We will be spending 10 days in the rue Cler area and need some information about the launderettes mentioned in Rick's Paris book. Do they have self-service coin-operated machines or do you give your laundry to someone who actually does the laundry? This seems like an odd question, I know, but my husband is allergic to the laundry soap used in Europe that containes "enzymes," and we must be able to use our own non-enzyme laundry soap. Also, does anyone know whether these shops are open during the Christmas-to-New Year's holiday week?
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
I realize I'm not much help, but we did see a self-service launderette as we walked from our Hotel Royal Phare to La Varangue Restaurant (RS recommendation). La Varangue's address is 27 rue Augereau, Paris, so the Launderette is around there very close.
PS - the more I attempt to remember the more I think the Launderette may be just 2 or 3 doors down from La Varangue on the same side of the street.
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
Yes, there is one there, another on rue Amelie, and one around the corner from rue Cler and Hotel Leveque. There is another launderette across the street from Hotel du Turrene (sp). The businesses mentioned are self-service with a central pay station. It is possible to use coins or bills. Instructions are posted. Beware: the soap sold in the launderettes is heavily perfumed, so bring your own or buy some at the store if you don't want the smell. It takes about an hour to do a load of laundry. I think you can do your laundry any day of the week about 6 or 7 am until about 10 pm.
I took my own laundry powder one year and it didn't dissolve in the French washing machine. Maybe I didn't use hot enough water. There are several temperature settings on the machines. Often there are other people present who can give you advice.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
The one Tim mentioned is next door to LaVarangue. I just looked at it on Google Street View.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32206 posts
Chandolin,
I used a Laundromat just around the corner from La Terrasse restaurant when I was in Paris this year. I may have a photo but will have to dig through my files to see if I can post a link. As I recall, there's another one around the corner (to the left) from the Grand Hotel Leveque.
The first one I mentioned was coin operated, although the instructions were mostly in French. The coins were inserted in a central control unit on the wall, and the user specified which machine to activate. It wasn't hard to figure out, and I got some help from other people. You could certainly use your own soap.
I don't have any information on the hours during the Christmas/New Year's holiday week. When you get back, post a note as I'm sure that information would be useful to others here.
Happy travels!