How long does laundry take at a laundromat?

The machines run the same at all seven laundromats. What differs is closing time, and that's what catches people out: arrive too late and you carry wet laundry home. So here's both, the cycle times and a schedule for your nearest location.

How long is a wash cycle?

About 35 minutes, much shorter than many home machine programmes. The remaining time is shown on the machine, so you know exactly when to be back.

How long does drying take?

Usually 20 to 40 minutes for a normal load. T-shirts and shirts are at the quick end, towels, jeans and jumpers at the slow end. Duvets and thick blankets take a lot longer. You buy dryer time in 10-minute blocks (€1.50 each) and simply add more if needed.

Total time at a glance

Add a few minutes for loading, paying and folding. Your first visit takes a little longer while you figure out the payment terminal; after that it's routine, because it works the same everywhere.

What's the latest I can start in the evening?

A simple rule: start a normal load about 90 minutes before closing. That gives:

For duvets, start earlier still.

What about Sundays?

All Wash&Go laundromats are closed on Sundays and public holidays in Baden-Württemberg, which is the law here, not a choice. If Saturday is your laundry day, remember the doors open at 6 am. Early birds can also start a load before work or lectures on weekdays and be done by around 7:30.

How can I finish faster?

• Sort at home so you only load and start on site.
• Wash in parallel: two 8 kg machines at once beat one after the other.
• Don't overload the dryer: loose laundry dries faster than a tangled lump.
• Split heavy and light: towels in one dryer, shirts in another, and take the light stuff out early.

You don't need to wait inside: go for a coffee or do your shopping, then collect your laundry as soon as it's done. Step-by-step instructions are in How a laundromat works, costs on the prices page, and more answers in our Q&A.