50lbs of laundry costs us $40 dollars for THEM to do it for us (they also provide soap free of charge)
50lbs of laundry used to cost us about $20 dollars for US to wash and dry it at the laundry mat (not including price of soap).
Notes : we live in NYC. 50lbs is 3 people for about 7 to 10 days. We live within 1 mile of the laundry mat.
I generally added up costs of utilities for a gas water heater, gas dryer, and washer and figure it is about $5 (high efficiency) to $10 (old low efficiency) dollars per 50lbs. (in nyc, to wash on warm cycle)
Cost of washer / dryer is $1,000 to 2,000 dollars and should be good for at least 25,000 lbs of laundry or $2 to $4 dollars per 50lbs.
total $9 (high efficiency models) to $12 dollars to do it at home. (not including soap)
Or Free washer on craigslist , hang dry all clothes, wash on cold cycle- $2 dollars per 50 lbs. (not including soap)