One young couple has traveled the country and came back with a lesson that isn’t the usual one you’d expect. 

In fact, their time traveling on their honeymoon taught them that there were a few things they needed while traveling: a way to be cozy, comfy and most importantly, surrounded by a friendly community, all while having clean clothes.

And they also knew that the luxury of having clean clothes isn’t always something others can afford.

So when Erin and Jon Carpenter, from Charleston, S.C. couple made their way back home and settled in, they knew they needed to make those basic comforts come true for others, as well. 

During their four-month honeymoon, the couple had relied on laundromats as they worked remotely. They noticed that while some were cozy and comfortable, many lacked a welcoming atmosphere.

We worked remotely, so we sometimes needed to work from laundromats. We took so many photos of them,” Jon said.

They found an old laundromat for sale in their hometown, they saw an opportunity to create something special for the town. “It’s a good investment, and they can be really cool community builders too, so we went for it,” Jon said. Before embarking on their renovations, the couple operated the laundromat normally for a few months to better understand the local businesses and residents, offering the first free laundry day for the community.

Jon Carpenter is pictured inside Reynolds Laundromat in Charleston, South Carolina, prior to the renovation. Photo courtesy of Jon and Erin Carpenter

They hosted the free laundry with a local charity, then temporarily closed the business the next day for renovations, according to ABC News.

Their journey of transforming the laundromat began by removing old and abandoned items that had accumulated over the years, and they documented it all on TikTok.

@erinv_carpenter Watch our entire journey in 30 seconds! A little sad that its finished, but happy to see the laundromat full and thiving again. And we are so thankful to be a small part of such a wonderful community. 🤍 . #laundrytok #laundromat #laundromatowner #laundromatbiz #renovationseries #renovationproject #renovationtiktok #project #like #follow #fyp #foryoupage #finalresult #husbandwife ♬ Keeping Your Head Up (Jonas Blue Remix) [Radio Edit] – Birdy

“The first thing we wanted to do was just get rid of a lot of old stuff that had been left there,” he said.

The couple showcased their efforts to fix and repaint machines, redecorate the space, and replace walls and flooring on TikTok. The community joined them, with a painter-decorator and the previous owner all lending a hand. With an emphasis on creating a safe and inviting environment, the focus was on catering to the needs of families and make the laundromat a pleasant place to spend time.

Residents enjoy a free laundry day. Photo courtesy of Jon and Erin Carpenter

“There are so many hours spent there, so it felt really important to make the space comfortable, clean, and safe,” Jon said, explaining that aside from the functional aspects of doing the laundry, they also think about the families who spend time in their laundromat.

“Moms are tired, and they’re waiting, and you want to give them a comfy couch to sit on instead of a broken bench. We want to give kids something to do, somewhere to play,” he said.

They added more seating, including picnic tables for families and chairs that are comfortable for resting, as well as a kids area that features books, coloring materials and toys.

The community space in the new laundromat. Photo courtesy of Jon and Erin Carpenter

The couple said they don’t plan to stop with just the laundromat and its current community space. They are eyeing the future.

“Let’s really harness that and really think community-forward specifically and see where that can take us,” Erin said. “Because if anything, [the laundromat] has brought to our attention that people want that. People are craving that community and we want to give it to them.”

Watch the amazing transformation below.

Sources: ABC News | My Positive Outlooks