Staying at a place without una lavandería interna no es ideal. Pero often it can be more affordable! Plus, I’ve always found that sitting en una lavandería —en Medellín or in other cities — doing some work on my computer is un poco comforting. Maybe I’m la única? Regardless, if you’re looking for a laundromat in Medellín, this is the post para ti.
Lavanderías in Hostales y Hoteles
If you don’t mind the higher cost, it’s really convenient to send tu ropa sucia to the hotel or hostel to take care of. It’s usually as easy as putting it in a bolsa and giving it to the hotel to wash and give back to you caliente y lavado.
However, it’s not all rosas and there are some downsides to using your accommodation’s laundry service, so let’s see both sides of hotel laundry.
Pros & Cons of using hotel laundry service:
Pros:
- Convenience! Not having to salir del hotel to go searching for una lavandería en Medellín is huge. And while your accommodation does the laundry, you do whatever you want.
Cons:
- Cost. Hotel laundry service anywhere is always much more expensive than just doing it tu mismo, so if cost is on your mind, mejor DIY en una lavandería.
- Privacy. There’s a reason why la frase “airing your dirty laundry” existe. It’s un poco raro having other people —strangers— wash your underwear.
- Potential damage or loss. There is siempre a small chance of losing or damaging your clothes cuando you leave them in the hands of others.
- Wait Times. I speak from experience when I say if you need your clothes urgentemente, don’t give it to a hotel no matter how much they tell you they’ll have it ready a tiempo.
Okay, so maybe we’re un poquito anti-hotel laundry but that doesn’t mean you have to be! If you prioritize convenience, go hotel all the way.
How to avoid issues with the hotel laundry
Para avoid issues with your clothes try following estos tips:
- Check the policies.
Hotels normalmente give you some idea of cómo es the process of washing with them. From turnaround to special instructions, entender their rules will give you expectativas claras.
- Separate clothes.
Si necesitas, just ask for more bags and separa tu ropa by color, delicates, etc. This will make it más fácil for your hotel to know what you need.
- Double check pockets.
Not only will you probablemente lose any cash that goes in those laundry bags, también necesitas double check for credit cards, documents, y otras cosas that you might need. Laundromats have a lot going through las puertas of those machines and can’t differentiate what is whose.
- Offer instructions.
Este step solo works in some countries and I have to say, as a Colombian, I wouldn’t expect this to be heard. Lavanderías are bulk-services, not specialty so instructions might go in one oreja and out the other.
- Inspect items upon return.
If you see that there is damage or a missing item, el mejor memento para realize it es when you receive the items. Make sure you know how many items you gave the hotel and how many you got back and in what state.
- Provide feedback.
Again, in Colombia this might not always be heard or even lead to someone taking responsibility (it’s a cultural thing) pero in the tourist industry there usualmente is more awareness about when to apologize and make amends, so mention it to the hotel if there is un problema con tu laundry.
Self-Service Laundromats / Lavanderías de Autoservicio
Years ago, you wouldn’t have been able to find a single self-service laundromat in Medellin — at least to my knowledge. There was no demand for it because washing machines are a staple part of any home, hotel, or hostel in the city — even if they don’t come with your apartamento or home when you buy/rent it.
Now, it makes sense for travelers who want to wash their own clothes, are afraid of losing an item or it getting damaged by the hotel laundry service. So, where can you go?
Lavanderías en Laureles and Floresta
For those en en Laureles, here are los mejores places pa' lavar la ropa with opciones for every taste, those that want the clothes washed for them, those that want to stay and trabajar while they wait, and beyond.
Happy Laundry
Happy Laundry is located in Laureles en el Segundo Parque. Types of services that you will encontrar here include:
- Lavandería autoservicio
- drop-off and pick-up service
- Laundry delivery
Address: Avenida 74B, Segundo Parque de Laureles # 39-23
Phone: 305 4512940
Prices:
- 4 kg 23,000 Express Wash
- 9 kg 28,000 Express Wash
Green Laundry Medellín
Green Laundry Medellin es un laundromat en Medellín with a great reputation. Usuarios of this lavandería report giving special instructions, being in a rush to get their ropa back, and being really satisfied with the quality of wash in every case.
Types of services:
- Laundry
- Special Instructions
- 90-min wash, dry, fold
- Inquire por WhatsApp para más information
Address: Circular 4 #71 - 20
Phone: 314 7956044; 322 6835941
Prices:
- 9 kg 20,000
Laundry Cafe
Laundry Café es uno de los places that I would prefer as a tourist porque you can go hangout inside, have a coffee — not the best quality pero, ya tu sabes — and work or read mientras you wait. They have a location en Laureles and another in nearby Floresta.
