
Learn how to talk about doing the laundry and making friends in English
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Michelle Kaplan
This is an All Ears English podcast. Episode 2478 laundry in English part one. Don't shrink your clothes.
Lindsay McMahon
Welcome to the All Ears English podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection with your American hosts, Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl, coming to you from Colorado and New York City, usa. And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to allearsenglish.com subscribe do you go to the laundromat? Do you have a washer dryer in your home? In this part one of our three part series, build the vocabulary foundation to eventually connect around doing the laundry in English.
Michelle Kaplan
You're in a meeting, someone makes a quick comment, everyone laughs, and you're still trying to catch what they said. It's not that you don't know English. It's that real conversations are fact, fast, messy and full of slang. If you've ever felt left out because you couldn't follow the flow, you're not alone. The good news? You can train your ear. Start by finding out what your level is and what's tripping you up so that you can improve quickly. Take our 2@allearsenglish.com fluencyscore one more time. Go to allearsenglish.com F L U E N C Y S C O R E.
Lindsay McMahon
Hey there, Michelle. How's it going today?
Michelle Kaplan
Hey Lindsay, how are you?
Lindsay McMahon
I'm feeling great. I'm feeling great. Michelle, how often do you do your laundry? Intimate question, right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, honestly, pretty much every day right now because it's the summer. So my kids have been going to camp. They come home with bathing suits and wet towels and things with sand in them and they need those things for the next day. Cuz, you know, I don't, I don't have endless amounts of towels and bathing suits for that. So it's pretty much a daily occurrence for my family in the summer. Otherwise it's, I don't know, maybe like every few. Every three days maybe. We'll see how it builds up. What about you?
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, I think I feel like we're also constantly doing laundry. There's always laundry happening. But when I was in my 20s and I used to go to the laundromat in New York, it was once a week. No more, no less.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes. Right. There's like a, like a laundry, like your laundry day, right?
Lindsay McMahon
Yes. Your laundry day. For me it was Sundays, maybe Saturdays usually Sundays, you haul your, you know, the New York lifestyle. You haul your laundry down your fourth floor, walk up, walk across the street to the laundromat and sit in the laundromat, or go to the coffee shop and wander between the two. Right. It's the New York lifestyle.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. Yes, exactly. So, guys, we are going to start a series on laundry, which sounds so funny to do something like that, but this is such a. Like, Lindsay, you were saying, such an everyday topic. Such a. Yes, you know, some. Sometimes the best topics are your typical daily life that people talk about.
Lindsay McMahon
Well, it's so true, because everyday topics are where we connect with people.
Michelle Kaplan
Right.
Lindsay McMahon
It's those moments where we might run into someone. Like in the laundromat in New York or in our laundry in our apartment building, there might be a laundry room.
Michelle Kaplan
Right.
Lindsay McMahon
We have a chance to actually strike up a connection. So we think this is actually a real connection episode.
Michelle Kaplan
Definitely. Yeah. And actually, now that you even said that, I feel like for the episodes I have planned, there is even more to say. So maybe. Yeah, there's really a lot to say about this topic, so people can really connect over this. So we're gonna do the first episode over here on Ollie's English today. The second episode is actually going to be the business English podcast, which is one of our other shows. If you haven't heard it yet, go to the Business English podcast and hit follow, because then you will get alerted when this episode is. And that's just a really, really great show as well. It's business, but from the perspective of knowing that you're not a robot when you're at work. So this is not. This is for everybody. And I think anybody can get something out of this, even if they're not necessarily at this moment in the business world.
Lindsay McMahon
Yes, I 100% agree with you. So, guys, go over, open your search bar. Search, type in business English, and hit follow on that show so you don't miss episode two in the series. And then, like Michelle said for the third, we'll be back over here. So make sure you are following both podcasts.
Michelle Kaplan
Excellent.
Lindsay McMahon
Okay, I'm curious what we're going to learn today.
Michelle Kaplan
Okay, so today we're going to start with the basics. We're going to teach some basic laundry vocabulary to start us off. So we have a lot. We have a lot of content today. So we're going to talk about these and totally unplanned discussions about how we can use these words. Okay. So we can throw in. Lindsay, throw in whatever questions you Want to ask? Okay, I'll throw them in. Yes, exactly. So the first one is the most basic, right. Washer dryer.
