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]

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.

[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.)

[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"?