Types of services:
- Pick up / Delivery:
- Self- Service
- Drop-off
Address: Laureles Av. Nutibara #70-57 | Floresta Cl. 46 # 81 – 18
Phone: Laureles 305 – 7698391 | Floresta 315 – 5262799
Prices:
- Pick up/ Delivery: 70,000 for todo en one load or 90,000 for separate loads
- Self-Service Wash and Dry : 26,000 for 20 lbs in Floresta and Laureles, or 36,000 for 30 lbs
- Drop-off: 35,000 for 20 lbs in Laureles and Floresta or 45,000 for 30 lbs in Laureles
Lavanderías en El Poblado & Manila
Las opciones en El Poblado are always going to be more varied, although generalmente más pricy. Pero there’s enough variety que hay something pa' every budget. From pricy areas como Provenza to more backpacker-friendly areas like Manila, tu puedes encontrar un laundromat en Medellin para ti.
Todo Limpio Lavandería
Todo Limpio, unlike los otros servicios, is a larger laundromat that ofrece a variety of servicios.
Services:
- Uniform cleaning - para nurses, kitchen employees, etc.
- Personal washing and ironing
- Dry cleaning and steam cleaning
- Industrial cleaning by kilo for hotels and other businesses
Prices:
- Precios aren’t public but you can contactarlos for a quote.
Address: Cra 41 A 10-9 Poblado
Phone: (057) (4) 444 4486 | Cel 316 521 11 62
Lavandería Nodo | La Poceta
This laundromat is located at Nodo hostel pero está open to el público. Es uno de los únicos that offers a per/kilo servicio.
Services and prices:
- 8,000 COP/ kilo wash & dry
- Luggage storage (ask for pricing and availability)
Address: Cra. 43E #11 - 28
Phone: WhatsApp +57 305 3362294
Laundry 24/7 Manila
Laundry 24/7 Manila is, como el nombre, a 24-hour laundromat. Lavanderia 24 horas, servicios de lavado, secado y doblado también lavamos tenis y gorras contamos con servicios a domicilio. Venta de licores, cervezas y bebidas hidratantes. Buscanos en Instagram como @laundrymedellin
Services and prices:
- Wash & Dry
- Folding
- Sneaker washing
- Hat ashing
- Delivery
- Liquor and drink sales
Prices:
- Wash, Dry & Fold - 12,000 COP / kilo
- Stain removal - 10,000 COP per item
- Hat/cap wash 15,000 COPper item
- Ironing - 6,000 COP per item
- Shoe cleaning - 35,000 COP per pair
- Delivery - 10,000 COP
- Luggage storage (ask for pricing and availability)
Address: calle 13 # 43d - 70
Espuma Laundry Provenza
Espuma laundry actually tiene dos locations, una en Envigado y una en Provenza. They also offer bebidas like café to drink while you wait.
Services and prices:
- 1-7 kg wash and dry 23,000 COP
- 7-9 kg wash and dry 28,000 COP
- Small load wash, dry, and fold 28,000 COP
- Large load wash, dry, and fold 33,000 COP
- Wash and dry Towels, sheets or denim 1-5 kg - 23,000
- Comforter/ blanket wash and dry 25,000
- SImple Ironing 7,000 per piece
- Special Ironing 12,000 per piece
Address: Calle 8 #34-23
Phone: 320 3086449
Stinky’s Laundry Provenza
Stinky’s Landry is a really commonly mentioned lavandería en Medellin, pero unfortunately es uno con very little information online. Their website doesn’t work and their phone is disconnected so, si quieres do your laundry there, you may have to just show up and ask.
Address: Cra. 37 #10-19 interior 101
Buy Secondhand Clothes Para tu Medellin Trip
So ahora you’re ready to keep your clothes fresh and enjoy this marvelous city. We've explored various laundromat options in Medellin, ranging from hostel and hotel services to self-service laundromats and innovadores Laundry Cafés. We've also highlighted the top choices in the areas of Laureles, El Poblado, Manila, and Provenza.
Con these options at your disposal, no necesitas worry about the cleanliness of your clothes while exploring the city.
Feel like completing tu wardrobe while you’re in the city? Shop secondhand and find cheap summer clothes in Medellin por un great price. Así, you might even be able to hold off on the laundromat for a few more days!
Explora la full list of thrift stores and second hand in Medellin or explora nuestro shop here.
