Laundry in China: Hotels, Laundromats & Same-Day Service (2025 Guide)

Quick answer: Laundry in China is easy and affordable. Hotels offer service (expensive), self-service laundromats exist in cities, and laundry apps can pick up and deliver for cheap.

Here's how to keep your clothes clean during your trip.

Option 1: Hotel Laundry Service

How It Works

Most hotels (3-star and above) offer laundry service:

1. Fill out laundry form in room
2. Put clothes in laundry bag
3. Leave bag out or call housekeeping
4. Clothes returned in 24-48 hours

Cost

Expensive by local standards:

• T-shirt: ¥30-50
• Pants: ¥40-60
• Dress/suit: ¥60-100
• Underwear/socks: ¥10-20 each

Example: A full bag of laundry might cost ¥200-400 ($30-60)

Express Service

Same-day service available at most hotels:

• Usually 50% surcharge
• Submit before 9am, get by 6pm
• Not always available weekends

When to Use Hotel Laundry

• Emergency single item
• Formal clothes needing care
• Business travelers on expense account
• No time to find alternatives

Option 2: Self-Service Laundromats

Finding Laundromats

Search in Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps:

• 自助洗衣店 (zì zhù xǐ yī diàn) - self-service laundry
• 洗衣房 (xǐ yī fáng) - laundry room

Note: Less common than Western countries. More common in:

• University areas
• Expat neighborhoods
• Near hostels/budget hotels

How They Work

App-based machines (most common now):

1. Download app (often QR code on machine)
2. Select machine/cycle
3. Pay via WeChat/Alipay
4. Machine unlocks

Coin/card machines (less common):

1. Get coins/card from machine or attendant
2. Load clothes
3. Select cycle
4. Insert payment

Cost

Very affordable:

• Wash: ¥10-20 per load
• Dry: ¥10-20 per 20-30 minutes
• Total: ¥20-40 for full wash + dry

Tips

• Bring your own detergent (machines sometimes have it, sometimes not)
• Check for dryer availability (not all have dryers)
• Evening/night often less busy
• Some have attendants who can help

Option 3: Laundry Pickup Apps

Modern China has excellent on-demand laundry services:

e袋洗 (e Daxi)

Most popular laundry app

How it works:

1. Download app (or WeChat mini-program)
2. Schedule pickup
3. Driver comes to your hotel/apartment
4. Clothes returned in 24-48 hours

Cost:

• Regular wash: ¥3-5 per item
• Or by weight: ¥15-25 per kg
• Delivery included

Other Apps

• 泰笛洗衣 (Tidy)
• 干洗客 (Ganxike)
• Various WeChat mini-programs

How to Find in WeChat

1. Open WeChat
2. Pull down to access mini-programs
3. Search: 洗衣 (laundry)
4. Multiple options will appear

Challenge for tourists: Most apps require Chinese phone number. Consider asking hotel staff to order for you.

Option 4: Local Dry Cleaners

Finding One

Search: 干洗店 (gān xǐ diàn) - dry cleaner

Common in:

• Shopping mall basements
• Neighborhood streets
• Near residential areas

Service

What they offer:

• Dry cleaning
• Regular washing
• Ironing
• Minor repairs

Process:

1. Bring clothes in
2. They write a ticket
3. Pick up next day (or same day for rush)
4. Pay at pickup

Cost

Cheaper than hotel laundry:

• Shirt: ¥10-20
• Pants: ¥15-25
• Jacket: ¥30-50
• Suit: ¥40-80

Option 5: DIY in Hotel Room

What You Need

Bring or buy:

• Travel laundry soap (bar or packets)
• Travel clothesline
• Sink stopper (if needed)

Available in China:

• Laundry soap: Any supermarket (洗衣皂 xǐ yī zào)
• Travel gear: Miniso, Daiso, Taobao

How to Hand Wash

1. Fill sink with water
2. Add small amount of soap
3. Agitate clothes
4. Soak 10-15 minutes
5. Rinse thoroughly
6. Roll in towel to remove water
7. Hang to dry

Drying Tips

In hotel:

• Use provided hangers
• Bathroom is good for moisture
• Air conditioning helps
• Request extra towels for rolling

Drying time:

• Light fabrics: 4-8 hours
• Heavy fabrics: 12-24 hours
• Use hotel hairdryer for emergencies

Note: Some hotels charge for extra towels used for laundry purposes.

Laundry at Hostels

Many hostels have:

• Shared washing machines (¥10-20)
• Drying racks/lines
• Irons available

Process:

• Ask front desk
• Often coin or app-operated
• Provide own detergent usually

Laundry at Airbnb/Apartments

What to expect:

• Most apartments have washing machines
• Detergent may or may not be provided
• Rarely have dryers (air-dry culture)

China washing machines:

• Often smaller capacity than Western
• Cycles run 30-60 minutes
• Instructions may be Chinese only

Tip: Download Google Translate camera to translate machine buttons

Useful Vocabulary

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Laundry	洗衣服	xǐ yī fú
Washing machine	洗衣机	xǐ yī jī
Dry cleaning	干洗	gān xǐ
Iron	熨斗	yùn dǒu
Laundromat	自助洗衣店	zì zhù xǐ yī diàn
Detergent	洗衣液	xǐ yī yè
When ready?	什么时候好？	shénme shíhòu hǎo?
Same day?	今天能好吗？	jīntiān néng hǎo ma?

What to Avoid Washing

Don't wash in China if avoidable:

• Delicate items with complex care
• Expensive suits (use reputable dry cleaner only)
• Anything irreplaceable

Safe to wash:

• Basic cotton clothes
• Synthetic travel wear
• Underwear/socks
• Casual clothes

Quick Cost Comparison

Method	Cost per Load	Time
Hotel laundry	¥200-400	24-48h
Laundromat	¥20-40	1.5-2h
Laundry app	¥50-100	24-48h
Dry cleaner	¥50-150	24h
Hand wash	Free	4-24h dry

Long-Term Traveler Tips

If staying weeks or months:

1. Find a regular dry cleaner - Build relationship, better service
2. Use laundry apps - Cheapest for regular laundry
3. Rent apartment with washer - Most cost-effective
4. Buy clothes in China - Cheap basics, t-shirts, socks

Quick Answers

Do Chinese hotels have laundry service?

Yes, 3+ star hotels typically do. Expensive but convenient.

Can I find a laundromat easily?

In major cities, yes. Less common than US/Europe but they exist. University areas have more.

Is hotel laundry safe for clothes?

Generally yes, but fill out damage/care forms carefully. Cheap items only.

How do Chinese people do laundry?

Most have home washing machines. Hang dry on balconies. Dry cleaners for special items.

Can hotel laundry return same day?

Many hotels offer express service (morning drop-off, evening pickup) for extra fee.

Summary

Situation	Best Option
Need clean clothes tomorrow	Hotel express service
Budget travel	Laundromat or hand wash
Staying multiple weeks	Laundry app pickup
Formal clothes	Local dry cleaner
Quick refresh	Hand wash + hotel hairdryer

Bottom line: Laundry in China is easy. Use hotel service for convenience, laundromats or apps for budget, and hand wash for quick items. Pack quick-dry fabrics to make it even easier.

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The China Survival Kit includes packing guides with fabric recommendations for easy travel laundry.