Why you should, and how to, avoid the coin laundry.
Self Isolation can be fairly easy if we have access at home for everything we need.
Across the globe many countries are facing total lock downs to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID19). During this difficult time, it is important to maintain a high standard of hygiene . Not just washing hands, you need to wash clothing and bedding frequently as well.
Self isolation can be quite tricky for residents in apartments (particularly in places like Manhattan) where access to personal washing machines can be restricted. Using personal washing machine can lead to issues such as floor/ceiling cracks, mold growth and water damage. In many NYC apartment spaces were built decades before a washing machines even became common in households.
Apartment dwellers usually drag dirty laundry baskets to shared basement facilities or drive/walk to the nearest public coin laundry.
Cons
- Washing machines may be poorly maintained
- Surfaces such as folding tables are usually not 100% clean
- Theft of clothing may occur
- High costs, with the average washing loads costing between $2-3.
- Some are cash only, operated with quarters
- Time consuming
- Not environmentally friendly as a lot of energy is used
These washing options can put others at risk during self isolation. Do you need to sterilize the washing machine before use, if it's not card operated will you have to handle quarters or visit a bank, will you be in a small room potentially with other people until the load is finished or risk the theft of your belongings?
To prevent leaving your apartment space hand washing the next best option. It is a quicker option however your sink may not provide a quality wash. Washing your clothes in a sink can also be unhygienic and can be messy, which could potentially result in dangerous spills. Frequent hand washing can also damage the skin especially for people with dermatitis.
Buy a portable washing machine
A handy alternative is the Scrubba wash bag. It takes up very little space and can easily be rolled up and stored in your drawers. Originally designed to allow travellers and campers to pack less clothes and wash them anywhere for free, the Scrubba wash bag allows a machine quality wash for up to 2 T-shirts, 2 pairs of underwear and 2 pairs of socks in just minutes. It has been trusted by over 230,000 travellers worldwide who travel clean, light and free. You only need to use a Scrubba wash bag a dozen times to make buying your own washing machine worth it.
The patented washboard-in-a-bag design is easy to use. Just add dirty clothes, water, soap, fold bag up to the guidelines, let out excess air, scrub for 3 minutes then rinse with clean water. During isolation avoid your basement dryer and par dry with a Scrubba microfibre towel. Par drying can help speed up the drying process and prevent dripping on your floor.
The Scrubba wash bag does not require any disinfecting. You will only need to rinse and turn the wash bag inside-out to dry after each use. Our wash bag uses microbial and hydrolysis resistant polyether TPU, air drying the inside of the bag will help it last longer and make it more hygienic.
In this changing climate, remember to keep calm and stay clean with the Scrubba wash bag. If you don’t have one you can find out more here.
Escape to the countryside - the best place to self-isolate.
Looking to seriously self-isolate in Australia? We've got some ideas, tips as well as some way, way out of the way locations to visit.How the Scrubba Community Rallied in the Face of a National Crisis
Aggressive and wide-spread bushfires were a devastating reality across Australia in the 19/20 summer season, causing unprecedented damage, loss, and heartache which has been felt the world over. Together with the generosity of our amazing Scrubba customers, we were able to play a part in helping to support the incredible relief agencies, firefighters and affected communities in a time when it was needed most.
Beware of counterfeit Scrubba wash bags
Recently, some counterfeit Scrubba wash bags were sold on Amazon.com under the account of "Steve Butler Zr". These counterfeit Scrubba wash bags are readily identifiable by the type of valve used and inferior inner washboard. Measures are being take to enforce our intellectual property rights against Steve Butler Zr.