Förr brukade vi tvätta hemma, men nu tvättar vi i tvättstugan.

Because Swedish follows the V2 rule in main clauses: the finite verb usually comes in the second position.

So when Förr comes first, the verb brukade must come next:

• Förr brukade vi tvätta hemma
• literally: In the past used-to we wash at home

If you started with vi, you would say:

• Vi brukade tvätta hemma förr

That is also possible, but the original sentence puts extra focus on Förr.

Förr means formerly, in the past, or back then.

In this sentence, it sets up a contrast with nu (now):

• Förr = before / in the old days
• nu = now

So the sentence contrasts an old habit with a current one.

Brukade + infinitive is a very common Swedish way to express used to do something.

• brukade tvätta = used to wash / used to do the laundry
• tvättade = washed or were washing, depending on context

So:

• Förr brukade vi tvätta hemma = We used to wash/do laundry at home
• Förr tvättade vi hemma = We washed at home in the past

The second version sounds more like a simple past fact. The version with brukade clearly emphasizes a repeated past habit.

Because after brukade, Swedish uses the infinitive form of the main verb.

So:

• brukade + tvätta
• not brukade tvättade
• not brukade tvättar

This is similar to English used to wash:

• used to
  • base form
• brukade
  • infinitive

In this sentence, tvätta most naturally means do the laundry / wash clothes.

On its own, tvätta can mean wash in a general sense, but the context makes the laundry meaning clear, especially because of tvättstugan.

So here:

• tvätta hemma = do the laundry at home
• tvätta i tvättstugan = do the laundry in the laundry room

Swedish often leaves out the object when it is obvious from context.

So tvätta can stand on its own when everyone understands that it means wash clothes / do laundry.

Compare:

• Vi tvättar. = We’re doing the laundry.
• Vi tvättar kläder. = We’re washing clothes.

Both are correct. The shorter version is very natural.

Hemma means at home, while hem means home in the sense of to home / homeward after motion.

So:

• Vi är hemma. = We are at home.
• Vi går hem. = We are going home.

Since the sentence describes the location where the washing happens, Swedish uses hemma:

• tvätta hemma = wash at home

Again, this is the V2 rule.

In a main clause, the finite verb must come second. Since nu is in first position, tvättar comes second:

• nu tvättar vi i tvättstugan

Not:

• nu vi tvättar i tvättstugan

This word order is one of the most important patterns in Swedish.

Tvättstugan means the laundry room.

It comes from:

• tvätt = wash / laundry
• stuga = cottage, small house, room-like space
• tvättstuga = laundry room
• tvättstugan = the laundry room

In Sweden, this often refers to a shared laundry room in an apartment building, which is a very common cultural detail.

Because Swedish normally uses i for being inside a room or enclosed space.

So:

• i tvättstugan = in the laundry room

Using på would usually sound wrong here.

A useful comparison:

• i köket = in the kitchen
• i badrummet = in the bathroom
• i tvättstugan = in the laundry room

The ending -an is the definite article attached to the noun.

In Swedish, the is often added to the end of the word:

• en tvättstuga = a laundry room
• tvättstugan = the laundry room

This is a very common Swedish pattern:

• en bok → boken
• en bil → bilen
• en tvättstuga → tvättstugan

Sometimes yes, but they are not always identical.

• förr often means back then / in the past / formerly
• tidigare often means earlier / previously

In this sentence, förr sounds very natural because it contrasts with nu and talks about an old habit.

• Förr brukade vi tvätta hemma, men nu... sounds very idiomatic.

Tidigare is possible in some contexts, but förr is the more natural choice here.

Yes. The sentence contrasts a past habit with a present habit:

• Förr brukade vi tvätta hemma = past routine
• men nu tvättar vi i tvättstugan = present routine

So the structure is:

• past habit → brukade + infinitive
• present habit / current reality → present tense

This kind of contrast is very common in Swedish.

Men itself does not take up the first position inside the clause in the same way a sentence adverbial does. The second clause still follows normal main-clause word order.

So in:

• ..., men nu tvättar vi i tvättstugan

the word nu is first inside that clause, and tvättar is second.

That is why the order is:

• men nu tvättar vi not
• men nu vi tvättar

Yes, very natural.

It sounds like normal spoken or written Swedish, especially in Sweden, where using a shared tvättstuga is common. The sentence is simple, idiomatic, and built from very common patterns:

• förr ... men nu ...
• brukade + infinitive
• V2 word order
• location words like hemma and i tvättstugan

So it is an excellent example sentence for learners.