The TikTok and The Laundromat
Has TikTok made laundromats cool again?
So far, the sensational app called “TikTok” has brought us into a new world of fast paced media that seems to influence us with a wide breadth of trends regarding everything from “Noodle the Pug” to “Berries and Cream”. One that has taken me aback though has been that of Victoria Paris and her laundry adventures. Has going to the laundromat become a dreamboat of an inconvenience? Her videos have gone viral, with some well over 2 million views all for romanticizing her clothes washing adventures. This trend came at a perfectly opportune time given the nation’s current coin shortage. It’s been going on but, I personally haven’t been caught in the crosshairs until now. I have coin laundry in my basement, which my sister, who doesn’t live in a city like NYC or Chicago, doesn’t understand. But, having a coin laundry at the moment is like having a microwave that doesn’t work. So, what did I do, living in a big city with a Sudz Cleaners about a block away? Well, we took DFN on a little field trip.
According to Victoria, you load up your laundry in a suitcase. Check. Mine is a great little number from 2017, covered in VW van stickers from various locations. I do have to say, the suitcase method is great. So, we walked out the apartment building, where I live on the second floor, so it sounded like I was dragging a dead body down my stairs.
She then films something aesthetic while walking about a block or two to her local laundromat. I couldn’t film anything too aesthetic given I was dragging a heavy a** suitcase over cracked and crumby pavement while holding my computer bag and my Dunkin iced coffee. (Dunkin please sponsor this madness.)
Upon arrival at my local cleaners, I walked in like an idiot who didn’t know what she was doing. The laundromat I used has the delightful application of using your phone to pay, avoiding the whole coin headache. Victoria Paris didn’t go on about which machine to use and how to use it though. So, apparently there is a $4 machine that allows for 4 loads of laundry and then there is the granddaddy $6 machine that allows for 6 loads of laundry. I didn’t realize this so I had to do 3 loads of the smaller machines.
*Some other fun stuff to note, you do need your own detergent and goodies. There is also no one that prepares you for pulling out your dirty underwear in public.*
After 20 minutes, your machine is done and you switch to your dryer and give those clothes a nice poof. Overall, I rank my experience as being time convenient and extremely easy when it comes to getting my least favorite chore done. The one good thing that this trend promotes though, it normalizes the inconvenience of living in a city where clean clothing is a luxury. So, thank you Victoria for showing us the ropes but, I’m hoping this coin shortage will end soon so I can resume doing laundry in my basement.
