what we do
Civic Suds equips laundromat guests with actionable information and valued skills by offering activities, services, and programs from vetted providers. Every Civic Suds-affiliated laundromat provides:
safe and clean laundry facilities
essential tools, like computers and the internet
space to develop critical knowledge and skills
Literacy
DIGITAL Literacy
Financial Literacy
Health Literacy
how we’re funded
Civic Suds relies on donations from individuals and institutions to sustain our work.
why laundromats?
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Civic Suds aims to provide communities with necessary services that take into account the lived experiences of community members. Most customers are low-income renters, who will spend around 90 minutes a week in a laundromat. 25% of people inside a laundromat are 16 or younger.
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The laundromat has long been a cornerstone of neighborhoods. There are approximately 30,000 laundromats across the US. By fusing this often-overlooked social pillar with the offerings of a community center, Civic Suds is able to provide a multi-functional space that caters not only to the practical needs of washing and drying clothes but also to the social and communal needs of the neighborhood. Civic Suds is active in Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia
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Civic Suds is working to bridge generational, cultural, and socio-economic gaps, making it more than a place to take care of dirty laundry. It is a vibrant space where real community is laundered, spun, and returned - fresh, renewed, and ready to face the world outside.
in the news
Civic Suds was recently featured in a New York Times Op-Ed for our work with the Born This Way Foundation.
Enabling fresh starts for thousands of families.