My friends and I will be travelling for 17 days. We do not want to bring too much clothes. I was hoping if any of you have any information in regards to laundry facilities in Venice, Positano, Capri and Tropea. I emailed our hotels and they provide laundry but they charge per piece. They tend to cost a lot of money. Thank you in advance.

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/instructions/laundry.htm

We tried to find laundry in Venice, but according to the hotel, the nearest facility was a 20 minute walk away. We ended up having a few things laundered by the hotel and did the rest when we got to our next destination. Do you know where you are staying in Venice? We were near the Zattare stop, closest laundry was north of Campo Santa Margarita.

We found a self service laundry in the Cannaregio section of Venice. It was fairly inexpensive $3.00 for washing/drying a load of clothes. However, since our apartment provided a clothes line we used it a lot because the laundry is never open when you want to use it.

In Florence, we dropped off clothes at a laundry who washed/dried them but no ironing so everything was clean but wrinkle as hell.It was expensive too. Our hotel would have provided this same service and the cost would have been twice what we paid. I gave away a pair of jeans that were to heavy to wear and too expensive to clean and
took up too much space in my bag.

In Rome, our apartment had a washer but no dryer.We dried and iron a lot.
We found the portable travelling iron and the Italian power adaptors we brought with us was a smart thing to do. My wife also packed some individual packets of concentrated detergent and bleach.

Next trip, we'll pack only washable wrinkle free type clothes,twice the underwear,no fancy sport coats or dresses that you actually never get the chance to wear,one pair of comfortable shoes, no sneakers or flip flops or high heels.

I would pack one 22 inch bag on wheels to about 80% capacity and I would pack more ibuprofen. Everything else I would do without or buy in Italy

I don't have specific addresses for those cities, but as a general tip I use the hotel shampoo and wash out in the sink a couple underwear and t-shirt every few days.

Look for drop-off services (more common than coin-op self-serve) and cheaper than a hotel if and when you need to do socks or jeans).

Also don't be afraid to wear a piece of clothing longer than you might at home. No one knows if your pants were washed 2 or 10 days ago!

I would suggest doing your own laundry at a facility if you can. I left my clothes to be laundered (not at the hotel, at a private laundrymat service) and they came back smelling as if they had washed them in dirty water along with someone's work clothes. I threw them away, they smelled so bad I didn't want to stink up the rest of my clothes in the suitcase. The funny thing was they were packaged so nicely with ribbon and tissue and then when I opened the bag, phew.

SeaUrchin~ what a funny story!! (well maybe not at the time) See you just supported my theory for wearing your own dirty clothes (which definitely sounds like they would have smelled better BEFORE they went to the laundry service).

SeaUrchin, I have had the same experience with some dresses. I took them to a cleaners. When I picked them up they were wrapped in beautiful papers and brillant ribbons. I rather cringed because I expected them to be on hangers.
When I opened this wonderful "present" the dresses had an awful smell. I can't really say they smelled like dirty clothes but more like really strong chemicals. And they were all creased from being wrapped in the paper.
And very expensive to have cleaned, although I don't remember the price (think I prayed to forget the price).
These were dresses that were marked "dry clean only" so that is why I had them cleaned.
A dear friend said "oh for heaven sakes give them to me". Two days later she gave them back to me. She had washed them, hung them up to dry and ironed them for me. They were perfect.
I was so embarressed that she did all that work for me but she of course insisted "it was nothing".
It sure was to me!
Since that experience I either was clothes in the sink and hang them up to dripdry or wear them longer than I would at home. Although must confess I have had friends wash and iron a few things for me. Not everyone has that advantage of course.

Wjhen traveling in France I was able to find laundromats by looking in the Yellow Pages on the Internet, thus knowing ahead of time where they existed. You might be able to do the same thing for Italy.

So, loveitaly and suze, I am not the only one! It is sort of disgusting to think of the state my clothes were in - after being washed! They were actually stiff, yuck.

I went to a laundromat in Rome one time and it was fun believe it or not. Some of the women there helped me with the machines and although we didn't speak the same language we bonded in the age-old ritual of clothes washing!

SeaUrchin, no it wasn't just you.
And having women in Rome help you in the laundromat was fun I am sure. An adventure.
My daughter in law's mother was from a very tiny village between Lucca and Florence. St. "something or other" obviously I don't remember the name.
SeaUrchin, you will appreciate this story. About 4 years ago 6 of them (daughter in law, son, their 3 sons and one sons girlfriend) traveled from Oregon to London for about 5 days, than South of France to visit some friends, than Turino, Milano and than her Mom's small village where great aunts, seconc cousins etc. lived. They were going to stay there in the little village for a week or so. My daughter in law planned on doing the laundry for all six members while they were there as after they left the village they were going to Florence, Rome, the Vatican and than on train back north to Paris and than London and fly home to Oregon.
Well, she did the laundry all right. But guess how?
Outside, in a big tub, washing the clothes on a washboard!! When she was shown the washing accomodations (keep in mind, clothes for six people) I guess she almost passed out. But some or rather many of the female relatives took her outside to the tub/washboard and started teaching her how to wash/scrub the clothes. One of her sons took photos. Too funny! I died laughing when I saw the pictures. Can you imagine? But she said they did come very clean and in the rinse water there was some lavender (or lavender oil) not sure which. And than hung on the clotheslines to dry in the beautiful Italian sun. And than of course the ironing. Think she lost two days of her vacation time with the laundry but she said in a way it was a very special time.

