Laundry in Germany

Doing laundry is not a challenge for travellers in Germany. Self-service laundromats (look for 'SB-Waschsalon', ‘Waschcenter’, sometimes 'Wäscherei') can vary considerably in price. Where offered, a service wash usually demands a 24 or 48-hour turnaround.

The Eco-Express Waschsalon chain is a large network mostly in the west and south of Germany, but has laundromats in Berlin (more than a dozen), Hamburg and Cologne (more than 15 each), Munich (eight), Lübeck and Dresden (where prices per load are lower, four), Nuremberg (four) and more than a dozen other cities. Wash costs for a normal load of 6kg are usually €3.50-4.50 (in many locations cheaper 6.00-10.00), a large load €9-12, with a charge of €0.50-0.70 for wash powder. Drying for 15 minutes will cost €1.50 or more. Some laundries allow card payment. The website displays local prices from a pop-out map. Common opening times are 6.00-22.00.

The Schleudertraum laundromats have a network of more than 20 locations in Berlin. Prices are similar to above but the Schleudertraum app offers lower rates and the website has an English version. Customer cards are also available.

Branches of both networks offer free wi-fi access for customers.

In Munich or Augsburg, check out the small Waschomat chain, which offers low rates and is open late, but some are closed Sundays.

Occasionally establishments will offer drinks and snacks, but the standout is Berlin’s Freddy Leck sein Waschsalon, open daily 8.00-22.00 at Gotzkowskystraße 11 in Moabit in western Berlin. This is a favourite with expats and offers friendly multilingual service and assistance. No coins are required. A 6kg load costs €5.50 (16kg €12.80) and coffee, soft, coffee, soft drinks, cakes, other snacks and wi-fi are available. Fast service washes are a feature.

Costs in budget and mid-priced hotels – where laundering is offered – vary even more widely. In recent years it has been possible to have an unspecified load washed, dried (and returned in about 24 hours) for charges averaging €10-12, while other hotels will provide an itemised price list that works out much more expensively. Some pensions or guesthouses will provide access to a laundry free during stays of several days. Not all hostels offer washing facilities, though many DJH establishments do. This will be noted on the listing at the DJH website.