Laundry in Patagonia

During our trips to the United States, we were accustomed to doing laundry easily due to the abundance of self-service laundromats in almost every city. We initially planned to do the same in Patagonia, packing enough clothes for about 10 days on a three-week trip and doing laundry halfway through. However, we ended up handwashing our clothes instead.

We searched for self-service laundromats in Punta Arenas, the largest city we visited in Patagonia and Ushuaia, but the only available options were industrial laundries primarily serving hotels or dealing with items that are difficult to wash at home. The prices were relatively high, and the reviews from other customers were often negative, citing issues like lost garments. Some customers reported only receiving one sock back from a pair.

While we might have risked losing a cotton sock or t-shirt, we couldn’t take chances with our merino wool items, which we handle with care by washing them in special detergent and drying them flat at home. As a result, we decided it was safer to buy detergent from a supermarket and handwash our clothes.

Fortunately, our room in Ushuaia provided ideal conditions for this, featuring a large sink and a warm heater that allowed our clothes to dry overnight. If you plan to do laundry in Patagonia, prepare for handwashing like we did or research laundries with good reviews in advance. Remember that it isn’t as straightforward as in the U.S. and will likely take more time.