Paying for laundry just became more convenient. Instead of loading money onto a laundry card at a machine, students can now pay by inserting a debit or credit card directly into the washing machines. 

“We had so many complaints about the way that the payment worked in the last contract,” director of residence services Jill Church said.

“I think it’s better because before we had to go all the way downstairs and put money onto a laundry card, and now we can use a debit card, so it’s a lot easier,” sophomore public health major Julia Rosenberg said.

Kent State contracts out for the washers and dryers in the laundry room. 

“We don’t own them — we work with a company to provide them and service them,” Church said. 

The previous contract with Kent State’s laundry vendor ended last spring. A few companies bid on the job, and the same company, ASI Campus Laundry Solutions, was chosen again, said Chris Tankersley, assistant director of administrative operations and facilities. The package that the company bid for Kent State included new machines and technological updates.

“The new washer and dryers use less water and less electricity,” Tankersley said. “We’re always looking for ways to save resources, and all of these machines are energy efficient models.”

With these new machines only two tablespoons of soap are needed for a load of laundry. 

“Students have this preconceived idea that more soap equals more clean, and it does not,” Tankersley said.

Two new apps also came with the update. The first app is called WaveRider, and students can go through here and pre-pay in increments for their laundry. 

“If you want four loads, it’s $11, eight loads for $22, 12 loads for $33 and if you put $50 on, you actually end up getting an $8 bonus,” Tankersley said.

If students decide to pay as they go, the price is now $2.75 for washing, which is 25 cents more than last year, and drying is still free. 

“We did some comparisons around the local laundromats, and it is still cheaper to do your laundry on campus than off campus,” Tankersley said.

The second app is called LaundryView. 

“Students can download it and look by hall and see which washers are free and which ones are in use,” Tankersley said. “It shows you the 3-D version of the laundry room and shows different colors depending on if the washer is in use or not.”

LaundryView can also indicate how long it will take for loads of laundry to be done, and it will send a text message to students after their washing cycle is finished.

“It was time for a change, and I’m glad we’re taking advantage of the technology that is out there,” Church said.

Refunds have also been changed with the laundry update. Students used to have to go to Korb Hall if they had an issue with a laundry machine and needed a refund. 

“Now students can call 866-976-1301, press the second option and they’ll get the operator that will most of the time be able to, if there’s some sort of malfunction with the machine, be able to start the machine next to them,” Tankersley said.

For students who still have money on their old laundry cards, they can go to Tankersley’s office, room 101 in Korb Hall, and receive refunds up until Sept. 26.

Carolyn Pippin at [email protected].