The Laundry Club Blog

Spinning tales one load at a time, Never fold on your dreams.

Category: Laundry Blog

  • The Elf Who Shrunk Christmas: A Laundry Club Holiday Tale

    There are many things the North Pole worries about as Christmas draws near — reindeer carb-loading schedules, sleigh aerodynamics, wrapping-Paper-to-Tape ratios, and peppermint cocoa shortages (a catastrophic event that once…

  • Spin Cycle Economics: Red, Blue, and the Cost of Clean Clothes

    For most people, the “economy” shows up in the smallest, most ordinary parts of daily life: the grocery receipt, the light bill, the price of a gallon of milk, the…

  • Claws, Chaos, and Laundry: A Krampus Tale

    Long before peppermint lattes, inflatable yard reindeer, and online shopping took over December, there was a different kind of holiday anticipation — the kind that made Alpine children double- and…

  • Laundry at the North Pole: The 12 Loads of Christmas

    “Before the sleigh bells ring, the washers sing. Discover the unseen work that keeps Christmas spotless — one load at a time.” Where detergent meets Christmas magic — and someone…

  • The Textile Graveyard: What Happens to Clothes That Can’t Be Cleaned or Sold

    A Special Halloween Feature by The Laundry Club Blog Somewhere beyond the thrift store bins and donation drives, past the charity warehouses and recycling depots, there’s a place where the…

  • When the Waves Want Your Socks — and Maybe Your Ship Too

    The Kraken’s Washday: Surviving the Spin Cycle at 10,000 Leagues Imagine the swell of the ocean, the hum of the ship’s engine, and the low groan of steel as it…

  • The Cost of Clean: How an Unraveling Economy Hits the Wash Cycle

    Over the past year, the economic landscape has shifted in ways that many didn’t see coming — and that shift is finding its way into unexpected corners of life, including…

  • When the Laundry Piles Up

    It’s been a while since I’ve written here at The Laundry Club. I’ve missed this little corner of the internet—and I’ve missed you, whether that’s a whole crowd of readers…

  • Sticker Shock at the Spin: What a 100% Tariff Means

    Most of us don’t think about international trade when we’re folding towels. The dryer hums, the lint trap fills, and life goes on. But what happens when the next load…

  • Why I Write About Laundry

    I didn’t start writing about laundry because I thought it was chic or glamorous. Or because I felt the world needed another tutorial on separating reds from whites. I started…

  • Lavoirs: The History of French Wash-houses

    France’s Public Washhouses and the Heartbeat of Village Life Laundry is never just about clothes. It’s about people, ritual, and the rhythms of daily life. In 18th- and 19th-century France,…

  • Laundry in the Shanghai Ghetto: Threads of Survival

    When I think of laundry, I often think of the ordinary—the hum of machines, the smell of detergent, the comfort of warm towels. But laundry also shows up in extraordinary…

  • The Laundry We Do For Love

    There are love letters we write on paper, sealed with ink, perfume, and the trembling urgency of our hands. And then there are the love letters we never realize we’re…

  • Laundry Etiquette: Unspoken Rules

    Laundry is one of those universal experiences that unites humans across age, culture, and geography. Whether you’re a college student cramming laundry between classes, an apartment dweller sharing machines with…

  • Sun, Natron, and Linen: Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Laundry

    When most people think of ancient Egypt, images of pyramids, pharaohs, and elaborate tombs come to mind. Rarely do we consider the everyday lives of the people who lived along…

  • Hanging Hope in the Rubble: Laundry in Gaza

    Laundry has always been more than soap, water, and fabric. It’s about dignity, rhythm, and the reassurance of clean clothes against our skin. But what happens when that basic act…

  • The Rise of Subscription Laundry Services

    In today’s fast-paced world, where time is a precious commodity, the traditional chore of laundry has undergone a significant transformation. Subscription-based laundry services, powered by advanced technology, are revolutionizing the…

  • The Pope’s Laundry: Washing Away More Than Dirt in Rome

    In the heart of Rome, just a few streets away from the Vatican, a quiet revolution in cleanliness has begun. No quarters, no coins, no tokens required—just the simple promise…

  • Teach Em’ Young: Why Kids Should Learn Laundry Early

    Life skill. Confidence builder. Mental health booster. Teaching laundry early does all three. Parents often tell me, “I’ll just do it—showing them will take longer.” In the short term, you’re…

  • The First Lady of Laundry: Abigail Adams’ Ghostly Chores

    When we picture First Ladies, we often imagine them in elegant gowns, hosting dignitaries, or delivering speeches on education or health. Rarely do we think of them hanging damp underclothes…

