Automated dispensers found in laundromats provide essential supplies for washing and drying clothes. These typically offer laundry detergents, bleach, fabric softeners, and sometimes dryer sheets or laundry bags. A customer selects the desired product and inserts payment, usually coins, although some newer machines accept credit or debit cards.
These machines offer convenience and accessibility to laundry patrons. They eliminate the need for customers to bring their own supplies, which can be bulky and inconvenient. Historically, laundromat owners might have sold these items directly, requiring staff and limiting access outside of business hours. Automated dispensers address these issues, providing 24/7 access to necessary products and streamlining the laundry process. This also allows laundromat owners to generate additional revenue streams beyond the washing and drying machines themselves.