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Hello! I feel so silly asking this, but how do laundromats work? I only recently moved here and have previously always had laundry in my apartment building.

Do I stay with my laundry until the cycle is over? Do I need to bring my own detergent or is there usually a dispenser? How much should I budget for laundry? In some of my research so far I have seen some places that are a $30 minimum which seems like a lot to me but maybe that is just NYC? I’ll be in Astoria if that helps. Is a laundry service worth it? Does it cost a lot more? Is there a proper étiquette to using laundromats? Unspoken rules that i should know? Are credit cards usually accepted or do I need to get some cash before going?

I know these are basic questions but this city is so different than what I am used to. Thank you!