  • Toxic Suds: The Hidden Hormone Disruptors Lurking in Your Laundry

    When we toss our clothes into the wash, we imagine we’re ridding them of dirt, germs, and whatever chaos the day threw our way. But what if that fresh scent…

  • Vincent Van Gogh and the Art of Dirty Laundry

    You may know Vincent van Gogh for sunflowers, starry skies, and a tragic ear incident. But did you know he spent years sketching laundry scenes—boats laden with linens, washerwomen stooping…

  • Ritual Rinse: Laundry as Spiritual Cleansing in Hoodoo

    In the tradition of Hoodoo and Southern conjure practices, laundry has historically occupied a role far more complex than that of routine household maintenance. Within the cultural frameworks of African…

  • Washed Away: When Laundry Becomes a Front for Human Trafficking

    Human trafficking is not a new crime—it’s just had many names over time. From indentured servitude and peonage in the 19th century, to “domestic service” arrangements that trapped women and…

  • Twisted Knickers: Knot Magic in Germanic Laundry Lore

    What if every knot in your laundry wasn’t just a nuisance—but a spell? In the folds of old Germanic folk tradition lies a sensual, secret magic—knot binding—a ritual practice where…

  • The World’s Weirdest Laundry Laws

    Laundry may seem like one of the most ordinary routines in modern life, but in some corners of the world, the act of washing and drying clothes is tangled up…

  • Mothman Is Real and He’s in Your Closet

    There’s a winged menace lurking in your wardrobe. No, not that shirt from 2012. We’re talking about something truly sinister—something with tiny wings, a hunger for wool, and absolutely no…

  • Coin Shortage in America : Hitting Laundromats Hard

    Remember 2020? The world went on pause, toilet paper became a currency, and banana bread had a full-blown renaissance. But tucked away beneath the sourdough starters and Zoom fatigue was…

  • Laundry of the Damned: How Cults Use Washing as Control

    When Laundry Becomes Doctrine Laundry is often associated with care, cleanliness, and domestic stability. But in certain extremist religious sects and psychological cults, washing clothes—or being forced to wash the…

  • Hexed in the Wash: Russia’s Dirty Laundry and the Curse Within

    What if your underwear could curse you? No, this isn’t the plot of a horror-comedy. In old Russia, it was whispered that the most personal pieces of clothing—undergarments, headscarves, socks…

  • Vampires Hate Bleach: Secret History of Laundry in Gothic Lore

    “The blood must be scrubbed, but never spoken of.” That might as well be the tagline of every gothic novel ever written. When it comes to vampire fiction and gothic…

  • Lethal Linens: The Secret History of Poisoned Uniforms in WWII

    In the shadows of World War II, where battles raged not just on the front lines but in back alleys, bunkers, and barracks, the humble laundry took on a role…

  • Gazans Wash Clothes & Bathe In Seawater

    When the Sea Becomes the Sink: Gaza’s Water Crisis Continues In southern Gaza, families have been forced to wash clothes and dishes in seawater as clean water simply runs out.…

  • CSI: Laundry — What a Washing Machine Can Really Reveal

    When you toss your clothes into the washing machine, you probably think you’re wiping the slate clean. But for forensic scientists, detectives, and criminal profilers, the laundry room isn’t where…

  • Death by Laundry

    It sounds like the setup for a dark comedy or a twisted Agatha Christie plot: death by laundry. But across history and into modern times, laundry—mundane, necessary, and often overlooked—has…

  • Japanese Sentaku Culture: Laundry is an Art

    There’s a quiet poetry to laundry in Japan. It’s not just a domestic task—it’s a cultural ritual, a design choice, a seasonal celebration, and in many ways, a form of…

  • Blood, Sweat, and Linen: Wartime Laundry Practices

    Welcome back to The Laundry Club Blog, where we don’t just hang up the linens—we dig deep into their stories. Today, we’re wringing out a history soaked in sacrifice, resilience,…

  • The Great Underwear Debate: Fold, Roll, or Fling?

