Washing on the Camino

[Daisychain96]

Hi I’m just wondering if there are any apps to let you know the whereabouts of the washer/Dryers laundry room on the Camino Frances ? We are starting from Burgos where we left of last year ! By the time to locate the public laundry rooms there is always a huge queue! Am I just unlucky in finding them or has people inside knowledge as to where they are located!! Thank you all in advance

 

[J Willhaus]

Hi I’m just wondering if there are any apps to let you know the whereabouts of the washer/Dryers laundry room on the Camino Frances ? We are starting from Burgos where we left of last year ! By the time to locate the public laundry rooms there is always a huge queue! Am I just unlucky in finding them or has people inside knowledge as to where they are located!! Thank you all in advance

I used Google Maps. Also check if your albergue has laundry facilities or if you are in private rooms/local hotels if they will do your laundry.

If you are using an App or Gronze.com to locate beds, there is usually always information about laundry availability. (Wise Pilgrim, Buen Camino apps)

 

[Daisychain96]

I used Google Maps. Also check if your albergue has laundry facilities or if you are in private rooms/local hotels if they will do your laundry.

If you are using an App or Gronze.com to locate beds, there is usually always information about laundry availability. (Wise Pilgrim, Buen Camino apps)

Thank you so much , will do all of the above

 

[Jarrad]

If you plan to wash by hand on days that you will not have access to a washer/dryer, you will be in great shape. Within a week, you will be a handwashing expert (I am convinced I can get my clothes much cleaner by handwashing, but for the sake of domestic tranquility and continued laundry services, I'd never tell my beloved and much appreciated Mrs. Jarrad that).

 

[Pilgrim9]

When searching for support services in e.g. Google Maps or OsmAnd or whatever, be sure to use a search string(s) that will capture the greatest number of useful hits.

Sometimes one must use multiple search strings.

For example, in the English version of a map of Spain, a laundromat might be listed as "laundromat" or "coin laundry" or "laundry service" or "launderette", so try searching for "laundr" or "laund" to capture all of those.

In the Castillian Spanish version of a map, a laundromat might be listed as "lavadero" or "cuarto de lavado" or "lavadora" or "lavadero" or "servicio de lavandería", so try searching for "lavad" or "lavand" or similar to achieve greatest capture of useful hits.

You might have to experiment a bit.

Also it helps to search maps from multiple providers, i.e. search Google Maps and also search OsmAnd and search Apple Maps and ... etc.

Users of OsmAnd should be aware that one can configure the map to show laundromats.
OsmAnd/Configure map/POI overlay/Laundry/

One can also configure the OsmAnd Quick Action menu to show the various support services that one will probably need as a foot pilgrim. I added Quick Action menu buttons for lodging places, restaurants, grocery stores, food, laundry, laundry service (laundry service seems to produce results different from laundry), museums, shoe repair, health care, postal service, and quite a few others. Using the Quick Action menu allows one to quickly make POIs of interest appear and then disappear them later to reduce on-screen clutter.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Launderettes are multiplying fast all over the Frances. Not a moment too soon!

 

[mochilaverde]

I hand-washed my socks, underwear and shirt daily, no need to find a washing machine. I did a load of all my clothing in a machine about once a week - and I usually found another solo person who was happy to share the machine with me.

 

[Kiwi-family]

When my kids would ask if we could use a washing machine instead of washing by hand I would give them permission - and the choice of how to spend our money. Washing machine or icecreams? The icecreams won every time.
Fast forward to this year when I walk on my own. My kids have an expectation that I should follow the tradition of always washing by hand! I was more than willing to humor them. And it was so cold I hardly ever had an icecream;-)

 

[Robo]

I hand-washed my socks, underwear and shirt daily, no need to find a washing machine. I did a load of all my clothing in a machine about once a week - and I usually found another solo person who was happy to share the machine with me.

Yep, same here.
Nice now and again to get a machine wash.

Hey, this is why rain pants and jacket work better than ponchos.
They double up as 'wash day' wear

And you can wash all your clothes at once!

