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Grant 79
Grant 79

Your Guide to Apartment Coin-Operated Laundry

Here at Grant 79 Apartments, we consider ourselves experts when it comes to coin-operated laundry machines. Residents often come to us with laundry-related questions, so we thought it would be helpful to put together a handy guide. 

Apartment laundry rooms can be big or small, old or new, but they tend to have one thing in common: the coin slot. 

Coin-operated laundry machines have been the hallmark of shared spaces for half a century. You slide in a few quarters, push in the slider, listen for the ku-chunk sound, and then start up the machine. It sounds simple, but if you're unfamiliar with the system, it can quickly become confusing. 

How do you know how many quarters to put in? What if you put in a half-dollar, or drop your quarters, or the machine doesn't start? Don't worry. This is your guide to apartment coin laundry rooms so you can clean your clothes like a pro. 

How Coin-Operated Laundry Machines Work

Coin-operated laundry machines require quarters to operate. Each one has a row of open slots which determines the price and lets you know how many quarters you will need. Closed slots do not need to be filled. When you fill the slots with quarters and push in the coin drawer, it makes a loud clunking sound, takes your quarters, and lets you know that the machine is ready to start. If it doesn’t work, make sure you put in the right number of quarters! 

Three washing machines are lined up next to each other.

Here's how it's done:

  • Count your quarters and make sure you have enough.
  • Load your clothes into your chosen machine.
  • Carefully place your quarters vertically into the open slots.
             Make sure they are fully settled.
             Hold only one quarter at a time in your hand to avoid dropping. You can master the multi-quarter style later.
  • Grasp the ridge at the end of the quarter slider and push in firmly. 
  • Hear the clunk and pull the slider back out.
  • Set your washing machine or dryer settings
  • Start the machine.

If the machine is working running, then you have just successfully executed on your load of laundry. 

A woman in a red top and denim shorts is sitting in front of a washing machine.

Where Can You Go for Quarters?

Now, you might be wondering, in this day and age, where can one find a large number of quarters? They used to be all over the place, but now, with most transactions occurring digitally or with debit cards, few of us still have that handy-dandy bowl full of quarters. 

Fear not! There are still places you can find rolls of quarters. 

  • The Bank
    Make an in-person withdrawal and ask for rolls of quarters. One roll of 40 quarters is $10

  • Older Vending Machines
    Vending machines that still take dollars will spit out quarters (Unless the machine says it doesn't give change). Put in your dollar and then press the "return" button. It will give your dollar back in quarters. One dollar at a time.

  • Arcades
    Arcades that operate on quarters instead of tokens will typically have a quarter machine. You can sometimes get up to $20 in quarters at a time. Just have your big plastic cup ready to catch them.

On the bright side, sometimes ancient coin laundry rooms have a vintage arcade game or vending machine that also takes quarters.

How Much Does Coin Laundry Cost?

Coin laundry prices, like everything else, have increased over the years. Laundry used to cost 50-75 cents, but times change. Today, expect to pay $2 per machine or about $4 per load (washer and dryer). That's 16 quarters for every load of laundry.

Coin Laundry Room Success Tips

When you're preparing a trek to the coin-based laundry room, it helps to be prepared. Take advantage of our experience (and many dropped quarters) with these helpful coin laundry tips for success.  

  • Use a zip-closing coin bag to carry your quarters
  • Test-push the slider to check if a machine is broken or jammed
  • Don't use machines that have eaten quarters in the past
  • Pack your laundry basket with detergent and quarters before you head for the laundry room
A light blue laundry basket filled with a pile of wrinkled clothes.

There's an App for That: The Laundry Room Upgrade

Of course, in a world where you can use a vending machine by waving your phone at it, laundry is seeing a similar upgrade. At Grant 79 Apartments, we know all about the challenges of coin laundry. That's why we upgraded the laundry room to accept payment by phone. In short: There's an app for that. 

This quick and easy method helps you predict your laundry costs, plan for specific loads, and easily activate your chosen machine with mobile pay instead of finding and juggling a massive pouch of quarters to enjoy clean, fresh clothes.  

 

Overland Park Apartments with Mobile Pay Laundry

If you're looking for an apartment in Overland Park, Kansas that does laundry the intelligent way, look no further than Grant 79. Our community uses an awesome mobile pay laundry room setup.  Contact us to book your very own tour of our spacious floorplans. After stopping by the resort-style swimming pool and resident-only clubhouse, we'll be sure to swing by the convenient on-site laundry center. Home begins here at Grant 79 Apartments. 

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