    A cheeky exposé on intimate organization, laundry habits, and the bizarre tribalism surrounding underthings. There are few things in life more polarizing than pineapple on pizza, cats vs. dogs, or…

  • When the Laundry Floats: Rusalki Water Spirits Folklore

    Rusalka by Ivan Bilibin, 1934 We’ve scrubbed our way through the centuries—dabbling in Korean dadeumi, Islamic ghusl, and even laundry superstitions—and now it’s time to plunge headfirst into the deep,…

  • Dadeumi: The Korean Laundry Art You’ve Never Heard Of

    Dadeumi: The Korean Laundry Art You’ve Never Heard Of (But Will Love) By The Laundry Club Blog Before there were steam irons, wrinkle-release sprays, and dryer sheets scented like dreamsicle…

  • Undercover Laundry

    “Not every sock that vanishes is lost. Some are just classified.” Espionage and Secret Codes Because sometimes, the dirtiest laundry is international intrigue. Let’s be honest—when you think of laundry,…

  • The Life Cycle of Plastic Laundry Containers

    In today’s world, plastic laundry detergent jars are a common sight in our homes. They’re convenient for storing and pouring detergent, but have you ever thought about what happens to…

  • The Great Laundry Heists: When Detergent Became Gold

    Forget diamonds, cash, or high-end electronics. During the 2010s, a strange but very real crime wave washed across the United States—and its target wasn’t gold or jewels, but laundry detergent.…

  • From Bubbles to Bougie: The World’s Most Expensive Detergents

    Skip to main content The Laundry Club Hire An Expert Help Center 2 HM Posts There’s a war raging in your laundry room—and it’s not just between stains and spin…

  • The Dirty Truth About Hotel Laundry: Grime, Gore, and Secrets

    You check into a luxury hotel. The sheets are crisp, the towels fluffy, and your robe smells faintly of jasmine. Everything seems pristine. But what if I told you the…

  • Hanging Out the Dirty Laundry: Clotheslines of Resistance

    Throughout history, the humble act of doing laundry has, at times, transformed into a radical act of resistance. From women’s suffrage movements to civil disobedience in the face of apartheid,…

  • Curses in the Cloth: Global Laundry Spellwork

    Laundry: the very word conjures up images of cleanliness, care, and daily routine. Yet beneath the rhythmic slosh of water and the scent of fresh linens lies a far older,…

  • Wash With Intention: Exploring Ghusl, Laundry, and Purity

    Wash With Intention: Exploring Ghusl, Laundry, and Purity in Islamic Tradition Today, we’re taking a turn toward something sacred—something profoundly human: the intersection of cleanliness, spirituality, and ritual. Welcome to…

  • Dirty Laundry: When Art Airs Out What We’d Rather Keep Hidden

    Let’s face it: laundry has a way of piling up, both literally and metaphorically. One minute you’re on top of the sorting game, the next you’re fishing for a clean…

  • Laundry of the Dead: A Global Spin on Washing for the Afterlife

    There’s something deeply symbolic about laundry. It’s one of the most universal human chores, yet often overlooked for its spiritual, cultural, and emotional significance. We wash to prepare, to purify,…

  • Tiny Socks & Toadstool Suds: Laundry Day in the Enchanted Forest

    Laundry Day for Fairies, Gnomes, and Woodland Creatures Let’s imagine for a moment that the forest hums not only with the sound of wind through leaves and the babble of…

  • Wash at Your Own Risk: Laundry Superstitions

    Laundry, on the surface, might seem like the most ordinary of household chores. It’s routine. It’s rhythmic. It involves a lot of folding, sniffing, and the occasional sock sacrifice to…

  • Battling the Dust: The Unsung Story of Coal Miners’ Laundry

    The life of a coal miner is one of grit and perseverance, marked by long hours underground and the ever-present haze of coal dust. Yet, for all the focus on…

  • Dirty Work: The Hidden World of Crime Scene Laundry

    When most people think of crime scenes, their minds conjure images of detectives, forensic scientists, and yellow tape cordoning off the area. Rarely, if ever, does anyone think about the…

  • Maramures : Purpose-built Primitive Whirlpools

    In old times, people used to wash their clothes in rivers, but in Maramures villages, they had their own way of doing the laundry. Before washing machines were invented, the people from…

  • Spinning Through Space: Laundry On The Moon

    Spinning Through Space: What It Would Be Like to Do Laundry in a Moon Settlement Let’s say it’s the year 2085. You’ve just finished a shift tending to your hydroponic…

  • “Dirty Laundry” Exhibit Highlights Impact Of Fast Fashion

    “Dirty Laundry” Exhibit Highlights Impact Of Fast Fashion The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA) is drawing attention to one of the most pressing—and often overlooked—issues of our time:…

  • The Worlds Largest Laundromat

    World’s Largest Laundromat: A Monument to Clean Clothes and Community The World’s Largest Laundromat has 301 washers and dryers. It has 15 finches and miniature doves living in an aviary…

