A washateria is what Texans call a self-service laundromat — the term dates to the first US self-service laundry, opened in Fort Worth in 1934.
Find a 24-Hour Washateria in DFWThe short answer: in Texas, a laundromat is commonly called a “washateria.” The two words mean the same thing.
In Texas, a laundromat is commonly called a washateria. The word comes from the first US self-service laundry, opened in Fort Worth in 1934, and it remains the everyday North Texas term for a self-service laundry. Outside Texas, most people say “laundromat” or “coin laundry.” All three describe the same kind of business: a place where you wash and dry your own clothes in commercial machines by the load.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Washateria | The Texas word for a self-service laundry, from the Fort Worth “Washateria” opened in 1934. |
| Laundromat | The common US term for the same self-service laundry business. |
| Coin laundry | A self-service laundry where machines traditionally run on coins. At Washatería Lavandería, cash still works — but card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and the app work too. |
| Lavandería | The Spanish word for laundry or laundromat — reflected in our other business name, Washatería Lavandería. |
A Fort Worth invention that stuck in Texas
Texas is the state most associated with the word “washateria.” It dates to 1934, when the first self-service laundry in the United States opened in Fort Worth under the Washateria name. The term is a blend of “wash” and the “-ateria” ending from “cafeteria,” and it remains common in Texas even when the rest of the country says “laundromat.”
That origin matters because the name spread the same way the business model did: as self-service laundry took off in North Texas, the Fort Worth trademark became a regional shorthand. Today you still see “washateria” on signs, maps and storefronts across Dallas–Fort Worth, from Lewisville to Carrollton to Far North Dallas.
Visitors sometimes ask whether a washateria is a different type of store. It is not. A washateria is a laundromat — the only difference is the word a Texan reaches for first. If you are new to the area, seeing “washateria” on a sign simply means you have found a self-service laundromat.
Self-service pricing at Washatería Lavandería's three DFW washaterias
A 15 lb load costs $2.75 to wash; an 80 lb load costs $11.50; drying is $0.25 per 5 minutes. A typical family load, wash plus dry, is about $5.50.
| Machine size | Wash price |
|---|---|
| Up to 15 lb | $2.75 |
| Up to 30 lb | $4.50 |
| Up to 45 lb | $6.25 |
| Up to 60 lb | $8.50 |
| Up to 80 lb | $11.50 |
| Dryer — 5 minutes | $0.25 |
Three Washatería Lavandería locations, all open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
101 E Southwest Parkway Plaza, Suite 101 B
Lewisville, TX 75067
Open 24/7 · 32 washers · 34 dryers
Lewisville laundromat3030 North Josey Ln, Suite 700
Carrollton, TX 75007
Open 24/7 · 26 washers · 30 dryers
Carrollton coin laundry3940 Rosemeade Parkway, Suite 100
Dallas, TX 75287
Open 24/7 · 27 washers · 28 dryers
North Dallas washateriaVisit Washatería Lavandería in Lewisville, Carrollton or North Dallas any time.
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