It's a Team's Life
Laundry Mats
Using a public laundry is probably one of the things I dislike most about being away from home. It is a necessary evil and laundry is something that I do weekly, rain or shine, load or no load. I cannot stand the smell of dirty clothes nor of them piling up in an unmanageable heap.
While talking with another driver she mentioned a really nice laundry mat near where we were located in Las Vegas. That led to discussion of laundry mats all over the United States that are located inside truck stops.
One of my favorites is the laundry at the Jubitz in Portland, OR. It is a bit over priced, but they have large machines and I can get our bedspread and blankets washed. The laundry is spotless, the machines are in good repair, and there are enough machines I can get everything done at once without waiting. Just outside the laundry is a large commons area that is perfect for waiting for the washers and dryers to finish.
I like another one down in Wildwood, FL located inside the I-75 Chrome Shop. This is also a clean, large laundry with plenty of room to fold clothes and places to hang our clothes.
Walcott, IA at the TA has another large laundry room with plenty of washers and dryers. What I don't like about this laundry is the fact there is no place to sit and wait.
The East TA in Ontario, CA has a large laundry that is
usually clean; washers are usually not to bad as well as the dryers.
This laundry often needs to be wiped down as
the lint builds up pretty bad on all of the surfaces.
This laundry though is loud and when I finish
folding my laundry I usually have a headache.
The typical laundry we see is a small room towards the back of the building with 6 washers and dryers, a small folding table, and not much room to maneuver around. The typical price is $2.00 to wash and $2.00 to dry. The TA/Petro's have added a great debit card reader for the washers and dryers. We no longer have to carry change into the truck stop to pay. Something else I like that the TA/Petro's have done is a text messaging. I enter a code that is posted on their wall and the machines I am using and I receive a text when the machines are done. It works great!
My ideal laundry would be well ventilated, have clean working machines, a large table to fold clothes and hang them, an area to sit and wait, and also be well cooled. The laundry needs to have plenty of light with large windows so as not to feel like the laundry was an after thought.
I am always glad when I am done with this chore; the sleeper is back to clean sheets, clean clothes, and ready to start a new week!
Bob & Linda Caffee
Leased to: FedEx Custom Critical 

TeamCaffee

Saint Louis MO
Expediters 8 years been out here on the road 13 years
Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle; 

Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;

Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;

Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.