random UK wording question

[donutsweeper]

Ridiculously stupid questions, but I am anal, so here goes: Are there laundromats there? Are the machines called washers and dryers? And do you call it doing laundry?

Comments

[jadesfire.livejournal.com]

They're laundrettes, rather than laundromats (to give you the word to google ;)). We call them washing machines and tumble driers. We're more likely to say "doing the washing" than laundry. Washing specifically means clothes, as opposed to washing up, which is dishes (done in a dishwasher)

Hope that helps!

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

as opposed to washing up, which is dishes (done in a dishwasher)

Or in the sink with fairy liquid!

[travels-in-time.livejournal.com]

With WHAT?

[drunken-hedghog.livejournal.com]

It's a special type of washing up liquid that you can only buy if you're a lover of the velvet mound. You have to carry your rainbow card and produce it at the checkout or they won't sell it to you.

Or, if you want the more accurate but boring answer, it's a brand of washing up liquid/washing powder (http://www.uk.pg.com/products/products/fairyLiquid.html)

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

And now the question is, what is the "velvet mound"? (I knew about fairy liquid, but these threads are becoming very educational!)

Oh, looking at your icon I now understand how you're using "fairy" and "rainbow." Heh. But I still don't know velvet mound!

[drunken-hedghog.livejournal.com]

That would be a euphemism for lady-bits. Lover of the velvet mound is, itself, a euphemism for a lesbian.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Okay! That makes sense now. Love your icon! :)

[kensieg.livejournal.com]

don't straight guys love the velvet mound?

[travels-in-time.livejournal.com]

Ha, I'm glad you asked, so I didn't have to. *g*

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

Seriously, it's one of the more popular brands of dishwashing liquid - look here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_Liquid) for proof!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That's exactly what I need!

(stupid LJ, not sending me my notifications!)

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

Laundrettes (aka launderettes) have *big* machines too so even if you have a washing machine at home if you want to wash a duvet or sleeping bag you tend to take it to a laundrette. Some laundrettes still do 'service' washes for an extra fee (you leave your washing and the attendant will sort it out), the one near me does though it is getting more unusual now.

Oh and you can also say put the washing on/in (putting the washing out means to hang it up to dry on a clothes line). I think the 'on' comes from when washing was boiled in a copper, kind of like a giant kettle. Liverpool had some of the first public laundries in Europe, run by the local Chinese community. These were later taken over by the advent of automated laundrettes with coin operated machines.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Laundrettes, thanks!

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

The only way I can remember is by thinking of My Beautiful Laundrette. (Of course thinking of Daniel Day Lewis in a canon gay relationship movie is hardly a hardship.)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I never heard of that one! *goes to check it out*

[kensieg.livejournal.com]

It is the best small movie ever!

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Those aren't ridiculous or stupid questions at all. It's tiny little things like that which our languages don't share that can throw a fic off for some readers.

Also, I'm saving this post for my own reference. I'm sure I'll have these questions at some point, too. :) Thanks!

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone live some place where they're also called "washaterias"?

[drunken-hedghog.livejournal.com]

There's was one near where I live that was named Washerteria (closed down a few years ago), but I've never heard anyone call the thing itself a washateria.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

It's the common term down here in Texas. At least in Houston. Might even be an East Texas thing for all I know.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

I have heard that as a general term, and in my memory it was in Waco. (Though it could certainly be other places, Waco is just the only place I've lived where I had to use a laundromat regularly.)

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's more than just East Texas, then.

[kensieg.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard that term in Plano/DFW.

[travels-in-time.livejournal.com]

In Louisiana that's common.