Wash, Dry, Fold, Repeat: The Story of a Laundromat in Queens
By Anna Roberson and Ryan Vaughan
Washma Laundry Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
JACKSON HEIGHTS — Intense fluorescent lights, a Spanish television channel blaring in the background and the rhythmic thumping of the washing machines paint the scene of Washma Laundry Center. Nestled in the center of Jackson Heights, between a gas station and a Nepalese restaurant, the laundromat has served as a staple of the community for 20 years.
But with the increase in personal washing machines in homes, their customers have decreased. Despite the slow business, employees are optimistic that the laundromat is invaluable to people who can’t afford a washer or a dryer or who don’t have enough time to wash their own clothes.
Sylvia, one of five employees at the laundromat, says in spite of long hours, she takes pride in maintaining the appearance of their customers’ belongings. “We try to clean and prepare the clothes very nicely,” said Sylvia, 50, who has been working at Washma for 18 years. She also enjoys working with the customers she sees regularly. “I like the people,” she said.
An Ecuadorian immigrant who has lived in Queens since coming to the United States in 2001, Sylvia said she has noticed a steady beat in customers, who are mostly Hispanic, throughout the years. “The only thing that has changed is the prices,” she said. “The people are the same.” Although the business is slow during the middle of the week, specifically Wednesday and Thursday, it picks up on weekends.
The business also serves as a local socializing hub. Many people walk in to chat, buy a lottery ticket or come to watch a Spanish soccer game on the flatscreen TV.
A staple for the community, Sylvia notes that the laundromat is also supportive of its staff. When she first started at the laundromat, she had a strained relationship with her boss, she said. But it’s improved since then — her boss has even helped her work towards her goal to complete accounting classes by changing her schedule and allowing her to have flexible hours.
She hopes to finish her classes this year and soon move into a new profession. Although she enjoys working with the people in the community, the long nine-hour days on her feet can be taxing.
Still, she’s confident that the laundromat will remain stable long after she’s gone — pointing to a lack of competition and the fact that people will always need a place to clean their clothes.
