U Weekly. Serving The Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio

Laundro-tainment

Getting your laundry done doesn't have to be a chore anymore

By Adam Konvalinka

Doing laundry is a dirty job that nobody likes, so to lighten the load, area laundromats offer entertainment and services to keep students washing. Play video games, surf the Web, watch TV, shoot pool, have a drink or get a tan. Doing laundry does not have to be boring.

Customers drink coffee and eat muffins while waiting for laundry at Internet Cafe and laundromat Java and Suds, 1254 N. High St. Free Wi-Fi and access to on-site computers are available to help students get work done while their clothes clean or to just watch YouTube videos and check Facebook. Besides coffee, hot chocolate, specialty blend teas and a variety of cold beverages are for sale. Sandwiches, wraps and a variety of snacks can be purchased with cash, credit or Buck ID.

Scott Greytak normally studies between loads, but said now and then he enjoys taking a break to play Pac Man on a classic arcade machine. The third-year law student said he likes being able to grab something to eat and having access to a computer and the Internet.

"It's pretty alright," said Greytak. "The Internet runs fast and the staff is really nice."

Many students who frequent tanning beds have also found ways to multi-task. At OSU Laundry, 1400 N. High St., you can wash your clothes while bronzing your skin. Kate Golda, a sophomore in speech and hearing, does her laundry there and said she sees many people taking advantage of the service.

"I imagine it's really convenient if you tan regularly," she said. Wi-Fi is also available at OSU Laundry, and Golda said it is generally quiet enough to be a good study environment.

Now that the weekend is here, if you're out of clean clothes, instead of hoping some body spray will mask the scent coming from your favorite pair of jeans, you might want to check out happy hour at Dirty Dungarees, 2586 N. High St. This campus laundromat and bar has been providing suds and Buds to students for decades, said bartender and long-time patron Chris Jones. Throw your clothes in to wash, grab a drink and enjoy a game of pool, some juke box music, cable TV, Wi-Fi or some vintage arcade games at this long-time campus establishment. The full bar, happy hour specials and laidback atmosphere make it a popular watering hole, as well as a laundromat, Jones said. Regular customers can often be found occupying bar stools even when they have no laundry to do, he added.

Former OSU student Britni Herman started going to Dirty Dungarees years ago and said she thinks it's a great concept.

"It's hard to get motivated to do laundry," Herman said. "It's a lot easier when you're going to a bar to drink beer and do it." Herman said, especially for students, being able to get something productive out of a trip to the bar is a good way to save some time.

Pitchers of Bud and Bud Light go for $4.50 during the daily happy hour from 4-9 p.m. Other specials include pitchers of Amberbock for $5, 20 oz drafts for $3 - select liquor shots are $2.25 and 24 oz cans of PBR are $3.

Jones said visitors from out of town often visit after hearing about a bar/laundromat and want to see it for themselves. "I had one couple come in here after an OSU football game from Minneapolis, who were interested in opening one out there," Jones said, mentioning that Dirty Dungarees is also popular with the out-of-towners who come for horse shows at the fairgrounds, where people hear about the business through word of mouth.

So if the dorm laundromats are getting to be a drag, and you don't mind hefting your dirty clothes around in the cold, try spicing it up a little by checking out one of the many places around town that lend a little distraction to an otherwise tedious task.

Originally Published: February 3, 2010

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