The One with the East German Laundry Detergent (20 Oct. 1994)

Eager to spend time with Rachel, Ross pretends his building's washroom is rat-infested so he can join her at the laundromat. Chandler points out this could be a 'date' and the first time ... See full summary »

Director:

Pamela Fryman

Writers:

David Crane (creator), Marta Kauffman (creator),

Stars:

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Jennifer Aniston	...	Rachel Green
Courteney Cox	...	Monica Geller
Lisa Kudrow	...	Phoebe Buffay
Matt LeBlanc	...	Joey Tribbiani
Matthew Perry	...	Chandler Bing
David Schwimmer	...	Dr. Ross Geller
Camille Saviola	...	The Horrible Woman
Kim Gillingham	...	Angela
Jack Armstrong	...	Bob
Maggie Wheeler	...	Janice Hosenstein

Storyline

Eager to spend time with Rachel, Ross pretends his building's washroom is rat-infested so he can join her at the laundromat. Chandler points out this could be a 'date' and the first time she'll see his underwear so it shouldn't be dirty! Rachel, the spoiled 'laundry virgin' feels managing this domestic chore is a real step to independence, but despite Ross's good advice she leaves a red sock in the machine. The real accomplishment comes where she has to stand up as no-nonsense-New Yorker against a rude, aggressive woman who invents rules to pretend it's not Rachel turn to do her laundry. Joey realizes he regrets dumping foxy Angela when he learns she is dating Bob. He proposes a double-date, then needs a girl stat. Monica agrees to be Joey's date but when she sees hunky Bob and realizes he's not Angela's brother she starts to enjoy the evening. Chandler drinks too much espresso while desperately trying to break up with neurotic Janice.

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Plot Keywords:

laundry | break up | underwear | espresso | lingerie | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1994 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Dijon Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 22 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Janice comes into the coffee shop to talk to Chandler, she brings a shopping bag which she sets by the couch. But when she gets back from the restroom and Phoebe breaks up with her for Chandler, she leaves the coffee shop without getting her bag from in front of the couch.

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Quotes

Rachel: You know what I figure, If I can do laundry, there's nothing I can't do.

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Connections

Featured in Friends: The One with All the Other Ones: Part 2 (2004)

User Reviews

Friends: The One with the East German Laundry Detergent (#1.5)

Plot: Eager to spend time with Rachel, Ross pretends his building's washroom is rat-infested so he can join her at the laundromat. Chandler points out this could be a 'date' and the first time she'll see his underwear so it shouldn't be dirty! Rachel, the spoiled 'laundry virgin' feels managing this domestic chore is a real step to independence, but despite Ross's good advice she leaves a red sock in the machine. The real accomplishment comes where she has to stand up as no-nonsense-New Yorker against a rude, aggressive woman who invents rules to pretend it's not Rachel turn to do her laundry. Joey realizes he regrets dumping foxy Angela when he learns she is dating Bob. He proposes a double-date, then needs a girl stat. Monica agrees to be Joey's date but when she sees hunky Bob and realizes he's not Angela's brother she starts to enjoy the evening. Chandler drinks too much espresso while desperately trying to break up with neurotic Janice.

The episode is the closest Ross and Rachel have ever got. And Ross embarrasses himself plenty. We are introduced to Janice, as Chandler tries to break up with her. The episode is, of course, hilarious and one of the best so far.