  • Auschwitz Laundry Worker To Display Valuables Culled From Victims

    Brighton resident Meyer Hack endured unspeakable horrors during World War II, where as a prisoner of the Nazi concentration camps, he lost his family and saw thousands perish. In a…

  • Fabric Softener vs. Dryer Sheets

    Fabric softeners and dryer sheets have been a laundry staple for decades, helping clothes feel softer, smell fresher, and reduce static cling. But have you ever wondered how they actually…

  • Why Sorting Laundry Matters

    Laundry might seem like a simple, mundane task, but if you’ve ever pulled out a load of whites turned pink or discovered your favorite sweater has shrunk to toddler size,…

  • Does Your Zodiac Sign Match Your Laundry Habits?

    Do you love to do laundry every week? Or are you more of a, leave your dirty clothes in a heap until they HAVE to be cleaned, kind of person?…

  • Tracking The Evolution of Laundry Detergent Prices

    The price of laundry detergent has undergone significant changes over the years, influenced by factors such as production costs, consumer demand, technological innovations, and economic shifts. From the introduction of…

  • How Trump’s Tariffs Could Make Laundry More Expensive

    The economic impact of tariffs extends far beyond international trade disputes—it trickles down into everyday life, even into something as routine as doing laundry. With President Donald Trump proposing new…

  • All Washed Up: Abandoned Coin Laundries & Laundromats

    Step into the shadowed remnants of a world that no longer spins. All Washed Up: Abandoned Coin Laundries & Laundromats from The Laundry Club Blog invites you into spaces where…

  • Even The Buddha Had To Do Laundry

    “Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water” In the quiet rhythm of monastic life, where the pursuit of enlightenment guides every action, even…

  • Gökçe Island, Dereköy Historical Greek Laundry

    Dereköy Historical Greek Laundry – A Glimpse Into the Past The Dereköy Historical Greek Laundry, located near the Hagia Panaghia Church in the village of Dereköy on Gökçeada (Imbros Island),…

  • Discarded Laundry: Fukushima’s Exclusion Zone

    The laundromats of Fukushima, Japan, offer a haunting snapshot of lives interrupted, their silence echoing through a space once filled with the hum of machines and the soft chatter of…

  • Lost Socks : Mischievous Gnome Conspiracy

    So, what about the missing socks theory? The missing sock theory states that socks disappear because of a mystical creature known as the sock gnome. The sock gnome is a…

  • Nome, Alaska : Nan Inuit Laundry

    Alaska: Eskimo, C1906. /Nan Inuit Man Doing Laundry In Tub Outside His Tent, With Clothes Hanging To Dry In The Background, Nome, Alaska. Photograph, C1906. In the early 20th century,…

  • The Evolution of Washing: From Rivers to Robots

    When you throw your clothes into a washing machine and press a button, it’s easy to take the process for granted. But laundry has come a long way from its…

  • Laundry Day : The Amish Way

    When visiting an Amish community, one of the most iconic sights is the ubiquitous clotheslines, often stretching high into the trees and adorned with neatly hung pants, shirts, and dresses…

  • The Fabric of Resistance : Laundry In Concentration Camps

    Laundry work during World War I and World War II, especially in Nazi Germany and labor camps across Poland and surrounding areas, became a grim and harrowing experience for those…

  • Jim Crow : Laundry Segregation

    The Jim Crow era stands as one of the most divisive chapters in American history, marked by laws and customs that upheld racial segregation. During this time, the laundry industry…

  • Preventing “RINK STINK” : Hockey Laundry

    There are few moments in hockey worse than opening your equipment bag only to be hit in the face by something more odious than an opposing player: Often called “rink…

  • Washing with Tradition: The Sacred Rules of Gypsy Laundry

    In the world of the Romani people, cleanliness is more than a matter of personal hygiene—it’s a deeply rooted part of their spiritual and cultural practices. Among the traditions passed…

  • Maine Company Creates A Kelp-Based Laundry Pod Alternative

    Amid concern over microplastics, a Maine company creates a kelp-based laundry pod alternative In recent years, products like Tide pods and detergent sheets have taken off. Over 25% of Americans…

  • Black Women Laundry Workers Finally Get Their Due

    Black women laundry workers finally get their due as organizers and leaders A Matter of Moral Justice, Black Women Laundry Workers and the Fight for Justice, by Jenny Carson, is…

  • Could Your Laundry Be Making You Sick?

