The guy at the hostel reception who saved me $80 on laundry

I was in Lisbon about to pay 12 euros for a wash and fold at some sketchy shop near the hostel. The receptionist just pointed at a sink in the basement and said, "Hand wash it, hang it on the balcony, it will be dry in an hour." Has anyone else gotten a random money saving tip from a stranger that worked better than the expensive option they were about to pay for?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jana1mo ago

Did you always think paid laundry was just easier? I used to, now I see it differently.

paige3311mo ago

Haha, you said "easier" and honestly that's where I have to push back a little. For me, paid laundry was the opposite of easier. I had to haul all my stuff to a sketchy laundromat at weird hours, fight over machines, and then sit there for an hour and a half watching my clothes tumble. Doing it at home means I can throw a load in while I'm doing literally anything else. Sure, it's a chore, but it's way less of a production than the whole laundromat circus ever was.

ellioth371mo ago

Hand washing in a sink is the real deal, seriously. I was in a hostel in Barcelona once and the receptionist showed me this trick with a dry bag and some soap where you just shake everything around for a few minutes. Saved me from paying 15 euros at a place that probably would have shrunk my favorite hoodie anyway. The trick is to wring it out in a towel first before hanging it, then it really is dry in like an hour if there's any breeze. Now I travel with a tiny bottle of travel detergent, just in case.