Many US homes have a washing machine and a dryer (a machine that dries clothes with hot air). Hanging clothes outside is less common, and some HOAs and apartments do not allow it.
In-unit: a washer and dryer inside your home. The best, often costs more rent.
Hookups: the connections are there; you buy or rent the machines.
Shared laundry room: machines in the building. You pay with coins, a card you load with money, or an app. Bring your own detergent.
Laundromat: a public laundry shop. Machines take coins, cards or apps. Many have change machines and sell detergent. Some offer wash and fold service by the pound.
Shared laundry room manners
Stay nearby or set a timer. Take clothes out on time.
If someone left clothes in the machine, waiting a few minutes is polite before moving them gently to a table.
Clean the dryer's lint trap (the screen) before or after each load. Lint build-up is a fire risk.
Normal: everyday cotton clothes.
Delicate: thin or easily damaged clothes.
Heavy duty: towels, jeans, very dirty items.
Hot, warm, cold: water temperature. Cold is fine for most clothes, saves energy and keeps colors.
HE (high efficiency) machines need detergent marked HE. Normal detergent makes too many suds.
High heat: towels, sheets, jeans.
Medium / permanent press: most clothes, fewer wrinkles.
Low / delicate: synthetics and items that shrink.
Air dry / no heat: just tumbles.
Dryers can shrink clothes, especially cotton. Check labels: a square with a circle means dryer is OK; a crossed-out one means do not tumble dry.
Detergent (liquid, powder or pods), dryer sheets (soften and reduce static), and stain remover. Keep pods away from children; they look like candy and are dangerous if swallowed.
Using too much detergent in an HE machine.
Drying wool or delicate clothes on high heat.
Forgetting coins or a loaded card for the laundry room.