Doing Laundry in Dublin: What Every Student Needs to Know

Keeping Your Clothes Clean Without the Stress

Laundry is one of those things nobody thinks to explain before you leave home — and then you arrive in Dublin and realise you have no idea where the nearest launderette is, how much it costs, or how the machine in your host family's house works. This guide covers everything.

Option 1: The Washing Machine in Your Accommodation

If you're staying with a host family, in a student residence, or in a shared house, there's almost certainly a washing machine available. Using it is nearly always free — your only cost is the detergent.

• Host families: Always ask when it's okay to use the machine. Most families have a preferred day or time. Don't just run a wash without checking — it's considered polite to ask first.
• Temperature settings: 30°C is the default for most everyday clothes. It's cheaper, gentler on fabric, and perfectly effective. Use 40°C or 60°C for bedding, towels, or particularly dirty items. Always check the care label.
• Detergent: The most common brands in Ireland are Ariel, Persil, and Bold. For the best value, buy Lidl's own-brand W5 or Aldi's equivalent — they clean just as well and cost a fraction of the price.
• Shared house etiquette: Never move someone else's clothes from a machine mid-cycle. Leave a note if the machine is urgently needed, and expect the same courtesy in return.

Option 2: Launderettes (Public Laundromats)

Dublin has several self-service launderettes, and they're useful when you need to wash a large load fast, or when your accommodation doesn't have a machine.

Typical costs in 2025:

• Self-service wash: €5–7 for a standard (7–8 kg) load
• Tumble dryer: around €1–2 per 10 minutes
• Service wash (staff wash, dry, and fold): €12–18 per load, same-day or next-day turnaround

Well-known options include All Washed Up on Rathmines Road, launderettes on Parnell Street (convenient from the city centre), and several in the Drumcondra and Rathmines areas. Search "launderette near me" on Google Maps — most open from around 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday.

The Drying Challenge: Ireland's Climate

This is where Ireland surprises almost everyone. Outdoor drying is only reliable in summer (and even then, check the forecast). For most of the year — especially autumn and winter — you'll be drying indoors.

• A clotheshorse (a foldable drying rack) is the standard solution. You can buy one at Penneys/Primark or Dunnes Stores for around €10–15.
• Clothes dried on a rack in a warm room will take roughly 12–24 hours. Near a radiator, it can be faster.
• Important: Drying clothes indoors without ventilation creates condensation, which can cause mould on walls. Always open a window or door slightly while drying clothes inside — this matters more in Ireland than almost anywhere else.
• Tumble dryers in shared houses exist but are rarely cheap to run. Use them for emergencies or heavy items like towels and jeans that take forever on a rack.

Buying Laundry Supplies

• A 25-wash box of Ariel or Persil costs around €8–10 at Tesco or Dunnes. At Lidl or Aldi, the same quantity of own-brand detergent costs €4–5.
• Fabric softener is optional but useful — clothes dried indoors in Irish humidity can feel stiff. Lenor and Comfort are the most popular brands.
• Laundry pods are convenient if you're at a launderette but cost more per wash than powder or liquid.

Practical Tips

• Do one or two big washes per week rather than lots of small ones — machines use roughly the same energy whether half-full or full.
• Always separate colours from whites. A single red item in a white wash will turn everything pink.
• Hand-wash delicate items (underwear, lightweight tops) in the sink with a small amount of shampoo or liquid detergent.
• In a shared house, put your name on your laundry bag or use a specific coloured bag — clothes get mixed up easily.