Laundry Prison Architect Guide
Last update: 25 May 2016
Icon | Minimum size | Required objects |
None | Laundry Basket Laundry Machine |
The way the laundry functions is rather complicated. In order to have access to it, you have to unlock Prison Labour in the bureaucracy menu and afterwards decide on a location nearby the cells. Choosing such a location is essential, as prisoners working in the laundry collect dirty clothes from cells and afterwards take them back once cleaned.
In order to hire prisoners, proceed just like with the workshop (see: workshop).
Laundry Machines are expensive and require both electricity and water, so in most cases you shouldn't buy more than two of them (usually it's enough for over 50 prisoners). The amount of prisoners assigned to work is also disputable, as this element isn't entirely polished yet. Sometimes prisoners just wait for salvation while doing absolutely nothing (infinitely!) and other times they run around the whole prison taking care of everything at the same time.
The laundry is essential for the proper functioning of the prison, as the prisoners need clean clothes to remain satisfied. It's one of those needs which take much time to satisfy - cleaning clothes takes a lot of time, just like collecting them and delivering back.
That's why you should set long work time for the prisoners working in the laundry (screen above) as otherwise they will abandon their work and move on to other activities (and they're the only ones who can move clothes!).
The process isn't always trouble-free, as the workers have a tendency of moving the laundry baskets to random locations (often a few hundred metres from the prison itself - screen above). It's a bug in the game which cannot be countered at this moment. Let's hope it will be fixed soon, as in the long run it makes it impossible to enjoy the game..
One of the latest patches introduced Ironing Boards. They aren't required for the laundry to function, but can be used to iron washed clothes. Ironing in fact proves to be a necessary element of the whole process which usually fails without it.