Just a short laundry clip below...........

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

An advantage of learning a few words of Spanish...ask locals, "Donde esta la lavadora?" Where is the laundry? If there is one thing we as a Society must re-learn is how to build community and to start that we must re-learn how to communicate. The Camino is the perfect place to build those skils, even in a different language. It will help instill those essential habits.

I am all for technology but not when it isolates us from Society like it has so efficiently done in last years.

Buen Camino

 

[AidaYYC]

Hi I’m just wondering if there are any apps to let you know the whereabouts of the washer/Dryers laundry room on the Camino Frances ? We are starting from Burgos where we left of last year ! By the time to locate the public laundry rooms there is always a huge queue! Am I just unlucky in finding them or has people inside knowledge as to where they are located!! Thank you all in advance

Just search for Laundromats on Google and you will find them, failing that ask your hospitalero at the albergue they should know

 

[wynrich]

When searching for support services in e.g. Google Maps or OsmAnd or whatever, be sure to use a search string(s) that will capture the greatest number of useful hits.

Sometimes one must use multiple search strings.

For example, in the English version of a map of Spain, a laundromat might be listed as "laundromat" or "coin laundry" or "laundry service" or "launderette", so try searching for "laundr" or "laund" to capture all of those.

In the Castillian Spanish version of a map, a laundromat might be listed as "lavadero" or "cuarto de lavado" or "lavadora" or "lavadero" or "servicio de lavandería", so try searching for "lavad" or "lavand" or similar to achieve greatest capture of useful hits.

You might have to experiment a bit.

Also it helps to search maps from multiple providers, i.e. search Google Maps and also search OsmAnd and search Apple Maps and ... etc.

Users of OsmAnd should be aware that one can configure the map to show laundromats.
OsmAnd/Configure map/POI overlay/Laundry/

One can also configure the OsmAnd Quick Action menu to show the various support services that one will probably need as a foot pilgrim. I added Quick Action menu buttons for lodging places, restaurants, grocery stores, food, laundry, laundry service (laundry service seems to produce results different from laundry), museums, shoe repair, health care, postal service, and quite a few others. Using the Quick Action menu allows one to quickly make POIs of interest appear and then disappear them later to reduce on-screen clutter.

It's always good to search or ask for "self-service laundry" if you want to do the washing yourself (with machines, of course). "Autoservicio", I think is the word. Regular lavandarias will have people who do the washing for you. But, the ones who do the washing for you aren't always terribly expensive.

 

[Rita Flower]

Hi I’m just wondering if there are any apps to let you know the whereabouts of the washer/Dryers laundry room on the Camino Frances ? We are starting from Burgos where we left of last year ! By the time to locate the public laundry rooms there is always a huge queue! Am I just unlucky in finding them or has people inside knowledge as to where they are located!! Thank you all in advance

Not an answer to your question but maybe helpful.
This year I found so many albergues on CF had washing machines and dryers there was no need to find an actual laundromat. I mainly hand washed and did a big machine wash maybe once a week but could have done it more often using albergue facilities.

 

[Margaret Butterworth]

On all my Caminos I have never once used a laundrette. I usually just stomp on my underwear whilst taking a shower. In good weather, I wash a few more items by hand in the sink provided. (I always take some good hand cream with me).

 

[SabsP]

On all my Caminos I have never once used a laundrette. I usually just stomp on my underwear whilst taking a shower. In good weather, I wash a few more items by hand in the sink provided. (I always take some good hand cream with me).

I personally never use this method of stomping clothes in the water while showering. In albergues hot water is in short supply so I shower as quickly as possible. Then I wash my clothes in cold water in those typical sinks.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

(I am convinced I can get my clothes much cleaner by handwashing, but for the sake of domestic tranquility and continued laundry services, I'd never tell my beloved and much appreciated Mrs. Jarrad that).

Maybe, but you haven't tried washing bedsheets by hand yet, I warrant!

 

[AidaYYC]

I personally never use this method of stomping clothes in the water while showering. In albergues hot water is in short supply so I shower as quickly as possible. Then I wash my clothes in cold water in those typical sinks.

