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 if 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 thise 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.