CINCINNATI — As prices increase for just about everything due to inflation and gas prices, some people are looking to cut costs wherever they can. Thanks to Laundry Love, people won’t have to go without clean clothes.

It’s a laundry party at this laundromat in Westwood. Every month Laundry Love comes in and provides free or reduced-price laundry. For Adrian Burton, that means not having to choose between clean clothes and gas in the car.

“Like I said, gas and food is high," Burton said. "So any chance that we can, we take advantage of what’s out here, especially if it’s free. We’re not trying to be greedy or get over on the system, but we need help.”

Laundry Love started in this Cincinnati neighborhood a year ago, and Burton has been coming here since the start.

“It’s a good community out here," she said. "Westwood, they like to take care of people out here, and that’s really good.”

She makes sure to take advantage, getting four loads done at a time. And between each load, she also can be sure her little ones are taken care of, too.

“I can run around the laundromat, get my clothes together, and I don’t have to worry about is my son OK?” Burton said.

For Laundry Love Cincinnati Executive Director Morgan Whaley, the hope is to create a community and safe space for all.

“COVID took so much from the community," Whaley said. "But the essential piece behind Laundry Love Cincinnati, in the beginning, is to turn laundry mats into community spaces.”

For Burton, it’s all worth it between seeing familiar faces and getting fresh laundry.

She hopes the program isn’t going anywhere.

“I hope it’s here to stay," she said. "I hope they never leave.”

Currently, there are Laundry Love organizations across the state in Cincinnati, Chillicothe, Columbus, Akron and Cleveland. Check out laundrylove.org for locations and more information.