Spring Cleaning at the Laundromat

I found a spring cleaning list somewhere on the web. I'm not sure where, but it is a pretty extensive list of things that should get cleaned annually or biannually. My goal is to do one or two items on the list everyday, until everything is done.

This list led me to realize that our comforters really needed to be washed. So, after throwing the sheets and duvet cover into the wash, I took our comforter and the guest room comforter to the Laundromat (since our washing machine isn't big enough to fit either a queen or king size comforter). Two washing machines ($5/each) and one giant dryer ($2) later, we have two nice and clean comforters.

The real story comes from the characters that I encountered at the Laundromat. I brought my trusty Nook along, so give myself something to do. In spite of the fact that I was clearly reading, a few people tried to strike up a conversation with me. My favorite was a kid around 19 or 20.

He started up a conversation with me by saying, "You have the whitest teeth I've ever seen." Not knowing what to say, I said "Thanks."

"What do you do to get them so white?" He asked. I replied, "I use toothpaste." He goes, "I've never seen teeth that white, it can't just be toothpaste." At this point, I'm trying not to feel super insulted. I do have white teeth, but they're not unnaturally white. They're just not yellow, which is apparently this kid's normal.

Then, after asking me what I was doing (to which I replied "reading"), he asked where I got the books from. I told him that I downloaded them from the library. He says, "Really? How much does that cost?" I reply, "Oh, it's free. You just have to have a library card in good standing." He looks at me, like I'm dumb, and says, "It's free? Then how do they get money?" I patiently explained, "Libraries are supported by tax dollars."

He pauses. Looks at me in disbelief, and says smartly, "But then how do libraries get paid?" Apparently, he thought this would trip me up. The best part of this conversation is that the city library is right across the street.

So, the trip to the Laundromat cost me about $13, but gave me a lot of giggles and reinforced the fact that I would never go to the Laundromat after dark by myself.