Flickr Shot by Image Zen

There’s probably nothing I dislike more than having to do laundry. I’d rather spend my time watching an eye operation on TV than be forced to sit in a room with screaming kids and loud Spanish television having to guard my laundry from sneaky underwear-stealing perverts. Fortunately, there are a few coin laundry places that offer many ways to pass the time during this most unsavory of weekly chores.

The Rumor Mill in Culver City is an Internet cafe that also offers coin laundry services. That’s right, you can plug in for free, surf the Net and have lunch while you watch for the red light signal to add fabric softener to your load. There are also four in-house computers that are free for guests at a first-come, first-serve basis. Apparently the Rumor Mill also has monthly art exhibits and Tuesday “open mic” nights.

11739 W. Washington Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90066
(310) 397-5400
Open 6 am-10 pm daily

EZ New Web Laundromat & Cafe, another fun sip-surf-soak alternative to the traditional coin laundry tedium, has free WiFi connection, four in-house computers for guests, as well as a European cafe that offers panini sandwiches, European coffees and teas, specialty chocolates and even sushi. Laundry services include an onsite seamstress for alterations; a wide selection of detergents, bleaches and softeners; and even personalized embroidery.

From LA.com:

On the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, the place becomes an artisan market full of local small-business folk selling their wares. If all this activity carries you away, and you forget your laundry completely, not to worry: The establishment will press and deliver your garments back to you.

6144 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, California 90232
(310) 559-3279
Open 9 am-10pm daily

Bubble Beach Laundry’s premises may not offer free computer terminals (although it is a WiFi hotspot) or a coffee and scone but located on Main Street in Santa Monica, you have so many ways you can kill time while your laundry is in spin. There’s Urth Caffe for a soothing chai, Main Attraction for stress-relieving mani/pedis, and on Sundays a foodie’s paradise of a farmer’s market. If you’re worried about laundry snatchers, maybe bring a friend and trade off on guarding duties.

2633 Main Street
Santa Monica, California 90405
(310) 392-1717
Open 7 am-11 pm daily

PS: I honestly tried to find fun laundromats in areas other than West L.A. but Google wasn’t giving it up. But I know there must be some out there somewhere.