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When it comes to multifamily properties, residents prefer mobile pay options, especially in unattended retail settings like shared laundry rooms. Their beliefs are shaped by how they pay for everyday purchases, from Instacart for groceries and Uber for rideshares, to DoorDash for restaurant deliveries and Starbucks for coffee. Younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are leading this shift with overwhelming preference to pay with their phone.
A joint study by Cantaloupe and Michigan State University found that cashless payment share in unattended retail settings, the same category as shared laundry rooms, grew from 51% to 62% between 2020 and 2021, while cash payments declined from 49% to 38% over the same period.
For property managers, the value of a laundry payment app goes beyond convenience. Connected payment technology can reduce operational friction, improve visibility, and support a better resident experience without adding more work for on-site management teams.
Cashless laundry replaces coins with modern payment options at the machine. Depending on the system, residents pay to do laundry with a mobile app, a debit or credit card, tap to pay, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. The goal is simple: eliminate the need to carry coins while making it easier to wash and dry.
For apartment communities, the most common approaches are connected mobile app platforms, credit/debit card-enabled machines, and kiosk-based laundry card systems. All three deliver a convenient experience, but they serve different needs.
1. App-Based Payments
A mobile app adds a connected layer to the experience. Residents use their phone to pay and start a machine by scanning a unique QR code displayed on each machine, or by selecting the machine number in the app. The app can also provide real-time machine availability, cycle complete notifications, self-help resources and laundry tips and guides, in-app refunds, and an easy way to report service issues.
The convenience offered by a mobile app is becoming increasingly important in multifamily settings. Residents can check real-time machine availability before leaving their apartment. Instead of making multiple trips to the laundry room to check on the progress of their load, they receive a notification when the cycle is finished. Small enhancements like these transform the laundry amenity into a modern, resident-first experience.
2. Credit/Debit Payment at the Machine
Card payment gives residents a familiar, immediate way to pay. Similar to paying at the pump at a gas station, card readers on each washer and dryer accept chip, swipe, or contactless payments, depending on the technology used. Residents simply load a machine, pay, and start the cycle without adding value to a separate laundry card or making a trip to an ATM or bank for cash.
This can be a good option for communities seeking an immediate upgrade from coin operation, and it is often best suited for hotel-type properties where residents come and go frequently. Keep in mind that credit and debit card transactions typically carry higher processing fees than other payment methods, so for most multifamily communities, app-based payment remains the strongest option.
3. Laundry Card System
Dedicated laundry card systems are common in multifamily laundry rooms. While features vary, most include a centralized value-transfer kiosk, also known as an AVS (Add Value Station), where residents purchase and load money to a branded laundry card, combined with card readers on each machine. Most kiosks are card only, though some also accept cash.
Laundry card systems have drawbacks. Residents must carry the physical laundry card in their purse or wallet that can be misplaced, lost, or stolen. If the kiosk is out of service, residents are unable to do laundry because they cannot load value to their card. Unused balances remaining on the card can make refunds challenging when a resident moves out. Unlike a digital wallet, if a resident loses their laundry card, any remaining balance is lost as well, since the value is tied to the physical card rather than an account.
Benefits of Cashless Laundry for residents include:
No quarters required. Residents do not have to plan ahead, find a change machine, search their couch cushions, or make a trip to the bank.
Payment flexibility. Mobile apps, credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets give residents choices that fit their preferences.
Convenience. App features such as machine availability and cycle complete alerts help residents use their time more efficiently.
Unmatched support. Digital platforms make it easier to request service, access laundry tips, or receive a refund if an issue occurs.
Cashless laundry is even more valuable on the operational side. Coin-op machines require labor-intensive collections, create exposure to theft, and provide limited visibility into how equipment is performing. Connected payment systems help pivot time-consuming tasks into a more secure and manageable model.
Benefits of Cashless Laundry for property teams include:
Less cash, less hassle. Removing coins from the laundry room reduces the risk of theft and vandalism and eliminates machine downtime caused by full coin vaults that would otherwise require a service call, giving on-site teams one less operational headache to manage.
Laundry performance metrics. Connected machines provide valuable data on usage, payment activity, service diagnostics, and equipment performance. Paired with a secure client portal, property managers gain clear visibility into laundry room operations without manually gathering information from individual machines.
Elevated resident experience. Residents increasingly prefer cashless and mobile payment options, and offering them signals that a property is keeping pace with expectations and investing in convenience.
Fewer resident complaints. When residents have easy access to modern payment options, cycle complete notifications, support resources, service reporting, and refund tools, routine laundry issues are less likely to end up on the property manager’s desk.
WASH offers full-service laundry room management programs for multifamily communities, including equipment selection, installation, WASH-Connect app, service, client portal, and ongoing support. Property managers gain a trusted partner for everything laundry, while residents gain a more convenient way to wash and dry right at home.
Whether your community is ready to replace aging coin-operated equipment or you are searching for modern payment options, a professional on-site evaluation by a local WASH expert can identify the best path forward.
Cashless laundry rooms may accept mobile apps like WASH-Connect, debit cards, credit cards, contactless tap-to-pay cards, dedicated laundry cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Available options depend on the payment platform installed at the property.
Not necessarily. Some communities offer laundry card or credit/debit card readers on each machine in addition to app payment, giving residents the flexibility to pay the way they prefer.
Yes. The WASH-Connect app gives residents the ability to check machine status, start a machine, view cycle countdown, receive alerts when laundry is complete, submit service requests, and access self-help information.
Yes. WASH can evaluate your current laundry room(s) and recommend a modernized solution based on available space, resident needs, and long-term goals. Options may include card payment, app-based payment, and upgraded equipment as part of a fully managed laundry program.
WASH has completed thousands of laundry payment upgrades, and residents overwhelmingly support the transition to more convenient payment options. To help ensure a smooth rollout, WASH can also install instruction signs, machine decals, door hangers, and other communications that highlight the benefits of the upgraded laundry room.
Learn More
Discover how WASH can modernize your laundry room with fully managed equipment, the WASH-Connect mobile app, and responsive service. Reach out to discover the benefits of going cashless.
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