    Did you know that contaminated laundry can make you sick? Learn how to protect yourself and your family from mold or other pathogens in your laundry. When people think about…

  • Mushroom Enzyme to Replace Laundry Detergents?

    Microorganisms are everywhere. Forty million in a single gram of soil. One hundred trillion in the gut flora of the average human. Among this soup of single-celled, microscopic organisms are…

  • Controversy Over Muslim-Only Laundromat Exposes Religious Tension

    When Mr Koh Boon Ooi decided to open a 24-hour self-service laundromat in Muar, Johor, six months ago, one of his priorities was getting a halal certification for laundry detergent.…

  • Russia Removes Foreign Detergent, Washing Powder From Shops

    Russian authorities ordered the removal of foreign brands of laundry detergent and other cleaning products from shops in the latest example of products being targeted by what is widely seen…

  • Radioactive Laundry: The Strange Reality of Nuclear Stains

    Radioactive Laundry: The Strange Reality of Nuclear Stains Well, buckle up, folks, because this is one of those “you can’t make this stuff up” scenarios. Picture this: you’re tossing a…

  • Dhobi Ghat – The World’s Largest Outdoor Laundry

    If, you think that the words ‘Outdoor Laundry’ suggest an al-fresco group of giant washing machines that swirl foaming suds to get that ‘bluey white-ness’, then you’d be wrong.  The…

  • A Racist Laundry Law In Early San Francisco Helped Civil Rights

    Yick Wo: How A Racist Laundry Law In Early San Francisco Helped Civil Rights The next time you pass the parking lot on Third Street between St. Francis Place and…

  • How to Do Your Laundry in Japan

    A guide on Japanese washing machines, detergents, air drying, and more. You just arrived in your Japan apartment and realized you spilled coffee on your favorite jacket. You rush to…

  • The Army Laundress

    A Hard Day’s Work On every Indian Wars Army post was an area called, variously, soapsuds row, suds row, or sudsville, where the company laundresses lived and worked. Most mornings…

  • Medieval Laundry: It’s As Bad As You Think

    Yes, medieval people washed their clothes — and for once, the historical myths are real medieval facts. I love historical myth busting, and medieval myths are rarely true. But when…

  • The Vital Role of Laundry in Human Existence

    Laundry is an integral part of human life, a task often underestimated in its significance yet essential to maintaining hygiene, culture, and societal structures. Beyond the simple act of cleaning…

  • Minimalism Saves Me From Spending Hours on Laundry

    When I began minimizing my wardrobe, I didn’t expect the laundry to follow suit. I just wanted a simpler closet. What I didn’t realize was that by cutting back on…

  • Laundry Equipment to Clean Firefighter Gear: Clean Gear Saves Lives

    There was a time when a firefighter’s soot-stained jacket told a story. A badge of honor. Proof you’d been there—inside the smoke, inside the chaos, inside the heart of what…

  • The Swastika Laundry: From Prosperity to Controversy

    The Swastika Laundry, a once-thriving business, remains an interesting footnote in history. The company used an ancient symbol, but the Nazis later co-opted it. They operated out of Dublin, Ireland,…

  • Laundry USSR

    In big cities, people could do their laundry in self-service laundromats, while on rivers and ponds in small villages you can still come across wooden platforms where people would wash…

  • The History and Evolution of Wool Dryer Balls

    You might think wool dryer balls are a modern laundry hack, but their roots trace back to traditional textile practices. Originally crafted from felted wool, these balls weren’t just about…

  • The Invention of the Laundromat

    Wash-a-teria, the first laundromat, (although it was not called by this name at the time of its invention), opened its doors in Fort Worth Texas, in 1934 by J.F. Cantrell.…

  • Doing The Devil’s Laundry

    I’m currently burning in hell and my only job is to do the Devil’s laundry. I don’t know why that’s the only task they’ve given me so far; I mean,…

  • The Essential Role of Laundry Units in Combat Zones

    In the challenging landscape of combat zones, the significance of efficient Laundry Units in maintaining the well-being and readiness of military personnel cannot be understated. These specialized units play a…

  • The Chaos of Laundry Day in Prison

    From streaked boxers to blood-stained linens, you never know what — and whose — clothes you’ll get back. Prisoners do not have the luxury of going to a laundromat and…

  • Poltergeists in the Sanatorium Laundry

    Echoes of the Forgotten When most people think of haunted locations, they imagine abandoned asylums, crumbling mansions, or battlefields where history left its scars. Rarely do people consider a laundry…

Spinning tales one load at a time. Never fold on your dreams.