Away With The Steiners

How To Do Your Laundry While Traveling In India.

Sarah Steiner

Laundry. We all have it. We all need it.  But after locking in that dream trip to India and being hit by the first wave of excitement; I bet the thought of how to do laundry in India never crossed your mind until now.    

India is somewhere that needs to be fully experienced. In all its glory (laundry included).

There’s a quote from the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel that sums it up:

So trust me.  You are going to be alright.  

India is an adventure.  Right down to this blog (that you never knew you needed before) about how to do your laundry in India. 

So, are there laundromats in India?

Yes. But not in the traditional sense as you may be expecting.

Albeit there will be laundromats in the built-up and modern expat areas of India’s’ megacities.

But as a traveller in India there aren’t readily available laundromats as you might find at home.  

Instead, there ARE traditional laundries. (And they are seriously impressive to visit and see in action).

Like this centuries old Dhobi Khana; a traditional community laundry space in Kochi…

Having a go ironing and how to do your laundry in India.
A community laundry in Kochi.

But that doesn’t actually help you as a traveller does it? 

So, while there aren’t obvious coin-operated and digital laundromats as we know it from our home countries. There is a great way of handling your laundry in India as a traveler… 


And relax; and get that packing list back out.  Because just as promised; even doing your laundry in India can be an experience. 

The answer(s) to your laundry-in-India woes

So now, the answer to your question of how to do your laundry while traveling in India is simple.  And your friendly guesthouse holds the answer.  

There are two main types of washing services available in India (that aren’t laundromats).   

Guesthouses and accommodation offer laundry services that are priced in two simple options: 

Basically, your accommodation will service your laundry for you (either off-site or on) and will wash and return it to you either that evening or the next day.  

How long does a laundry service take in India?

As above, it depends entirely on your location and whether the accommodation is servicing the laundry on-site or off.

And of course, it also depends on the weather (you can expect to see your laundry hanging off the rooftop balcony rails and drying and likely not in a tumble dryer somewhere). If you are staying up in the mountains this will be a different story.

But in general, if you give your laundry to a guesthouse in the morning it will be returned that evening or certainly the next day.  

How much does it cost to do your laundry in India? 

You never quite know what is going to happen in India daily, let alone with laundry.  So, you never know which option is going to be available at a guesthouse you’re staying…

But more often than not, laundry in India is charged by the item (more so than by kilogram). 

If laundry services (to wash, dry and return) are charged per item in India at smaller guesthouses and homestays in the towns and villages it costs: 

In India’s larger cities, hotel chains or bigger hotels may charge individually per item. 

For example: 

And sometimes it can be even more(!).  But don’t panic if these city-based prices seem high.  Prices for laundry in India vary greatly by accommodation.  

And even with a bag of unwashed clothes, remember that this is India.  And remember; “You will be alright.” 

So read on my friend.  Because even if a laundry service isn’t on hand, there are options to make your travel-life in India easier.  

Laundry hanging out to dry somewhere in Jodphur (or it could be Jaipur).

Think about the clothes you are packing for India.

There is a rhyme and reason behind why travel clothes are designed the way they are.  (And yes Mum; that travel-shirt you kept recommending does have its pros!).  

Purposely designed travel clothes are made of light material that not only needs washing less, but they also dry extremely fast when washed. 

Now, don’t run out and buy a whole new wardrobe of travel clothes you might only wear once. But it is wise to pack thoughtfully when you are coordinating your packing list of clothes for India.

Heavy materials like jeans, sweatshirts or hoodies and canvas shoes aren’t easy to wash and dry when you have a tight turnaround in time and certainly when there isn’t a laundromat in sight.

Instead, we recommend considering what you are packing for India.

Lighter materials generally dry much faster. Meaning that they are easy to handwash (I’m going to tell you all about that below) and will be dry and ready to go again.

Something to consider. 

Bring or buy washing powder to do your laundry in India.  

We have been handwashing for four years.  

Yup.  

Traveling fulltime as a family and handwashing for four years.  

We recently travelled down into Morocco and were two months into exploring the country when someone told us there was a coin laundromat in walking distance to the campsite we were staying. Of course, we ran opted for the laundromat. (Who honestly wouldn’t?).

But the rest of the time as we travel, we generally handwash our clothes. And certainly, we handwash our smalls and anything urgent in between finding a laundry service as we go.

We always carry (and recommend you do) a small jar of washing powder. It is easy to find and cheap to buy a small bag of laundry powder to do your travel laundry in India. (Or you may be superbly organized and carry a bar or eco-washing soap).

But either way washing powder is cheap and readily available (people do wash their clothes all over India after all!).

You can find laundry powder in the small kiosks and convenience stores in the large cities and smaller towns and villages.   

We carry laundry powder in a small jar in our check-in backpack.

Let’s talk about handwashing. What’s the bathroom setup like in India? 

Most traveller accommodation in India is basic. But if it does have a sink and a toilet in your room then you are in luck.

The sink should be perfect for handwashing. And certainly, at least for handwashing your smalls.

Plus, you can join the long-term travel trend of hanging those smalls up to dry inside your room (it’s only you that’s going to see them, after all) to the décor of what most would describe as a Chinese laundry…

But hey; it’s now your travel solution and Indian-laundry!

And you can pat yourself on the back and feel well done being sustainable and practical as a traveller in India.

As far as what you need to do handwashing in India, all you really need is washing powder and a bucket or sink. 

You can bring a (light) travel clothesline with pegs in it and/or you can bring a universal sink plug (which is handy as not all bathroom sinks have a plug).  

But the truth is you can make do with whatever you have at hand.  

And as the saying goes; everything is possible in India! 

Fill up the sink or bucket with water; add some washing powder and give your clothes a wash.  Drain the water and refill as needed until all the soap is removed and the clothes are rinsed.  

And don’t be shy to ask your guesthouse or hotel if it’s not obvious where you can hang your laundry out to dry.  (But as a helpful hint; be sure to investigate this first before submerging your bag of laundry!). 

Good luck and happy laundering!

Enjoy India and whatever you do, don’t worry about doing your laundry in India.

Everything is possible in India.

Where we stayed in India

Inside our room at Wanderlust Guesthouse in Jaisalmer. 

More useful links for your India travel-planning… 

These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

Read more about packing for travel in India

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