In America, we have the luxury of doing a load of laundry and then throwing it in the dryer for warm, dry clothes in an hour or less. In Italy, this luxury doesn't exist and it's one part of the culture that will take most students studying abroad a while to get used to.
When it comes to washing clothes, in my apartment we don't own a clothes line. That means the amount of free space my roommate Keeghan and I share in our bedroom is minimized come laundry day. No one in the USAC program has a dryer in their apartment and granted if they did they could consider themselves lucky. There are some laundromats in Viterbo that both wash and dry your clothes but that's if you are willing to lug your laundry bag there AND pay the 10 euros it cost for the services.
The fact of the matter is, when it comes to doing laundry don't be afraid to get creative. Our drying rack is pretty big and when it folds out, very long. So my roommate and I decided the best way to get the most out of our laundry cycles is to hang clothes on our loft stairs using the steps as more space to dry our clothes.
When it comes to washing clothes, in my apartment we don't own a clothes line. That means the amount of free space my roommate Keeghan and I share in our bedroom is minimized come laundry day. No one in the USAC program has a dryer in their apartment and granted if they did they could consider themselves lucky. There are some laundromats in Viterbo that both wash and dry your clothes but that's if you are willing to lug your laundry bag there AND pay the 10 euros it cost for the services.
The fact of the matter is, when it comes to doing laundry don't be afraid to get creative. Our drying rack is pretty big and when it folds out, very long. So my roommate and I decided the best way to get the most out of our laundry cycles is to hang clothes on our loft stairs using the steps as more space to dry our clothes.
There are several moments when I wish I had a dryer (especially when you realize you are running low on undergarments!) but to be honest most of my clothes hang dry at home anyway so I am used to this part of Italian Culture. In fact, one of my favorite sights to photograph while walking around Viterbo are the various clothes lines because each one has its own character.
Other tips I can offer in terms of washing clothes:
Other tips I can offer in terms of washing clothes:
- Buy Softner - not only will your clothes smell better but they will (as the brand implies) make your clothes softer as they air dry.
- Pack some brand of stain remover in your luggage before leaving home. You will be thankful you did you when you find red wine on your clothes...trust me! (My mom gave me a Tide To Go Pen and it has worked wonders!)