A kiosk of outdoor communal washing machines costing £5 and £10 have sparked debate online with many questioning if they are too expensive.

The kiosk is owned by an international company ‘Photo-Me’ providing self-serving vending machines from photo booths to laundry services.

In Newton Aycliffe, the kiosk offers washing and dry cleaning with two washing machines one costing £5 for 8kg worth of washing, another priced at £10 for 18kg of washing and £3 for dry cleaning at 18kg.

Photo-Me says the kiosk offers “ a complete professional solution available to everyone.”

However, the kiosk has created buzz on social media with some people questioning if the kiosk is too expensive.

Posted in the Anything Aycliffe by a Facebook user they said: “Got to do what you got to do these days, but at that price, jeez.”

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One person commented: “The £3 for drying is actually £3 per 15 minutes.”

Another person added: “Yeah, almost as cheap to buy one.”

One user said: “We’ve only used them to wash duvets. Come In handy, but yeah agreed at that price! Ridiculous”

One person was worried to wash their clothes in the service saying: “Unfortunately there’s no way of knowing what has been washed in there! I’m afraid it puts me off.

However, many have been impressed by the service, with people saying it came in handy when washing specialist items such as weighted blankets, heavy duvets and horse rugs.

One person said: “I use these to wash my horse rugs cheaper than sending them off, us equestrians all love these.”

Another added: “Good for duvets sleeping bags etc that won’t go in normal washer.”

One user pointed out how much it would cost you to do a similar wash load at home.

They said: “If you have 3 double duvet covers 3 double sheets and 3 double mattress protectors plus pillow cases, think how many washes you'll need at home plus drying them at home.

“Probably cheaper doing 1 big load and 1 big dry.”

The Northern Echo has contacted Photo-Me for a comment on the pricing of the kiosks.

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