Doing the laundry is easily one of the most tedious chores on the list, but Asda is trying to make the weekly big shop work a bit harder by rolling out self-service washing and drying stations at their stores.
It’s a move designed for anyone who’s currently dealing with a broken machine at home, living in a flat with no drying space, or just trying to get through a mountain of bulky bedding while they browse the aisles. By parking these high-capacity machines right outside the supermarket, they’re essentially letting you tick off two of the most time-consuming weekly tasks in one go.
Before you start lugging your duvet covers across the car park, here’s a look at how the service actually works and whether it’s actually a better deal than running your own machine at home.
A new service is arriving in stores nationwide.
The supermarket is introducing self-service laundry machines at hundreds of locations across the country. It’s a simple idea, but one that could quickly become part of people’s normal shopping routine. Instead of treating laundry as a separate task, shoppers will be able to get it done while picking up groceries, turning two jobs into one trip without much extra effort.
You’ll be able to wash and dry clothes while you shop.
The machines are designed to handle both washing and drying, meaning you can complete the full cycle in one visit. For many people, that’s a big change from doing it all at home. It also means less time spent waiting around, especially for households that don’t have large or efficient machines of their own. And, needless to say, it offers a lifeline for those who don’t own a washing machine or whose machines are currently not working.
Hundreds of machines are being rolled out.
Source: Unsplash Asda is working with ME Group International to install around 700 machines across its estate, with each unit having 9 kg and 20 kg washers, as well as large capacity dryers. Better yet, they’ll be at larger supermarkets as well as smaller sites. The scale of the rollout is what makes this stand out. It’s not a trial in a handful of stores—it’s something that could quickly become a familiar feature across the UK.
The machines are built for different needs.
Customers will be able to choose from standard and larger drum sizes, depending on how much laundry they have. That makes it useful for both smaller households and bigger family loads. High-speed dryers are also part of the setup, which helps cut down waiting time and makes the whole process feel more practical during a regular shop.
Convenience is the main selling point.
The whole idea is built around saving time. Instead of setting aside part of your day for laundry, you can fit it into something you were already planning to do. For people with busy schedules, that kind of overlap can make a noticeable difference, especially when you’re trying to juggle multiple errands in a week.
As Vice President Asda Express, foodservice and fuel, Joseph Sutton, explained: We’re always looking for new ways to make life easier for the customers who shop with us, particularly by strengthening the breadth of services that meet their needs under one roof. This large‑scale rollout of Wash.ME units gives customers a quick, convenient and great‑value way to tackle their laundry while they shop.”
Some locations will offer 24-hour access.
Depending on the store, some of these machines will be available around the clock. That gives people more flexibility, especially those working irregular hours. It also makes the service more accessible for anyone who prefers to avoid busy shopping times or needs to get things done outside the usual routine.
It reflects a wider change in supermarkets services.
Asda isn’t just focusing on groceries here. Like many retailers, it’s starting to bring more everyday services into its stores to make them more useful. This kind of approach is becoming more common, with supermarkets trying to offer a wider mix of services that go beyond the weekly shop.
The idea itself isn’t new, but the scale is.
Self-service laundry has been around for years, but it hasn’t been widely integrated into supermarkets in this way before. That’s what makes this rollout stand out. With hundreds of machines planned, it could quickly shift from being a novelty to something people expect to see when they visit larger stores.
It could change how people plan everyday tasks.
If it catches on, this kind of service could reshape how people organise their time. Combining errands means fewer separate trips and less time spent moving between places. That can add up in the long run, especially for households that already feel stretched trying to fit everything into a busy week.
It’s a small change that could make a big difference.
On its own, adding laundry machines to a supermarket might not seem like a major difference. However, it’s the kind of practical change that fits into real life quite easily. For many shoppers, it could turn a routine trip into something a bit more efficient, which is exactly what this kind of service is aiming to do.
