I haven’t been in a laundromat in a long, long, long time, maybe 12 to 15 years ago.
The last time I needed to use a laundromat I went to the one near the corner of University Blvd & Piney Branch Road and also the one in the 16th Street Strip Mall that was on the level under the McDonalds there. They were both crowded places and kinda dingy and dark. There were 2 different sizes of washers and dryers that took coins. I couldn’t wait to get my laundry done and get out.
I recently went into the new Tropicana Laundromat on Fenton Street to wash some real bulky items (rugs, big comforters and pillows), that my regular washer and dryer can’t handle. I was amazed at how far Laundromats have come since I’d been in one!
This place is CLEAN, Bright, Airy, Pleasant and Spacious. You could eat off the floors. They had 2 people outside hosing down and cleaning off the parking lot steps and even the asphalt (that people park their cars on) when I was there. It was immaculate inside and out.
There must be 6 -7 different sizes of washers and dryers, from tiny ones for delicates to the Heavy Duty Super Jumbo size that I used, and there are lots of them! There are huge, long, nice clean folding tables and plenty of those big rolling steel laundry baskets.
There are 3 Big Screen TVS mounted on the back wall and areas to sit and read or watch a big screen while you are waiting for your laundry to be done.
And . . . No more coins to fumble with – you can load money (via credit card)into a card to use in the machines.
I have to admit, when I first saw the sign go up last year I thought it was going to be some kind of an all night Restaurant/Bar. I had visions of Mai Tais, Margaritas, pina-coladas, other tropical drinks and food dancing in my head. I was disappointed at first when I figured out it was a Laundromat.
Tropicana Laundromat
8010 Fenton St
Silver Spring, MD 20910
