It's $7.25 for a load of laundry in San Francisco
At the coin-op laundromat across from our apartment on California Street, the machines didn’t always work.
After I had our clothes loaded, the door shut, the handle twisted, all 29 quarters pushed through the slot, and the START button pressed, then I took one step back, crossed my arms, put my chin on my chest, and waited.
Looking through the circular, silver-rimmed glass door, I waited for three signs of successful operation. First, for the clothes to start spinning. Then, for water to cascade down the glass. Finally, for there to be suds in the water. I added the third step after one time when I forgot to put soap in the machine.