Laundromat prices increase

University of Kansas junior Emily Carpenter knows that doing laundry will put her wallet on spin cycle this winter. As a frequent self-service laundry customer, she has seen an increase in the price of doing laundry as energy prices continue to increase, as well.

"Gas is going up, so hot water is getting more expensive," Carpenter said. "But we've just lived in this apartment with a washer and dryer for a few months so I've been doing laundry at the laundromats for a while and they are getting more expensive."

Wednesday, oil futures settled below$60 per barrel for the first time in three months, thanks to warm weather forecasts. But laundromat owners still worry about the fuel prices hanging them out to dry, as winter is approaching.

There are about 35,000 retail laundromats in the U.S. Many of the owners are finding ways other than raising wash prices to combat ever-increasing fuel prices. Some are looking into adjusting drying times, using solar panels for electricity or buying energy-efficient washers and dryers. These machines cost less, but take more time to clean clothes.

For some people, the lower costs are worth the wait. Others appeal the fact that the machines are more earth-friendly.

Laundromat user Elisabeth Gaston said she preferred the low-energy machine.

"I think that would help out just over the long and help out the environment," Gaston said.

The national average and the cost of doing laundry at many laundromats in Lawrence is 25 cents per every eight minutes. As the prices increase with fuel costs, the costs are expected to increase to 25 cents per every five to seven minutes.

But even owners of washers and dryer expect an obvious increase in the cost for them to do laundry.

"I have a washer and dryer in my apartment," Carpenter said. "But we're paying for it so you know either way you have to pay for it. You could always go home."

Unlike not driving to avoid fuel costs, washing clothes cannot easily be rationed. So until the energy prices decrease, laundromat users and owners can expect to be hung out to dry this winter.