How does a laundromat work?

New in Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg or Karlsruhe and no washing machine in your flat? You are in good company: plenty of students, interns and new arrivals do their laundry this way. In Germany the laundromat is called a Waschsalon, and self-service ones are labelled SB (Selbstbedienung). Here is how it works at Wash&Go.

Where is the nearest laundromat?

Wash&Go runs seven laundromats: four in Stuttgart (Mitte, West, Ost and Bad Cannstatt), one in Ludwigsburg and two in Karlsruhe (Weststadt-Mitte and Oststadt). All of them open Monday to Saturday at 6 am. Bad Cannstatt and Ludwigsburg close at 10 pm, the other five at 11 pm. On Sundays and public holidays they are closed, as German law requires. The locations page sorts them by distance from you and shows which ones are open right now.

What should I bring?

• Your laundry, sorted: whites, colours, darks. Sorting at home saves time on site.
• Detergent, if you like: your own is welcome. Otherwise the terminal sells detergent (€0.70) and fabric softener (€0.40).
• Cash or a card: the terminal takes both, including contactless.
• A clean bag for the trip home.

Step by step: your first wash

1. Pick a machine. The 8 kg washer handles a normal week's laundry. Duvets, curtains and very big loads go into the 18 kg XXL machine.
2. Load it loosely and close the door. A drum stuffed to the top won't wash properly.
3. Add detergent: your own or one from the terminal.
4. Go to the payment terminal (the Kassenautomat), select your machine number and the programme.
5. Pay: €5.00 for 8 kg, €13.50 for 18 kg, by cash, card or discount card.
6. Press start on the machine. Paying alone doesn't start it. This is the step newcomers forget most.

How does the dryer work?

Same idea: load it, select the dryer number at the terminal and buy time. Drying costs €1.50 per 10 minutes. A normal load is usually dry after 20 to 40 minutes; if something is still damp, just add another 10 minutes. More in our guide to the XXL dryer.

Do I have to stay while it runs?

No. Grab a coffee, do some shopping, run an errand. Just be back when the machine finishes so the next person can use it. If you'd rather stay, there is free Wi-Fi. A full wash and dry takes roughly 55 to 75 minutes, see How long does laundry take?

Is it the same in Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg and Karlsruhe?

Yes. Prices, the payment terminal, machine sizes and the discount card are identical at all seven laundromats, so you can wash near your flat one week and near your office or university the next. Only the closing time differs (10 pm or 11 pm), and the phone number: 0721 47009966 for Karlsruhe, 0711 96893785 for Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg. WhatsApp works for all locations on 0711 96893785.

What will my first visit cost?

The discount card (Rabattkarte) comes out of the terminal for a €5 deposit. Full prices and top-up bonuses are on the prices page, more answers in our Q&A.