Maytag Self-Serve Laundromat

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. It was an unusually quiet Sunday morning in Des Moines when a delivery driver pulled up to Maytag Self-Serve Laundromat. As he unloaded boxes from his truck, he noticed something strange—all the washing machines were spinning in perfect sync with each other. Curious, the driver approached one of the machines and pressed a button. To his surprise, the machine started playing ‘Happy Birthday’ instead of watering soap. A regular customer looked over and winked, saying, ‘That’s our little secret.’

2. A little girl, clutching her teddy bear, peered curiously into the Maytag Self-Serve Laundromat one Saturday afternoon. As she watched, an old lady feeding quarters into the machines suddenly started humming a familiar tune—only it wasn’t any ordinary song. The old lady stopped mid-hum and turned around with a twinkle in her eye. ‘That’s my secret,’ she whispered, pointing to the machine. The little girl giggled and ran over, pressing a quarter into the slot. Suddenly, the washer started playing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” From then on, whenever anyone used that particular machine, it played nursery rhymes. It became a quirky local legend—a place where your clothes got clean, and your day got brighter.

3. A delivery driver pulled up to the Maytag Self-Serve Laundromat one hot summer afternoon, only to notice something odd: every time he placed a load of clothes in the dryer marked ‘Turbo Spin,’ it came out smelling like freshly baked bread. Confused and intrigued, he tried different loads and brands—always the same result. Soon enough, word spread among neighbors, and soon people were lining up not for clean clothes but for that magical scent. A local baker even started dropping off fresh pastries as thanks. The laundromat became a neighborhood institution, known less for its washing machines than for its irresistible aroma.

4. A delivery driver pulled up to the Maytag Self-Serve Laundromat one humid autumn day and noticed something peculiar on the counter: a small, dusty jar labeled ‘Laundry Fairy’s Secret Detergent.’ Curiosity piqued, he couldn’t help but wonder if it really worked. He dipped his clothes in the mysterious potion, threw them into the washer, and left. Later that evening, while folding clean shirts, he discovered they were not only spotless but also slightly sparkly—like tiny stars had been sprinkled upon them. Word spread quickly around town, and soon everyone from neighbors to businessmen flocked to Maytag for their own share of magical laundry service.