Frequently Asked Questions

DexterPay may place a temporary $25 pre-authorization hold on your card when you pay directly through the app. This is not usually your final charge. Your bank or card provider handles the final amount, and the charge is typically adjusted to reflect the machines you actually used.

To avoid the $25 hold, use Preload Funds. This option is located near the bottom of the DexterPay app. Add only the amount you need, then use that balance to start your machines — no pre-authorization hold applies when paying from a preloaded balance.

If a washer or dryer was started after the cutoff time (8:45 PM for washers, 9:45 PM for dryers), an automatic after-hours fee applies. This is clearly posted in the store and on this page.

If you believe this was an error, contact us.

Download DexterPay, create your account, and select Bennett Valley Laundromat using location number #6198.

Then enter the machine number shown on the DexterPay sticker, choose your cycle, pay, and start the machine.

Don't forget to validate your email after creating your account.

Yes. After signing up, check your email inbox for the DexterPay verification link. You may need to verify your email before you can log in or start a machine.

If the DexterPay service is down, coins are the only payment option until it's restored. Use cash at the change machines in the store to get coins.

Note: there is no way to pay by card directly on the machines. Our machines accept coins or the DexterPay app only.

This usually means your bank flagged the card as stolen or your card was recently replaced. The DexterPay app locks the account when that happens.

To fix it:

1. Contact us with the email address you used to create your DexterPay account.
2. We will contact DexterPay to reset your account. Resets happen within 24 hours on weekdays. Weekend requests may take longer.
3. Once reset, delete the old card from the app and add your new card before using DexterPay again. Leaving the old card in will lock it again.

In the meantime, coins are the only payment option — there is no card payment directly on the machines.

First, press the silver coin-return button.

If the coins do not return, press and hold the silver coin-return button while firmly tapping beside the coin slot with the base of your palm or fist. Do not use tools and do not hit the display, glass, or other parts of the machine.

Once the coin path is clear, add coins slowly. Watch the machine display after each coin to make sure it is accepted before adding the next coin.

One stuck coin is usually easier to clear. Multiple stuck coins may be more difficult.

Change machines #2 and #3 dispense dollar coins only.

Change machine #1 dispenses a combination of dollar coins and quarters:

• $20 bill = 16 dollar coins and 16 quarters
• $10 bill = 8 dollar coins and 8 quarters
• $5 bill = 4 dollar coins and 4 quarters
• $1 bill = 4 quarters

Please look closely at the silver coins. Some silver coins are dollar coins, not quarters.

Use change machine #1.

Change machine #1 accepts dollar bills and also has a slot where you can insert dollar coins to receive 4 quarters.

This is often caused by clothing, a shoelace, or another item caught near the bottom of the washer door.

Press and hold the red stop button on the front of the machine for about 5 seconds. Wait until the machine finishes draining and the beeping stops. Once it is safe to open, open the door, move the item away from the door seal, close the door, and restart the machine.

If the leak continues after restarting, please ask an attendant (in store after 8:30 PM) or contact us.

This can be caused by overloading the washer or by a machine issue.

For best results, do not fill the washer more than halfway. Clothes need room to move so water can circulate properly.

If the washer does not appear to be adding enough water, try switching the water temperature to cold if the machine allows it. If the problem continues, ask an attendant or contact us.

If you see soap suds through the glass, too much detergent may have been used.

The best solution is usually to rewash the load without adding more soap. Using less detergent helps the washer rinse more effectively and can prevent leftover suds.

Yes, this is normal. The washer door locks automatically during the wash cycle for safety and unlocks on its own when the cycle finishes.

If you need to stop the cycle early, press and hold the red stop button for about 5 seconds. The machine will beep while it drains — this takes about 2 minutes. Once the beeping stops, the door will unlock and you can open it.

Heads up: clothes will be wet and may drip if you stop mid-cycle.

The washer door locks during the cycle, so nothing can be added through the door. However, liquid additives can be poured into the top dispenser while the machine is running.

• Pods or powder detergent: Place in the drum before closing the door and starting.
• Liquid detergent: Pour into the top dispenser before starting.
• Fabric softener (Downey etc.): Pour into the top dispenser during the wash. Must go in before the last rinse cycle or it won't be effective.
• Bleach: Wait for the machine display to prompt you — it tells you when to add it after the drum fills with water.

No. Our machines do not have a rinse-only option. If you need to re-rinse your clothes — for example, to clear out excess suds — you will need to run a full wash cycle without adding any detergent.

Yes — there's a self-serve spill cleanup kit at the front of the store on the right side, right next to washer #4. Grab the towels from the top shelf and lay them flat over the water. Once it's soaked up, put the used towels in the tub on the lower shelf — an attendant will clean them for next time.

If it's a large spill or water keeps coming, please contact us or ask an attendant (available in store after 8:30 PM).

You can move the wet clothes to another open washer. To keep the floor dry while you carry them, there's a spill cleanup kit at the front of the store on the right, next to washer #4 — the lower tub is empty and works well as a carry bin to catch any dripping water.

One thing to know: our machines don't have a spin-only option, so running another machine means a full wash cycle and paying again.

If the first machine took your money and didn't complete the cycle, contact us and we'll make sure you're not charged for a machine that didn't work.

No, that's normal. Unlike the washers, dryer doors do not lock — but opening the dryer door while it's running shuts it off as a safety feature.

Close the door fully and press start to resume the cycle.

Press and hold the silver coin-return button.

If the coins do not return, press and hold the coin-return button while firmly tapping beside the coin slot with the base of your palm. Do not use tools and do not hit the display or glass.

Once clear, feed coins back in slowly, one at a time. If the coins won't release, contact us with the dryer number.

Move your clothes to another dryer and contact us with the dryer number.

We will make sure you are not charged for the machine that didn't work and will get it looked at.

Yes. Bennett Valley Laundromat is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Hours:
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Last wash:
8:45 PM

Please remove all clothes from dryers by 9:45 PM.

Our store closes at 10:00 PM and our evening attendant needs time to prepare the store for closing. Washers started after 8:45 PM will automatically be charged a minimum $10 additional fee to cover the extended time required.

We do not have a public restroom.

Whole Foods is a very short walk from the laundromat and has bathrooms customers can use.

The Wi-Fi password is posted on the sign near the vending machines on the outside wall.

Password:
1139yulupa

Please enter it in all lowercase letters.

Yes. Please come in after 8:30 PM — attendant staff are in the store until closing at 10:00 PM and can help you check the back.

Items are usually kept for a couple of weeks. After that, unclaimed clothing may be donated to a shelter or nonprofit.

Please ask an attendant when one is available, or contact us.

The lockers are in the left rear corner of the store. Look for a set of two white doors, each about two feet square, mounted on the wall at about chest height, with the numbers 1 and 2 on them — they're easy to spot.

You can see exactly what they look like on our Wash & Fold page.

The lockers stay locked, so you'll use the access code we text you to open the one we've assigned for your drop-off or pickup. If you'd like, you can also text us and we'll send you a picture.

Yes — for an additional $25, we can have your order done by 10:30 PM the same day. Same-day slots are limited, so let us know at drop-off if you'd like to request it. The minimum charge for same-day service is $60.