instructions and tips | Tags: Launderette, Laundry Instructions
On Monday I went to the Launderette on Roman Road, it seems to just be called ‘Launderette’.
I get there around 3pm. There is a black leather sofa which I sit on while I wait for my washing. There are several other people doing laundry, it is quite a large launderette and also has a dry cleaning service. Asian music is playing quietly.
The machines are Electrolux wascators W75 and W150 models.
Small Load £3
Please use the litter bin and help to keep this launderette clean and tidy. Thankyou.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Load machine, close door, pour approx half cupful of soap powder into each of no. 1 and no.2 soap compartments.
2. Turn selector switch for type of wash required. To start machine insert coins.
3. When light goes off at end of cycle, open door.
Place garments in the machine and CLOSE THE DOOR BEFORE inserting coins.
I notice that the music is coming from a TV mounted to the wall, showing a Bollywood musical.
Pleasantries are exchanged as people come and go, but there’s not much other talking.
There’s a large black leather office chair on wheels at the other end of the launderette – I assume this is for staff use only.
Service wash: small load £7, large load £12
Warning please do not tamper with coin boxes on these machines as they are wired to an electronic alarm system.
Handwritten sign: please do not overload the machines! Please keep machines clean and tidy.
The dryers have a notice on them:
Please remove clothes as soon as it stops so that creases do not fix in, and to avoid the risk of spontaneous combustion.
Filed under: Handkerchiefs, Laundry Instructions and tips | Tags: Handkerchiefs, Laundry Instructions
Some of my drawings for the HonestyBox (a project with Gail Burton) at Camberwell Arts Festival (26th and 27th June 2009) use imagery and texts from my launderette research.
Filed under: Contemporary Launderettes, Laundry Instructions and tips | Tags: Launderette, Laundry Instructions
Whilst at a conference in Aberystwyth I couldn’t resist a peek at the student (24 hour) launderette in the Rosser Halls of residence. There is no-one in there (it is around 1.30 am) but all of the lights are on.
Filed under: Laundry Instructions and tips | Tags: Blue, Laundry Instructions, Starch
I’ve just found that my local hardware store still stocks laundry starch and laundry blue!
The starch packet includes instructions on the back:
Mix the starch into a paste by adding one rounded tablespoon of powder to 2 tablespoons of cold water. Add a litre of hot water whilst stirring vigorously. Continue to stir until the mixture is uniform. Dilute with cold water according to the stiffness required.
Collars, aprons and table linen: 1 litre
Bed Linen, Shirts, cotton dresses: 1.5 to 2 litres.
Immerse the clean, damp articles in the diluted mixture, then spin or wring.
Iron while damp using a hot iron with heavy pressure.
WHEN STARCHING LINENS: Add a tablespoon of Borax to the Starch solution to improve the gloss and prevent the iron from sticking.
The Blue instructions are in Arabic (I think) but the diagrams are pretty clear – and link into the instructions that I found in the Women’s Library.
Filed under: Contemporary Launderettes, Laundry Instructions and tips | Tags: Boundary Estate, Launderette, Laundry Instructions
I go with Emily around 4pm to do a load of washing.
There’s no one else there other than the attendant who advises me to put my soap in when the water starts running, otherwise it might run through and not go on the washing. There is a lot of service washing stacked in bags – the attendant says it’s always busy on Mondays. The machine is very fast – it only takes half an hour. Emily and I chat about the London Met crisis while we wait.
Filed under: Contemporary Launderettes, Laundry Instructions and tips | Tags: Launderette, Laundry Instructions
13th April 2009. It is raining heavily outside. Nobody but me is in the launderette. There is no attendant. 5 machines and 6 dryers, 2 ironing boards (bring your own iron), several conference style chairs, a trestle table and a TV fixed high to the wall.
A woman comes in with 2 small children, they don’t speak. They collect their drying and leave. Notices and instructions are contained in plastic poster frames, A4 size:
For the courtesy of other customers please remove your laundry at the end of the cycle. We thank you for your cooperation.
We cannot accept liability for damage caused due to misuse of these machines please ensure:
1. The drum has been checked prior to loading to ensure that it is empty
2. The pockets of the garments are empty
3. You do not overload the machine
4. The correct cycle is selected for the garments loaded
Please report any fault to the park reception or the launderette.
