what we see
Wash Your Own Blankets in Hemet, Starting at $3.25
You can wash your blankets yourself at The Laundry Basket in Hemet, in commercial washers starting at $3.25 for a small throw. An attendant is on duty through the day, and we're open until midnight.
Most blankets we see are small ones: a fleece throw from the couch, a kid's nap blanket, the one that lives in the back seat of the car. Every so often someone brings a bigger, heavier blanket their washer at home can't handle well. Blanket cleaning is just one of the many ways to use our washers and dryers.
bigger drums
Why a Blanket Washes Better Here Than at Home
A blanket comes out cleaner here because our Dexter commercial washers have much bigger drums than a home washer. Even a small double loader gives a throw room to tumble, open up and rinse clean all the way through.
Most home washers aren't built for blankets. In a top-loader, with or without a center agitator, or in a smaller front-loader, there's no room for a blanket to move. It wraps around the agitator or packs into a tight wad, and the middle never gets fully clean.
how often
Most Blankets Wait Too Long for a Wash
Experts recommend washing blankets about once a month, and as often as your sheets if the blanket touches bare skin. At $3.25 for a small throw, monthly is easy.
Most people in Hemet wait much longer. One customer told us she washes her bedding and blankets only twice a year. But a throw on the couch gets used every day, and it picks up sweat, skin oils, crumbs and the dust this valley is known for.
Quick Checklist
Your blanket is overdue if:
- It smells stale or musty, even right after you shake it out
- The fabric feels stiff or a little greasy when you rub it
- It looks flat, or the filling has clumped in the corners
- You see darker spots where heads and hands usually rest
- You can't remember the last time it was washed
machine sizes
Pick the Washer by Size, Not by What's Open
Most small throws fit a $3.25 double loader. Here's how to match the rest:
- One or two small throws, or a kid's blanket: double loader, $3.25
- A heavier or full-size blanket: 3-load washer ($5.00) or 4-load maxi ($6.25)
- A thick blanket that's heavy to carry even when dry: 6-load mega ($8.50)
The 4-load maxis are on the right aisle as you walk in, along the west wall by the change machines.
Then try the hand check: with the blanket loaded, your hand should fit easily above it. If you have to push the door shut, go up a size.
accidents happen
Soiled Blankets Need Two Washes, Not One
Wash a urine-soaked or soiled blanket twice. When the first wash finishes, leave the blanket in the drum and start a second cycle so it washes in fresh, clean water. In a double loader, both washes together cost $6.50.
One wash isn't enough because the blanket sits in contaminated water the whole first cycle. Dry it after one wash and the smell comes right back. Wash it by itself, not with the rest of your laundry. Two cycles still cost far less than replacing the blanket.
for horse owners
Horse Blankets Need One Extra Step
Yes, you can wash horse blankets here. Just fasten every buckle first. Metal buckles and clips can break a washer or dryer drum when they slam around at full spin, and a damaged drum can snag the next person's blanket.
- Brush off as much dirt and hair as you can before you come.
- Fasten every strap and buckle so nothing swings loose.
- Ask the attendant which machine to use.
Not sure which washer fits your horse blanket? Ask the attendant before you load it. They'd rather spend a minute with you than lose a machine to repairs, and a machine down for repairs is one less washer for everyone else that day.
attended all day
A Clean Machine, Not Someone's Storage Bin
Our attendants don't let anyone use our machines as storage, so your blanket goes into a clean, empty drum. Staff also wipe down the inside of each washer, door gasket included, after every wash, and leave the door open to air out.
It's a real problem at laundromats with no one on-site. A homeless person leaves clothes and old, dirty blankets sitting in a machine for days. The machine starts to smell, and nobody else can use it. Here, our attendants catch it and ask the person to take their things out. Once or twice, we've had to throw the items away.
Having someone here all day is also why we repair our own machines, and why 99% of them are working on any given day.
safety first
Check Every Fold Before It Goes in the Dryer
Before anything goes in the dryer, run your hands along the edges and through every fold. Blankets hide coins, hair clips and small toys, and some things should never go in a dryer at all.
We learned this the hard way. One customer who always empties her pockets didn't know a pair of foam flip-flops had gotten mixed into her load. They caught fire in the dryer. The dryer was fine, but she lost the whole load. Foam doesn't belong in a dryer, and neither does anything that's had gas, oil or other flammable liquids on it, even after washing.
before you go
What to Bring for a Blanket Run
Our machines take quarters and tokens only, with no cards and no app. A little planning makes a blanket trip quick.
A soiled blanket needs two cycles, which comes to $6.50 in a double loader. Three change machines break your bills when you get here.
Our vending machine sells detergent, fabric softener and extra-large laundry bags for carrying a clean blanket home.
Those are usually our quietest times, so the 4-load and 6-load washers are open and there’s room at the folding tables for a big blanket.
The Hemet DMV is directly behind us. Start your blanket in a 4-load washer, take care of your DMV visit, and move it to the dryer when you’re back.
Leftover tokens also work at our sister location, The Laundry Hamper in San Jacinto, so they never go to waste.
Stop by the attended laundromat behind the Hemet DMV at 145 E. Stetson Avenue, or call or text (951) 286-4444 with any questions before you come.
drying tips
Drying a Blanket the Right Way
Small blankets dry quickly in our dryers. A quarter buys 6 minutes in a 3-load dryer, 5 minutes in a 5-load and 4 minutes in a 6-load, so you only add time as you need it.
Already washed it at home and your dryer can't finish the job? You're welcome to come in just to dry.
- Shake the blanket out before it goes in. A twisted wet ball dries slowly and stays damp in the middle.
- Check it partway through and pull the corners loose.
- If the tag calls for low heat, which is common with fleece, ask the attendant which setting to use.