When I moved from Australia to Sweden more than a decade ago, I did not expect to fall for a small, fluorescent‑lit room in the basement, but tvättstuga are actually awesome.
At first it felt a bit weird to share washing machines with an entire building. You book a slot, carry down your laundry and suddenly you’re in a semi‑public space where intimacies of everyday life hang on communal drying lines. Over time, I realised the tvättstuga isn’t just a quirky Swedish custom – it’s a powerful piece of shared infrastructure.
I’ve written about this for The Conversation. You can read the full piece here:
https://theconversation.com/how-swedens-communal-laundries-shield-renters-from-rising-energy-bills-279415
