Liquid Laundromats Onekawa is a cashless, self-service laundry on Maadi Road in Onekawa, Napier, and it runs on a reusable card rather than coins. The Liquid Card costs $1 once and is topped up at the kiosk with EFTPOS or notes. The same card works at any Liquid Laundromat in New Zealand, and for every $100 loaded onto it the shop adds a $5 bonus. The company is a New Zealand family business and not a franchise.
The washers are commercial grade with a high spin, which the company says takes more water out so clothes dry sooner. The largest wash, at 28 kg, is aimed at king duvets, mink blankets and curtains. Cold, warm and hot settings cover everything from dark colours to heavy soiling. Most cycles take about 25 to 30 minutes, and the dryers are large, so they work best when a load is not packed tight.
Washing powder is sold in single-serve packs from a vending machine. Pet bedding goes in the dedicated pet washers, which keeps the clothes machines free of animal hair. The company describes the shop as bright and clean, in contrast to older coin-operated laundries, and says mink blankets should be dried on low to medium heat.