Everyone needs to do their wash from time to time, so why not bring yours to the Laundromat? While it's definitely an inconvenience, it can also be a great way to meet new people. After all, people waiting for washers or their laundry to dry will probably be a bit bored from sitting around. That means you'll have a captive audience for small talk, which is the first step to making new friends.
Conversation Starters at the Laundromat
Even if you have a washer and dryer at home, a trip to the Laundromat can help you brush up on your conversation skills. A good strategy is to bring a book or magazine with you to act as a discussion starter. You can chat about each with the patrons, and even lend them to your bored counterparts. This will also serve as an opening for small talk, because you or the other patrons can initiate discussions about the items you are reading.
Other openers for conversation include:
- Asking for the best way to get a stain out
- Finding out why they are there (wash machine broke, no laundry facility in their building, etc.)
- Nearest place to eat or get a beverage
- Busiest or best times to come
Things to Bring to the Laundromat
Very often people at the Laundromat will need things like detergent, fabric softener, hangers, or change while there. Sometimes these items are readily available, but if they aren't you can do yourself a favor by carrying extras with you. Not only will this help you make your time at the Laundromat easier, it will give you an opener for meeting someone new. If you see someone who needs change or detergent, for example, you'll have an instant conversation starter.
One topic to avoid is offering to watch someone else's clothes. Sometimes a patron will get the sense that you are going to be there all day, so they may ask you to watch or even move their laundry from one machine to the next. While you want to be helpful, you also want to make friends. If they aren't there to chat with you'll have a harder time getting to know them.
Even if you don't offer to watch someone's laundry, people may still ask. It's hard to refuse this if you're trying to be friendly, but one way to avoid the subject is not to appear "too comfortable." Don't make it look as if you are settled in for the entire day. Instead, stand often and walk around, even going inside and outside of the Laundromat often. This will give a subtle impression that you might not be there if they leave and come back.
How to Get to Know People at the Laundromat
The ideal way to get to know others is by going at a regular time each week. To meet friends, it's best to go on the busiest days, which usually consist of a weekend morning or afternoon. Test out different days and times to get a feel for the types of people who show up.
The more familiar you get with people, the easier it will be to talk with them. Becoming a "regular" will also help if you see people outside of the Laundromat. When they recognize you, they'll strike up a conversation in other parts of their daily life, like the grocery store or gas station. It all adds up to small steps in meeting your neighbors and becoming friends.
Want more ideas? Sign up for my free ecourse, 101 Ways to Have More Friends.