I used to do it in the shower but then realized some of the floors there were not as clean as I had hoped. I handwash outside and about once a week I would use the available washer or go to a laundromat to give my clothes a proper wash.

 

[Tincatinker]

This modern obsession with washing just doesn’t sit right. Medieval Pilgrims didn’t, why should we?

 

[WalkinRon]

This modern obsession with washing just doesn’t sit right. Medieval Pilgrims didn’t, why should we?

And just like that you've solved the problem of toilet paper along the Camino!

 

[Tincatinker]

And just like that you've solved the problem of toilet paper along the Camino!

@henrythedog and I solved that one in another thread: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...for-october-frances-please.89066/post-1296262

 

[David Tallan]

This modern obsession with washing just doesn’t sit right. Medieval Pilgrims didn’t, why should we?

I'm not so sure medieval pilgrims didn't.

 

[bullingtonce]

Hi I’m just wondering if there are any apps to let you know the whereabouts of the washer/Dryers laundry room on the Camino Frances ? We are starting from Burgos where we left of last year ! By the time to locate the public laundry rooms there is always a huge queue! Am I just unlucky in finding them or has people inside knowledge as to where they are located!! Thank you all in advance

My suggestion . . . live with it.
There was a time when apps did not exist, whether for washers/dryers or for lodging and, somehow, someway, the people at the time were able to complete their Camino, most of them. Convenience is nice; technology is nice, but part of the Camino experience, to some degree, is to minimize convenience, minimize technology, increase spiritual awareness. The mind can be cluttered up so much that there is no or minimal spiritual awareness. Convenience and technology comes at a price and for some people much too high of a price. Chuck

 

[Opiemoore]

Hi I’m just wondering if there are any apps to let you know the whereabouts of the washer/Dryers laundry room on the Camino Frances ? We are starting from Burgos where we left of last year ! By the time to locate the public laundry rooms there is always a huge queue! Am I just unlucky in finding them or has people inside knowledge as to where they are located!! Thank you all in advance

I was able to do google searches in larger cities for laundry (Bilbao, Leon, Burgos, etc), and most had multiple options- different locations and/or brands. The self-service laundries that I found ALL have washing machines that automatically add soap to the wash, do you don’t need to carry your own. Many of the lodgings I stayed in had laundry service, also, so it all worked out.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Hi I’m just wondering if there are any apps to let you know the whereabouts of the washer/Dryers laundry room on the Camino Frances ?

I used Google Maps.

Almost five years ago now on the Camino Catalan I did this. In Google Maps I entered "laundry (laundromat?) near me" and up popped the spot ... in the Philippines! It was named Laundry Near Me. Clever advertising. It looks like Google has fixed this but you might see a list of identically named places around the world instead.

 

[wynrich]

Almost five years ago now on the Camino Catalan I did this. In Google Maps I entered "laundry (laundromat?) near me" and up popped the spot ... in the Philippines! It was named Laundry Near Me. Clever advertising. It looks like Google has fixed this but you might see a list of identically named places around the world instead.

Now that cannabis is legal in our state, we've noticed more than one town that has a dispensary named "Dispensary Near Me". One very near our house!

 

[Richard Smith]

Now that cannabis is legal in our state, we've noticed more than one town that has a dispensary named "Dispensary Near Me". One very near our house!

A bit like calling your cafe - Cafe Open

 

[Margaret Butterworth]

I'm not so sure medieval pilgrims didn't.

But... what was the Botofumeiro for?

 

[David Tallan]

But... what was the Botofumeiro for?

Hmm. Maybe the same purpose it serves today.

It reminds me of the old myth that in medieval times spices were used to cover the taste of rotten meat, conveniently ignoring the facts that:
- spices were super expensive and anyone who could afford them could easily afford fresh meat
- covering the taste of rotten meat, even were it possible to do so, wouldn't cover the effects on the digestive system, and anyone who served rotten meat to someone who could afford the spices was not likely to remain employed for long.