LaKyria Snorden was hypnotized by the slow whirring of swishing water, bubbling soap suds and spinning clothes.
The 1-year-old gazed into the washing machine, patting its gleaming window with her tiny hand as her mother, Quiana, finished loading a bundle of dark-colored clothes into the double-load washer nearby.
After the machine began its first swirls, the Okemos resident tugged her daughter away, balancing a small laundry basket on her hip as the pair headed out the doors of Point Laundry, 2800 E. Grand River Ave., on Tuesday afternoon.
"This is my first time coming here," Snorden said. "I usually go closer to my house. I just saw it here - it looked pretty high-tech."
Snorden is one of many who have passed through Point Laundry, a Laundromat that also offers dry-cleaning services. The Laundromat, which opened in August, has experienced brisk business but continually is "creeping up," said owner and MSU alumnus Nick Tesseris.
"There has been a lot of word of mouth," he said.
Tesseris, a 1997 graduate, began plotting for a student-centered business while working at a toy manufacturer in Chicago.
"I always thought about Laundromats," he said. "I felt there was a need here, and no one had filled it. I jumped at the opportunity to do it."
The laundry spot houses 10 triple-load, 20 double-load and four jumbo-load washing machines, as well as 32 dryers.
"They're state-of-the-art," he said. "I wanted a place where people weren't in each other's way."
Point Laundry uses a debit system in which customers pay $1.50 to receive a key to use at each visit. Patrons can choose the cash amount they want on the key.
Point Laundry also offers a service in which customers can drop off their laundry and have it washed, dried and folded within hours for $1.05 per pound. This service has steadily grown and attracted customers, Tesseris said.
The Laundromat also offers free high-speed Internet access and an ATM, as well as study tables and a DVD player for use during long waits.
"It's convenient and fast," Lansing resident and regular customer Julianne Lemon said as she folded clothes. "It's very cool - I love this Laundromat."
According to the Coin Laundry Association, there are more than 2,700 coin laundry owners in the United States.
Still, Jessica Blake said there aren't enough washing options in the area. The 2003 graduate heads to Laundry & Dry Cleaning Village, 123 N. Hagadorn Road, to wash clothes.
"My apartment complex has really crappy washers," she said. "I try to go somewhere that won't screw up my clothes."
Merchandising management Professor Linda Good said Laundromats and dry-cleaning services in college towns thrive based on their specific customer base.
"They are a real niche business," she said. "I haven't noticed many go out of business."
