Aug. 27, 2025

Here’s a clear sign a community’s population is growing: Two Sioux Falls metro-area cities recently added laundromat services.

Founder Starla Jackson opened Laundry Evolved this summer to help relieve laundry-induced anxiety for busy households in Brandon.

She worked as a dental assistant in Sioux Falls for 13 years and was looking for a role that could keep her closer to home. When long hours kept her away, she found herself spending entire weekends preoccupied with laundry.

“I thought there must be a better way to do this,” Jackson said. “A lot of people in this area are traveling with sports and other activities. Even traveling with my kids and getting back from a vacation, sometimes laundry is the last thing I want to do.”

With that in mind, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Jackson had a plan laid out in March, and by April she had found a location and signed a lease. Laundry Evolved opened in June at 1302 E. Rushmore Drive.

Equipped with three residential washers and three dryers, Laundry Evolved offers washing, drying and folding services.

Customers can choose to drop off clothes or opt for pickup and delivery services.

Everyday laundry is priced at $1.95 per pound. For commercial clients, Jackson offers a 10 percent discount. She also offers comforter washing services, ranging from $25 for a king size, $20 for a queen and $15 for a twin. Blankets, curtains and pillows are each priced at $10. While she doesn’t take area rugs, she will wash smaller bathroom or kitchen-sized rugs.

An additional fee is added for deliveries: $5 for Brandon and $7 for Sioux Falls.

Jackson also noted that her services are fairly customizable in terms of detergents, skin sensitivities, drying requests and individual load instructions.

“Just give me a heads up,” she said.

For pickup and drop-off, hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A new laundry service in Tea also opened in June and takes a different approach.

The Laundry Co. is located at 1500 N. Main Ave.

Chandra Knowles and her husband, Andy, came up with the idea last summer.

“We knew that we hadn’t had a laundromat in years,” Knowles said. “We thought, why not? Why not try and see if it could be useful again in Tea?”

With an idea solidified, the pair began to look for a building that suited their needs. The space they decided on is near several apartment buildings, which they hoped might bring in some extra business. They also had to determine how many washers and dryers they would need for the space. Square footage in mind, they consulted a professional and landed on nine washers and 12 dryers.

Different from Laundry Evolved, The Laundry Co. relies on a self-serve model. The cheapest option starts at $6.25, with the largest machine at $8.25. Drying times are priced at $1.25 per 20 minutes. The machines also are able to wash comforters and larger rugs.

 “It runs itself right now,” Knowles said.

While most customers bring their own laundry supplies, The Laundry Co. offers a few soap options and dryer sheets just in case.

“People seem to be excited to have it in town,” Knowles said, adding that she hopes it serves as a reliable and convenient option for the community, even if people find themselves needing it only temporarily.

The Laundry Co. is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.