Save Water by Using a Laundromat

Water is one of those things most of us don't think about until the bill arrives or the restrictions kick in. In Melbourne, where drought cycles are a regular reality, being mindful of water use isn't just good practice — it's essential. And here's something that might surprise you: doing your laundry at a laundromat can be significantly more water-efficient than washing at home.

How Much Water Does a Home Washer Use?

A standard household washing machine uses between 50 and 80 litres of water per load, depending on the model, age, and cycle selected. Most home machines have a drum capacity of 7 to 8 kilograms, which means you're using roughly 7 to 11 litres of water for every kilogram of laundry. Older top-loaders are the worst offenders, often exceeding 100 litres per cycle, while newer front-loaders are more efficient but still use around 50 to 60 litres per load.

For an average Melbourne household doing four or five loads per week, that adds up to 200 to 400 litres of water spent on laundry alone — every single week.

How Commercial Machines Compare

Commercial laundromat machines are engineered for efficiency at scale. A large commercial washer with an 18 to 27 kilogram capacity typically uses around 50 to 60 litres of water per cycle. That's roughly the same amount of water as a single home wash — but handling two to three times the laundry.

When you break it down per kilogram, the difference is stark. A home machine uses 7 to 11 litres per kilogram, while a commercial machine uses just 2 to 3 litres per kilogram. You're getting the same clean — actually, a better clean thanks to higher water pressure and more powerful agitation — with a fraction of the water.

Fewer Loads Means Less Everything

Water isn't the only thing you save. Because commercial machines handle much larger loads, you're also running fewer cycles overall. Fewer cycles means less electricity for heating water and spinning the drum, less detergent going down the drain, and less wear and tear on clothing from repeated washing. It's a compounding effect — every load you consolidate saves water, energy, detergent, and time.

Consider a typical scenario: a household that runs five loads per week at home could consolidate those into two loads at a laundromat using a large commercial washer. That's three fewer wash cycles, saving roughly 150 to 240 litres of water per week, or around 8,000 to 12,000 litres per year.

Modern Machines Recycle Water

Many modern commercial washing machines feature water recycling systems that capture rinse water from one cycle and filter it for reuse in the next wash cycle. This closed-loop approach means even less fresh water is needed per load. Home machines rarely have this technology, as it's not cost-effective at a household scale. But at a laundromat running dozens of cycles per day, recycling systems deliver significant water savings across the board.

Commercial machines are also designed with optimised water levels that automatically adjust based on the weight of the load. Unlike many home machines that use a fixed water level regardless of how full the drum is, commercial washers only use what's actually needed. No wasted water on half-empty loads.

What About Melbourne's Water Costs?

Melbourne's water prices have risen steadily over the past decade, and with climate variability putting pressure on our catchments, that trend is likely to continue. The average Melbourne household pays around $2 to $3 per kilolitre for water usage. While the per-load cost of water for home laundry might seem small — roughly 10 to 25 cents per wash — it adds up over hundreds of loads per year. And that doesn't factor in the cost of heating the water, which is often the bigger expense.

By consolidating your laundry into fewer, larger loads at a laundromat, you reduce both your water bill and your energy bill at home. It's one of those rare situations where the more convenient option also happens to be the more environmentally responsible one.

The Bigger Picture

Using a laundromat isn't just about personal savings. When you look at it from a community perspective, shared-use laundry facilities are inherently more efficient than everyone running their own small machine at home. It's the same principle behind public transport versus private cars — shared infrastructure serves more people with fewer resources. Every household that does even a portion of their laundry at a laundromat contributes to lower overall water consumption across the city.

Save Water at Laundry Day

At Laundry Day, our commercial machines are modern, water-efficient, and built to handle everything from everyday loads to bulky items like doonas and blankets. Our giant 27KG washers clean more laundry in a single cycle than most home machines can manage in three or four loads — using a fraction of the water.

Detergent is free with every wash, we never charge card fees, and our three Melbourne locations — Brunswick East (220 Lygon St), St Albans (4/329 Main Road East), and Maribyrnong (103 Rosamond Rd) — are open 7 days from 6 AM to 10 PM. If you're looking for a way to reduce your water footprint without any extra effort, a trip to the laundromat is one of the simplest changes you can make.