The Mat: Boulder Creek's Laundromat, Renovated and App-Run

Mar 27

Every town needs a laundromat, and Boulder Creek's is The Mat, at 12890 Highway 9 in the middle of downtown. If you haven't been in since the renovation, it's not the laundromat you remember: the machines are new, they run on an app instead of quarters, and there are attendants on hand instead of an empty room with a change machine.

That last part is the real difference. A staffed laundromat means someone can walk you through the machines, keep the place in order, and take your laundry off your hands entirely if you'd rather not spend the evening with it.

Two ways to do laundry

Self-service. The washers and dryers are new, with touch screens, and payment runs through an app, so there's no hunting for quarters before you load up. The app also pays out cash-back rewards for regulars. The store is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, which leaves room for a before-work load or an after-dinner one.

Wash-and-fold drop-off. Hand your laundry to the attendants and pick it up clean and folded. Drop-off and pick-up run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pricing isn't published on the page we could read, so call 831-609-4958 or ask at the counter for the current rate and turnaround.

While you wait

The Mat leans into the waiting time rather than pretending it doesn't exist. There are vending machines for detergent if you forgot yours, plus snacks and drinks, and music and TV to fill the cycle. The El Rey Leon taco truck has been known to post up on site, which turns a wash cycle into dinner; whether it's there on a given night is a truck's prerogative, so treat it as a bonus rather than a plan.

A laundromat downtown is also the practical answer to comforters, sleeping bags, storm-week power outages, and the week the dryer at home gives up.

Hours and where it is

The Mat is at 12890 Highway 9, Boulder Creek, a few doors from the center of downtown. Store hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; wash-and-fold drop-off and pick-up run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Phone 831-609-4958, and the business also answers on Facebook Messenger. Hours can shift, so confirm before a late-night run.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is The Mat?

12890 Highway 9, Boulder Creek, CA 95006, in downtown Boulder Creek. Phone 831-609-4958.

What are the hours?

The store is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Wash-and-fold drop-off and pick-up run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Confirm before you go, especially around holidays.

Do the machines take quarters?

Payment runs through an app on the new machines, so you don't need a pocket of quarters. Ask the attendants if you need help getting set up the first time.

Is there wash-and-fold service?

Yes. Attendants take drop-off laundry between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. and return it washed and folded. Call for current pricing and turnaround.

Can I wash big items like comforters?

Large items are what a laundromat's machines are for. Ask the attendants which washers fit oversized loads.