Yes, I do love that story, loveitaly! It sounds like something that would happen to me!

In my laundromat I was impressed watching the women press the clothes smooth with their hands, a real skill. I felt so bumbly next to them. What I really loved though was how they were uncomplaining and took the time to do an excellent job with their laundry. Over the years I have thought of them and how we can really enjoy simple things and simple chores if we have the right attitude.

I love your stories, loveitaly

I really enjoyed your laundry stories. I wonder if there are still any places in Italy where rocks, rivers, and scrubboards are still used? I wonder if washing machines have yet come to the village LoveItaly mentioned.

In Venice, I plan to visit this laundry, which apparently has an Internet cafe next door:

Speedy Wash and Planet Internet
Rio terrà S. Leonardo, Cannaregio
Open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

WillTravel, yes washing machines have come to this very little village but evidenlty my daughter-in-laws family are elderly. They like doing things the way they have always done them. And electrical cost are high so they also prefer to wash clothes in the big tub with the washboard to avoid paying for what they consider nonnecessary electrical cost. Believe me, my family was in a state of shock but it actually turned out to be a fun adventure and something they still talk about.
In the 1970's family of friends in a tiny village in southern Italy also did their laundry that way. I was soooo glad I didn't have clothes that needed washing. LOL.
We were their again in the mid 1980's and I couldn't believe it. Their kids (about 30 years old) had so much electronical stuff I was in shock. They even had a very modern curved sofa that had a built in remote control for the TV in one the arms of the sofa. They were so proud of this. Especially when they discovered we had never seen anything like that. And still haven't again to this day.
Most of my friends in Italy do not have a clothes dryer. They hang everything on the line and than have tons of ironing to do. Many have a hired woman to come in once a week to do the ironing. And this is in northeast Italy which is a very high income area compared to some parts of Italy.
That always amazes me too.

Make friends with an Italian man and maybe he can get his mother to do your laundry. Just thinking about a story I saw a couple of years ago on 20/20, or Dateline or one of those..they're all alike. They were doing a story on the young men in Italy and how many of them in their 30's and 40's are still living at home with their parents, being waited on hand and foot by their mothers. One of the guys even owned a house but rented it out and lived at home. There was another guy who lived in Milan, by himself..interesting..but the part that cracked me up is that every two weeks he sent his laundry to his mother on the bus!!!! She lived in another city..don't remember where. She would wash, iron, and send it all back to him tied up in neat bundles. So, anyway, that's my best advice.

crefloors, I am cracking up laughing because it is only too true. And I saw the same program (wasn't it on 60 minutes?).
And let me tell you, bachelors in their late 30's often have a small apartment in the city they work in, often shared with other fellows. But the laundry.
Oh yes, trust me on this one. Laundry goes home to mama. Wash, hang on the line and ironed. I kid you not.
Italian son's are revered, even though Italian mama's complain and complain.
But if the laundry was not brought home the mama would have a fit and a half.
They would be really really insulted.

But the next generation of young men are not going to have it so easy. The young wife in Italy today works, has a career. Not domesticated. In fact Italy has one of the lowest birth rates in the world.

So think the bambino of today and better learn by the time he is ready for University or the work place how to take care of his own clothes.

If not, the future "well dressed" young Italian man may not appear so "well dressed".

LoveItaly...we need to get over there and corner the market on that spray stuff that takes out wrinkles...that way we could live in Italy, make money, and keep the young guys spiffy!!!!!

Hey crefloors, you have a thought going there! How about a laundromat called Mamma. The young Italian machos could hand deliver their clothes, have their girlfriends bring them in or have the laundry arrive by bus, taxi, train or whatever works for them to our laundromats. We could hire all the illegal immigrants that are flooding Italy do to the work.
We could sit at outside cafes enjoying espresso, wine etc. and discuss what next city or town (maybe even some villages in due time) we would conquer next. My goodness, this is doable!
Just to let you know, I could use this service too. My laundry is so piled up. But who cares. Working on business plans that would allow one to be in Italy constantly, give the mothers a break, the poor dears, and keep the young Italian Stallions looking smart and sharp - why I think the Italian government would give us some kind of a medal eventually, don't you?

LoveItaly...lets call it Yo! Mamma! No, wait...better.." NOT Yo Mamma!" I'm exhausted...can't you tell..I'm going to bed. I saw some of the other posts and it's already tomorrow and I haven't even been to bed yet..well, what ever..I sure hope after all this that italy2005 can get her (his?) laundry done. I have to admit, I haven't been much help.

There are no self service laundries in Capri or Positano. However, there is a "lavanderia" in Capri where you can drop off clothes and get them the next day. They are located in "old town" Capri, but you must climb to the top of the buildings to the right of the Piazetta. Ask a local.
In Positano we use a lady that will come to your hotel, pick up your clothes and return them cleaned and pressed the next day. Both services are pricey, but worth it.

www.capriexcursions.com