Laundry question

[meneelyb]

What is the best time of the day to use the self service laundry machines on the ship? I know I will need to do laundry at some point. Outfitting my family for 7 days is going to be impossible. After making our final deposit-there's not much money left for new clothes. We will have to make do with what we have and do laundry half way through our 7 day cruise

 

[hopelea]

I would say try and do it while everyone is on the excursions if you can.

We did ours on an at Sea day and had to wait. Those dryers take FOREVER

I know what you mean about not having enough clothes! I had to buy my DH more underwear.........didn't have 11 pairs!!

 

[sillysmom]

I never washed clothes, I was ironing every night about 11:00 p.m. the clothes for the next day. Everynight, except for 1, all the dryers and washers were not in use. EXCEPT FOR THAT LADY ON DECK 2 WHOSE ROOM WAS ACROSS THE HALL FROM THE WASH ROOM AND THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY FOR HER PERSONAL USE. SHE LEFT HER STUFF IN THERE OVERNIGHT. HOW RUDE IS THAT?

 

[clh2]

My recommendations for doing laundry...

Start it very early on whatever day you are going to do it. There are timers on the equipment - it will tell you the cycle time - somewhere around 40 minutes. Go back to your room, take your shower and get ready. Go back to the laundry room. Get your stuff in the dryer. Most likely, the clothes will not dry in 1 cycle (also about 40 minutes). You can put in enough money for 2-cycles at one time. Then go to breakfast - take your time...start to go back to the laundry room about 70 minutes after you put your money in the dryer.

Wal-mart sells laundry tablets in the same aisle that the "travel-sized" things are in. These are very convenient, and won't make the mess of either powders or liquid. They do sell detergents on the ship, however...if they are out of it-then they are out - and you would be out of luck.

I also recommend that you bring about $!0 of quarters too. That way if the change machine is out...you're not stuck scrambling either.

 

[TootyJane]

It was impossible for me to do a couple of loads on our last cruise. Every time I went to the laundry room(s) the washers & dryers were filled and people were actually waiting. I decided then I would send my laundry out if I needed to on our next cruise. Laundry service is not overly priced and after all, I'm on vacation too

 

[4myguys]

Try not to wait until the last couple of days. That's when they are really crowded. If you're an early riser, try starting then, like clh2 mentioned. Bring lots of quarters, soap tablets and dryer sheets.

 

[S. C.]

I like to do laundry late at night when most people are already sleeping. Only 1 or 2 others are in there that time of night.

 

[tvguy]

Cabin steward said to avoid days at sea, they are the busiest in the laundry rooms.

 

[RKB]

I did my laundry on the next to last night - I didn't want to bring home a bunch of dirty clothes. I found a washer ok - the only one left, but when it was time to dry the clothes they were all full. I found one dryer that had finished and the clothes were laying in it. I didn't want to miss the evening show - so I hope this wasn't too rude, but I took the clothes out and folded them and put mine in. I figured with as crowded as the laundry room was that people should come back to get their clothes out of the dryer when they are finished. Also it really is a good tip to remember that you can put in enough quarters for two cycles - you don't have to run one and then come back.

 

[Griffin33]

Are the laundry rooms opened 24 hours or do they close them at midnight or something? I'm a pretty late night person and can seep popping in to do laundry while the rest of my family is sleeping.

- Brett

 

[kcashner]

First, if we do WDW first, I do all clothes before leaving WDW (that way, I'm starting with totally clean stuff for cruise.) I also pack a "cruise only" suitcase with our formals and other stuff we won't need on land. We usually do the 7 day Magic cruise with 4-5 days at the parks first.....

Then for laundry....I come back from Castaway about an hour before we have to be on board. That way, I've always been able to run our suits thru the washer and not have to take them home wet and nasty...ditto cover-ups, etc. in that load. For other laundry if needed, do it on land days. Maybe I'm rude, but if people have left their stuff in washer or dryer after load is done, I'll wait about 5 minutes, then unload their stuff onto the metal table that is in the laundry room. There are clearly timers on both washers and dryers, and thoughtful people check the timers and come back ON TIME to get their stuff and free up machines for the next user. I've even had people offer me their "unused" time on the dryers. I always bring my soap from home (cheaper and easier)....most people are very nice.

It's not too expensive to have a load of laundry done for you (well, compared to a cruise cost!), but I've not had trouble getting a machine on 10 Magic cruises....sometimes had to wait 30 min or so...