Lindsay McMahon
Yes. Yeah. The two machines. Right. And I know they're saying prices of washer dryers might go up right now, new tariff situations happening, so maybe everyone is scrambling to get a washer dryer. And do you have. Obviously, I mean, you're a, A homeowner, so you now probably have a washer dryer in your house. But this is something I didn't take for granted. And I only had one when I bought a. A town home. Right. So living in apartment buildings, usually you don't have one in your unit unless it's a very modern place.
Michelle Kaplan
Right. Did you have one in Boston? I can't. I. I did, actually.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. Yeah, I did. You had one there. Boston. I was shocked. So that's where I got my. I. I was thinking, oh, my gosh, we actually have a washer dryer in our home. But I had laundry, so I had to share it, obviously. But yeah, it was amazing. All I had to do was walk down to the basement instead of walking down four floors of a, of a walk up and then across the street with your laundry, which is kind of strange. Right. But it's, it's the New York life.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. Yeah. Well, in New York, in my second apartment, I also had the five roommates, and there was one in the building, so it was shared. But it is one of those things you have to kind of plan for. Right. Especially if it's not. Not if it's not in your house or in your apartment, actually, the unit you do have to plan for going and making sure you have. You get things out of time because you have to be courteous to other people who are waiting for machines. So you do have to plan your life a little bit around the laundry. You do.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
So Cambridge, we just decided to do wash and fold because we were done with hauling laundry across the street around the city and we just started doing wash and fold. It is more expensive, but it's faster. You save time. So instead of doing laundry on a Sunday, you're going for a hike, you know?
Michelle Kaplan
Right.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. And sometimes that's a deal worth making. Right?
Michelle Kaplan
Right. Sometimes that's what's most valuable to you. So you make that decision. So, yeah, you could say something like, it's so hard to find an apartment in New York City with a washer dryer in the unit. Yes.
Lindsay McMahon
And then of course, the stuff that you put into your clothes when it's already in the washer is your laundry detergent. So I'm running low on laundry detergent. Right.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes. Lindsay, do you. You use scented or unscented?
Lindsay McMahon
I guess I think we use unscented. Unscented, yeah, same.
Michelle Kaplan
Do you. I. I used to use scented and I don't know. I just eventually. I don't know. I was trying to always stay away from fragrances and stuff like that. I don't know.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, you can have allergies. Some people have allergies.
Michelle Kaplan
Right.
Lindsay McMahon
And yeah, I had a period a few years ago where I had. I broke out in hives, and I thought it was my detergent, but I never figured out what it was. It just went away. It was so weird.
Michelle Kaplan
I had the same thing happen to me, but. But it was like, for, like, it was like, for like a month and a half that it kept on coming and going.
Lindsay McMahon
Yes.
Michelle Kaplan
And I went to the thing.
Lindsay McMahon
Oh, my gosh. We have to talk.
Michelle Kaplan
Okay, we'll just talk about this later. This is not really the. The sexiest conversation forum. Not the forum. So, yeah, I'm running low on laundry detergent. And then there's fabric softener. Lindsay, what's fabric softener?
Lindsay McMahon
I don't really know. I don't use this. I don't.
Michelle Kaplan
I don't feel like an extra.
Lindsay McMahon
For me, I guess it's an additional thing you put in there to make your clothes soft.
Michelle Kaplan
It is also. And then it also has a smell. I don't know. I. I used to use it, but now I don't use it anymore either. Seems like very basic on my laundry.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. Keep it basic. Keep it simple. Right. So here's a sample sentence. If you do use fabric softener. I always use fabric softener on my clothes. Yes.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes. Okay, now let's talk about one thing that's really important with the laundry, is the directions. Right. And do you follow the directions? Because on your clothes, it will tell you what to do on the tag. Now, Lindsay, do you follow the directions?
