Las Palmas Laundry Center

Excellent laundromat. Will use it exclusively while I’m in Houston. Very clean and user-​friendly. Highly recommended!

I’ve checked out a number of laundromats recently and this one is a winner. The machines are clean and quiet, the facility is spacious and clean, and the folding tables are granite. They use a card system; you buy a card for a buck and then load it with money. No more saving up quarters. You an also load it using your debit or credit card.

Without a goodbye or a farewell letter, the former washeteria, SpinCycle, closed. Even as I parked, I was doubtful whether my threads would enjoy a spin at this place. «Did they just slap on a new name outside and re-​open the washeteria?» I thought to myself.
On this quiet Monday afternoon, only 5 – 6 other people are washing their clothes here. There are plenty of machines. I dread the chore of washing clothes, so I head for the super-​ultra-​wash-​everything-​all-​at-​once-​5 load machine. Pour in my earth friendly detergent and now its’ time to… put the money in. Rather than finding a slot to insert coins, I found a card reader, with «insert card here» printed near it. Surprised, it seemed like a good time to find some help to get the clothes a washin’.
Flor, the friendly laundry mat attendant, guided me through the process of creating my own Las Palmas Member Card. It reminds me of the kiosks at FedEx Kinkos, where you obtain a card and then add money to the card. Only this card is linked to me and it monitors how many «points» I accumulate, a reward card.
Minutes later, I swiped my card at the ginormous washing machine; it tells me the cost as well as the balance on my card, like a Dave and Busters game card. In split seconds, the machine turns on; water jets inside came to life. The card reader is as fast as those Mastercard touch and go points.
31 minutes til dry time. I choose a seat near the window; beautiful light brown granite forms the base of the seat. I contemplate the great questions in life like — how does spinning, water, and soap wash clothes well.
It’s quiet for the most part. The ceiling fans above silently spin like a airplane propellar, quietly sending coolness down to clothes washing patrons. The squeaky sound of laundry baskets rolling over short distances. The rapid spinning of a dry cycle. The occasional scream of a child at play. As I read my book, these periodic noises fade away. I vow to myself to come back to this washeteria during these hours.
Just as I went for the clothes washer 5000, I then headed for the large drying machines. The diameter on those things must be like 3 – 4 feet. I toss in the threads and away they went. You could self-​hyponotize, just staring long enough at the multi-​colored clothes spin round and round in the dryer. I would hypnotize myself to love to wash clothes, so that I would do this chore with cheer.
Before I knew it, a short high pitched alarm signaled the ride in the dryer was over for my clothes. I touched the various fabrics, feeling them for level of dryness. The clothes were dry but not hot enough to sting my hands. I would have pat the dryer’s shoulder for a job well done, if it had one.
My clothes were zestfully clean by the high tech appliances. Until Disney invents magical brooms that does laundry, I’ll probably wash my threads at this clean, spacious, calm washeteria.