How to use a coinless laundromat (no quarters, no app required)
Walk-through of how to wash and dry at a card-only laundromat — credit card, Apple Pay, or load cash to a loyalty card. No coins, no problem.
If your last laundromat trip was a decade ago, the change-machine and roll-of-quarters routine is gone at most modern laundromats — including ours. Card readers do everything, and you have more payment options than you probably expect.
Here’s exactly how it works at The Found Sock if you’ve never been (or it’s been a while).
The simple version
Every washer and dryer has a small touch screen on the front called a FasCard reader. To pay, you do one of three things:
- Tap a credit or debit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Amex)
- Tap your phone with Apple Pay or Google Pay
- Tap a loyalty card (you can pre-load it with cash at the kiosk)
The machine starts. That’s it.
What if I only have cash?
This is the question we get most. Yes — you can use cash. Just not directly at the machines.
Here’s how:
- Walk to the touchscreen kiosk at the front of the store.
- Tap “Buy a new card” (one-time $1.50 fee, never expires).
- Insert cash to load it. Any amount works, $1 minimum, no maximum.
- Take the card to any washer or dryer. Tap to pay.
Bonus: that loyalty card earns you 10% cashback on every wash automatically. So your $20 cash is really worth $22 over time.
Step by step for a first-time visit
1. Bring detergent
Or buy a single-load pack at the kiosk for a couple of dollars. Powder, liquid, and pods all available.
2. Pick a washer by load size
- 20 lb — about 1–2 typical loads ($6.00)
- 30 lb — about 3 loads or a small comforter ($6.25)
- 35 lb — bigger comforters or 4 loads ($6.50)
- 45 lb — king-size comforter or 4+ loads ($7.75)
When in doubt, size up. A washer that’s 80% full cleans better than one stuffed full.
3. Load clothes, add detergent, close the door
4. Tap to pay
Tap a card / phone / loyalty card on the FasCard reader. Pick your wash temperature on the washer’s own buttons (cold/warm/hot). Press start.
5. Wait or come back later
Most washes are 25–35 minutes. We have free Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, and a TV — or you can leave and come back. Better yet, download the FasCard app — it’ll send you a push notification the moment your cycle finishes.
6. Move clothes to a dryer
Dryers are on the opposite wall. Pay the same way ($0.50 buys 4 minutes — most loads need 24–36 minutes). The app can start a dryer too — just scan the QR code on the reader.
7. Fold at the steel tables
We have big stainless steel folding stations. You can use them as long as you like.
Why card-only is actually better than coins
A few reasons we made the switch:
- No making change. No “I only have a $20 and the change machine is broken.”
- No machines to break. Card readers fail less often than coin slots.
- You can track what you spent. It’s all in your card statement or the FasCard app.
- Refunds are easier. If a machine eats your money, we can refund the card directly.
Common questions
Q: What if I forget my card and my phone is dead? A: We have a kiosk that gives you a new loyalty card for $1.50 — you can load it with any amount of cash on the spot. Problem solved.
Q: Will the machine charge me even if I don’t push start? A: No. The reader pre-authorizes the charge but won’t actually bill until the cycle starts. If you change your mind, the hold drops off in a few days.
Q: Can I use a foreign credit card? A: Yes, as long as it’s a chip card with contactless tap. We’ve had visitors from all over.