Lindsay McMahon
Oh, I tried to, but honestly, I just want to wash and dry everything because it's faster. But I know that for many things, you should lay flat to dry, you should hand wash, but who has the time?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, right. No, I know. Do you ever. Are you ever purchasing something at the store and then you see how it needs to be washed and you think, just forget it. Or maybe you avoid buying something because you think, sure, it's always going to be wrinkly. It's going to be a half hassle. Sure. Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
No, that's so True. And I've bought things and I've thought to myself, this is always wrinkle, like it's always got wrinkles. How am I going to deal with this? Yeah. So high maintenance clothing I try to stay away from.
Michelle Kaplan
Do you iron? Do you iron?
Lindsay McMahon
I try to iron. I think I never learned how to iron properly. I, I don't iron. No. Like I wouldn't iron for today, for our recording for today. But if I go to a conference, so if I put my bags, that's the only time I iron. Honestly. I put like my, my button down shirts in a bag and then I. Right, I'll take them out and I will iron when I get to the hotel room. That is the only time. So twice a year I iron. Michelle.
Michelle Kaplan
That's, that's good. Yeah, that's two more times than me. Okay, so. But what are. So we've thrown out some of these already, so. Hand wash only. Yeah. You can't stick that in the dryer. I mean in the washer. I probably still would, but. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
For example, you might say something like, I need a few minutes to wash this because it says hand wash only. And you're going to see that on the label most the time.
Michelle Kaplan
Right? Yes, yes. Then there's dry clean only. Oh man. This is what I try to stay away. No, this is not.
Lindsay McMahon
It's very expensive to dry clean, isn't it, Michelle? I mean, and you have to. And it's not just the expense, but it's taking it to the dry cleaner, remembering to pick it up. I'm pretty sure I probably have things at the dry cleaner that I forgot to pick up six months ago.
Michelle Kaplan
Right, exactly. So you might say this is dry clean only. I think we need to take it in. So a lot of times Dan will have. You know, I, I wonder if it's more for like men who, I don't know, women certainly do dry clean only too. But I feel like Dan is always like, oh, I have all these things I need to dry clean and Yeah, I don't know, maybe I just don't care.
Lindsay McMahon
Men's suits or something.
Michelle Kaplan
Maybe I write suits, things like that.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
Love it.
Lindsay McMahon
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Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, don't put that in the dryer. It's lay flat to dry. So.
Lindsay McMahon
So that's interesting.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, it's interesting how we say that. Right? Because you could say it says lay flat to dry, but don't. Would you sometimes hear it like this? Like, oh, it's lay flat to dry.
Lindsay McMahon
I think that's the way I used it earlier in the episode, actually. So it's like. It's this way. That's really interesting.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
So just good one to know here. Very native and natural.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. Yeah. And that's like. That's a very. I feel that that's a very important instruction because, Lindsay, they do. I mean, I'm sure everyone has experienced shrinking their clothes.
Lindsay McMahon
Oh, gosh, yes. Or the worst is shrinking other people's clothes.
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, that's even worse.
Lindsay McMahon
Right?
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, I forgot one. There's also wash with white light. With, like colors.
Lindsay McMahon
Light colors. Yes. And it's so funny.
Michelle Kaplan
Color.
Lindsay McMahon
When I was a kid and I would read that label on, like, my clothes, I would think they mistype it. Do they mean light colors? Right. Thinking if it was a light shirt, it needs to be with light colors. But like colors meaning similar colors. Right, Right.
Michelle Kaplan
So you don't throw the red underwear in with all your white shirts. That's.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. These are all just mishaps that happen to us, especially when we're teenagers and just doing our laundry for the first time. Right, sure.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. So, yeah. Separate. So you might see separate lights and darks or something like take that red shirt out of there. That this is a load of light clothes.
Lindsay McMahon
Oh, and I don't do that. Do you do that? Do you separate? I don't separate.
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, absolutely not. I have no time for separating. I mean, you know, maybe my clothes could look a little nicer if I followed some of the directions. I do. I did buy a shirt and Dan threw it in the dryer and it's already, you know, it's too small. So like, you know, those kinds of things happen all the time. But I, I am. I will not separate anything. Everything goes on the same thing.
