All residence halls across the four campuses will receive free laundry services this year following negotiations between ASU, University Housing, their partners and Mac-Gray, a commercial laundry equipment and management company, Kevin Schaudt, Taylor Place director of operations, said.
“This initiative was found to be in the best interest of our residents and for university housing,” Schaudt said. “This is a huge plus and convenience for our students.”
Laundry services are now included in housing costs, which have been set for the 2012-2013 school year, but there is no additional fee for it. Students will still have to pay for their own detergent.
Residents can expect to see the same Mac-Gray machines in their halls, simply missing the card readers.
“It’s really awesome because that’s one less thing I have to worry about paying for,” journalism sophomore Betty Ilioi said.
Students can now use the machines for even small loads, without worrying about cost.
“Free laundry is amazing,” said family and human development sophomore Alexandra Hernandez. “I love that I don’t have to worry about losing and replacing a card.”
Last year, one load of laundry cost $1.25 with the option to pay an additional 25 cents for more clothes, and the price of one dryer load was $1, according to Lauren Pigott, Taylor Place’s assistant director of operations. At that cost, a student who did one load of laundry per week would spend about $40 in a semester. The laundry card was an extra $2 for the first purchase or for a replacement.
Hernandez said she paid at least $10 a month on laundry last year, which added up to $100 a school year at a minimum.
Schaudt said the response among students currently living in Taylor Place has been extremely positive.
“The great thing is that students can now use the machines as many times a week, as much as they want, without saving up their money,” Schaudt said.
Schaudt said the plan makes sense financially for the university, as well.
“Studies have found that when laundry service is free, students will do laundry slightly more frequently, but not enough to up the water usage,” Schaudt said. “Since laundry is available and free, students tend to wash and dry in smaller loads, using less water and electricity. Actually, the practice of having free machines lessens the wear and tear on the washers and dryers.”
Contact the reporter at kevin.p.fallon@asu.edu
