Pick a laundromat washer by what you are washing, not by how full your bag looks. As a starting point, a 20 lb washer handles one person’s week of everyday clothes, a 30 to 40 lb washer handles a family-size load or sheets and towels together, and a 50 to 60 lb washer is the one for king comforters, weighted blankets and other bulky bedding. Every laundromat Atlanta visit goes faster when each load is matched to the right machine the first time.
The guide below uses the five washer sizes at our self-service store on Briarcliff Rd: 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 lb.
What Does “20 lb” or “60 lb” Actually Mean?
The number is the approximate weight of dry laundry the machine is built to clean well. It is not a goal to hit. A washer cleans by tumbling clothes through water, so the load needs room to fall and turn. Packed tight, the middle of the load stays dirty and detergent doesn’t rinse out.
Washer Size Guide by Load
| What you are washing | Suggested washer |
|---|---|
| One person’s week of everyday clothes | 20 lb |
| Two people’s clothes, or a full set of sheets plus bath towels | 30 lb |
| A family’s mixed load, or several sets of sheets | 40 lb |
| Queen comforter, sleeping bag or a stack of heavy blankets | 50 lb |
| King comforter, oversized duvet or weighted blanket | 60 lb |
| Washable bath mats and small rugs (check the backing) | 30 to 40 lb |
These are starting points. Thick fabrics such as towels, jeans and sweatshirts take up more room per pound than T-shirts, so step up a size if the drum looks crowded.
The Fill Rule: How Full Should a Laundromat Washer Be?
- Everyday clothes: fill the drum loosely to about three-quarters. You should be able to fit a hand on top of the load.
- Comforters and bulky bedding: half full or less. The item has to move, or the center stays dry.
- Mixed colors: split into two machines rather than one oversized load. Running two smaller washers at once usually takes the same time as one large load.
Why Bulky Bedding Needs a Bigger Washer
A comforter absorbs a lot of water and gets very heavy when wet. In a machine that is too small, it can’t tumble, the filling stays soapy, and the drum can go off balance. Large commercial front-loaders have no center agitator, which makes them gentler on quilting and stitching. If you are deciding whether your own machine is big enough, our guide to care label symbols shows what the bedding label allows first.
Weighted Blankets: Check the Weight Before You Wash
Weighted blankets commonly weigh 10 to 25 lb dry and much more when wet. Check the care label: some covers come off and wash separately, and some inner blankets are spot clean only. If the label allows machine washing, use a large-capacity washer and plan a long, low-heat dry. If it doesn’t, drop it off with our team instead.
Drying: Match the Dryer to the Load Too
- Move wet laundry to the dryer promptly so it doesn’t sour.
- Don’t overfill the dryer. Clothes dry faster and wrinkle less with room to tumble.
- Bulky bedding needs to dry all the way through. Check the center of a comforter before you leave, because trapped moisture causes musty smells.
- Start your last wash at least 90 minutes before closing so there is time to dry.
Common Washer-Size Mistakes
- Using one machine for everything. One overfilled washer rinses poorly. Two moderately filled machines clean better and finish together.
- Washing a comforter with clothes. Bulky bedding needs room on its own; mixing it with clothes tangles both.
- Choosing a small machine to save money on a bulky item. If it has to be forced in, it will not come out clean, and you may end up washing it twice.
- Measuring detergent by drum size instead of load size. Too much soap leaves residue, especially in bedding. Use the amount the detergent label suggests for the load you actually have.
- Forgetting the dryer. A load that just fits a washer can be packed too tightly in a dryer. Split it between two dryers if it cannot tumble freely.
A Quick Laundromat Plan for a Busy Household
- Sort into darks, lights, towels and bedding at home.
- Put each pile in the smallest washer it fits in loosely.
- Start all washers at once so everything finishes together.
- Fold at the tables while the dryers run.
Our self-service store has 20 to 60 lb washers, a bill changer, detergent for sale, free wifi and a coffee bar, open Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm. See current machine prices on our laundromat prices Atlanta page, then visit our laundromat Atlanta location at 3103 Briarcliff Rd NE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use a large-capacity washer, 50 to 60 lb, and fill it no more than about half so the comforter can tumble. At Atomic Laundry the 60 lb washer is the usual choice for king comforters.
Often yes, if the care label allows machine washing. Use a large-capacity washer because weighted blankets get much heavier when wet. If the label says spot clean or dry clean only, drop it off for professional cleaning instead.
For mixed everyday laundry, two smaller washers run at the same time usually finish together and let you separate colors. For a single bulky item, use one large washer.
Our self-service laundromat at 3103 Briarcliff Rd NE has 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 lb washers.