Lindsay McMahon
Well, this is kind of fun. And this is why this is a connection episode. If you're not connecting listeners on the topic, think about how it's a connection episod. Because we have our ways, right? Both you and I don't separate. It's just. And there's some. That is again saying something more about ourselves than just the fact that we don't separate. What light and dark. Yeah, it's saying that we are busy or we have things to do or we have other priorities.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, exactly. I think that's what it talks is about, is having the priorities. So yes, it just. Everybody's different, right?
Lindsay McMahon
Totally. Or it might be that maybe we don't value clothing quite as much as other people do. Some people will hang dry everything and they will share that because they're proud of that, because they want to keep their clothing good. Maybe they buy super high end clothes or something. So this is a topic again where you can say so much more about yourself than just about the laundry. Your laundry habits. Right, True.
Michelle Kaplan
That's really interesting. And then the last one I just wanted to highlight is tumble dry. So yes, that, that is just throwing it in the dryer. Sometimes you might see tumble dry low. Like there's a certain level at which to tumble dry it. I don't really pay attention to that either.
Lindsay McMahon
Michelle, why don't we hop into the role play here? Shall we go for it?
Michelle Kaplan
Let's do it. Let's do it. So all right, here we are roommates and we're doing our laundry together. Here we go. All right. Okay. Okay. So. Oh no, this is dry clean only. It'll. I'll take it to the place across the street.
Lindsay McMahon
Okay. Remind me not to throw in my green dress again. It's hand wash only.
Michelle Kaplan
Okay, I will. And I wish we had our own washer dryer.
Lindsay McMahon
Same. Hey, did you bring the laundry detergent and fabric softener?
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, right over there.
Lindsay McMahon
Thanks.
Michelle Kaplan
Okay, so should we separate lights and colors? What about delicates?
Lindsay McMahon
I guess try our best. Just let's make sure not to tumble dry something that says lay flat to dry.
Michelle Kaplan
Okay, good point. Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
And this is actually another interesting moment where connection could happen for our listeners. So if you're living in a big city and you go to the laundromat, maybe you happen to go with your roommate one day for whatever reason, you and your roommate go together. That could happen. Right, Michelle? And this is a way you'll have the vocabulary to get to know your roommate in that moment because you're sitting there for a couple of hours just staring at the thing going around.
Michelle Kaplan
Right. It is true. Right? I mean, I think I. Whenever I think of the Laundromat, of course I think of Friends because there's. There's an episode with Ross and Rachel in the laundromat that's pretty. Pretty famous episode. Fun. Yeah. So I always think of that. But it is true. The Laundromat is kind of known for being this place where people can connect. You're just waiting. That's all you got to do, you know?
Lindsay McMahon
So it's true. Yeah, it's so true.
Michelle Kaplan
You.
Lindsay McMahon
I'm trying to remember if in other cities. I don't even remember if when I lived in Paris, if I. I think we did it at home in my. My home, stay. My little apartment. But I don't know, around the world if people go to laundromats or if they usually have a place in their apartment or in their home or how it works. Wash and fold, where they. They carry it away for you. I don't know. It's probably all different scenarios, but at some point we're gonna have this conversation with someone. Right, Michelle?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, absolutely. So let's go through the role play.
Lindsay McMahon
Okay.
Michelle Kaplan
So I said, oh, no, this is dry clean only. So I'm gonna take it in somewhere.
Lindsay McMahon
And then I said, oh, remind me not to throw in my green dress again. It's hand wash only. So it sounds like I made that mistake before you made a video. Don't want to do it again. Yes.
Michelle Kaplan
And then I said, man, I wish we had our own washer dryer.
Lindsay McMahon
Good. And then I said, hey, did you bring the laundry detergent and fabric Softener. So again, we talked about those words.
Michelle Kaplan
And then I said, okay, so should we separate lights and colors? So we're talking about, you know, if we want to wash with like colors, basically. And then I said that what is delicates? I said, what about delicate? What does that mean?
Lindsay McMahon
So I guess items that are like, you have to be careful with them. They have to go on the delicate cycle potentially.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
Is that what it is?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. So I think of like, you know, for like a, like bras or bathing.
