What Is a Washateria? (Washateria vs. Laundromat, and How to Find One Near You)
By the Laundromat By Me editorial team · Published
If you've moved to Texas or Louisiana and keep seeing signs for a washateria, here's the one-sentence answer: it's a laundromat. Same coin- or card-operated washers, same wall of dryers, usually the same wash-and-fold counter. The word is a regionalism with a specific origin story.
Where "washateria" comes from
In April 1934, J.F. Cantrell opened what is generally recognized as the first self-service laundry in the United States, in Fort Worth, Texas. He rented time on four electric washing machines to customers who brought their own soap, and called the business a Washateria, a coinage in the style of "cafeteria." The concept spread quickly across Texas and the Gulf Coast under that name. Elsewhere, the term that won was "laundromat," which began as a Westinghouse trademark for its automatic washer in the 1940s and became the generic word for the stores themselves.
Where the term is still used
Today "washateria" survives mainly in Texas (especially Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley), Louisiana (where you'll also see "washeteria" and, in Cajun country, "laundrymat"), and scattered across Mississippi, Oklahoma and southern Arkansas. Business names in these areas often use the word on the sign, so searching for "laundromat" on a map can miss them — which is one reason our directory indexes both.
Washateria vs. laundromat: any real difference?
No. Both terms describe a self-service laundry. If anything, "washateria" is slightly more likely to appear on older, family-run stores, while national chains and newly built card-operated stores tend to brand themselves "laundry" or "laundromat." Prices, machines, and etiquette are identical; see our laundromat etiquette guide and price guide for the details.
How to find a washateria near you
Every washateria in our data is listed as a laundromat, so use the laundromats near me search — it accepts your location or a ZIP code — or browse by state: Texas laundromats, Louisiana laundromats, Oklahoma laundromats, Mississippi laundromats. Each city page lists every location with address, phone and hours where available, plus 24-hour and wash-and-fold tags.
Other regional names for a laundromat
- Laundrette / launderette — United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia.
- Coin laundry / coin-op — common in the Midwest and on signage nationally.
- Washeteria — alternate spelling common in Louisiana.
- Laundry center / laundry mat — informal variants seen on business names everywhere.
- Lavandería — Spanish; used on many signs in Texas, California, Florida and New York.
Frequently asked questions
Is a washateria the same as a laundromat?
Yes. "Washateria" is the regional word for a self-service laundry in Texas, Louisiana and parts of the Gulf Coast. The businesses are identical to laundromats: coin- or card-operated washers and dryers, often with a wash-and-fold counter.
Where does the word washateria come from?
The first self-service coin laundry in the United States, opened by J.F. Cantrell in Fort Worth, Texas in 1934, was called a "Washateria." The name stuck across Texas and the Gulf South while the rest of the country adopted "laundromat," originally a Westinghouse trademark.
How much does a washateria cost?
The same as a laundromat: roughly $2–$4 per standard washer load, $5–$8 for large machines and about $0.25 per 6–8 minutes of drying. Texas prices sit slightly below the national average.
How do I find a washateria near me?
Use the laundromat search on this site — every washateria is listed as a laundromat. Search "near me" or by ZIP code, or browse the Texas and Louisiana state pages.