Lindsay McMahon
Suits maybe that you don't want the suits.
Michelle Kaplan
Just certain, certain clothing that. Just lighter, you know, underwear sometimes. But I, I also don't do this.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, yeah, that's hard there. I don't do a separate cycle for those. No way. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Michelle Kaplan
So, and then let's see. You said, just let's make sure not to tumble dry something that says lay flat to dry. So it sounds like we've had an issue in the past where we've done some shrinking and maybe even with.
Lindsay McMahon
Right, that's not good. Yeah, not good. Well, good episode today, Michelle. Where else can our listeners go right now to keep going with allers English.
Michelle Kaplan
Okay, so there was another great episode you did with Aubrey. I believe another great connection topic, episode 2476 was out of Juice, how to connect over Dead batteries. It's interesting how we were picking up on these kind of mundane day to day topics that actually are super great for connection. It's funny. Absolutely.
Lindsay McMahon
It's where the connection lies. Right? That is where the connection is. If we just pay attention to who are we with, who's around us and what are the words we need in that moment. I think that's inspiring. Even laundry can be inspiring. Look at that, Michelle.
Michelle Kaplan
So excellent. All right, guys, again, fine business English, wherever you listen to your podcast and hit the follow button because part two will be coming out out soon and then head back over here for part three. So, yeah, I think takeaway is just what we were saying, Lindsay, about the mundane topics being great for connection. So definitely don't, you know, throw those by the wayside or think, oh, that's, you know, not that interesting or whatever because it, it actually can bring about a lot of connection. So don't, don't ignore these or like kind of push them away. They're very important.
Lindsay McMahon
Completely agree, Michelle. Thanks for hanging out and chatting about laundry. Laundry detergent, fabric softener, all that good stuff. So we'll see you next time.
Michelle Kaplan
Anytime. All right, guys, have a great day. Bye. Bye.
Lindsay McMahon
Thanks for listening to all ears English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com forward/fluency score. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time. And Doug Limu and I always tell you to customize your car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. But now we want you to feel it. Cue the emu music. Limu, save yourself the money today. Increase your wealth. Customize and save. We save. That may have been too much feeling. Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty.
Michelle Kaplan
Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings.
Lindsay McMahon
Very underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates.
Michelle Kaplan
Excludes Massachusetts. Mike and Alyssa are always trying to outdo each other. When Alyssa got a small water bottle.
Lindsay McMahon
Mike showed up with a four liter jug. When Mike started gardening, Alyssa started be beekeeping.
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, come on. They called a truce for their holiday and used Expedia trip planner to collaborate on all the details of their trip. Once there, Mike still did more laps around the pool. Whatever. You were made to outdo your holidays. We were made to help organize the competition. Expedia made to travel.
Episode 2478: Laundry in English Part 1 – Don't Shrink Your Clothes
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Michelle Kaplan
Release Date: September 15, 2025
In this lively, practical episode, Lindsay and Michelle kick off a three-part series about doing laundry in English. Aimed at intermediate-to-advanced English learners (ESL), this episode lays the groundwork with vocabulary and real-life anecdotes about doing laundry in the US. The discussion is full of cultural insights and conversational language meant to help learners connect in everyday situations, especially around the often-overlooked but universal topic of laundry.
Quick banter on laundry routines segues into the topic’s relevance for ESL learners (02:06–03:21).
Explains core nouns and phrases, weaves in cultural comparisons and storytelling (05:15–09:14).
Discusses label-reading, clothing maintenance, and the realities of ignoring instructions (09:14–10:36).
A natural, illustrative banter between roommates at the laundromat, using target vocabulary (17:00–20:35).
Encouragement to use everyday topics for building connections, highlighting the power of mundane routines (21:09–22:01).
Even the simplest daily routines like laundry are rich opportunities to grow your English skills and connect with others. By mastering everyday vocabulary and sharing your experiences, you can turn even the mundane into a chance for meaningful conversation.
Hosts’ Parting Words:
“It’s where the connection lies. If we just pay attention to who are we with, who’s around us, and what are the words we need in that moment...” — Lindsay (21:09)