What to bring the first time
- Sorted laundry in a bag or basket, ideally already split into lights and darks
- A second bag for the clean laundry on the way home
- Detergent, if you like: your own is welcome, otherwise detergent (€0.70) and fabric softener (€0.40) are available at the terminal
- To pay: cash, all major credit and debit cards, or contactless with Apple Pay and Google Pay
That's all you need. No collecting coins, no buying a chip card in advance, no account to create. The public washing machine at the laundromat Ludwigsburg works as simply as a parking meter: choose a machine, pay, start. You get a receipt for every payment.
How it works, in short
Put your laundry in a free machine, choose the machine number at the payment terminal and pay, then press the start button on the machine. After about 35 minutes the wash is done, and in the dryer usually after 20 to 40 minutes. The full guide with every step is at How the laundromat works.
The most important thing for first-timers: the machine only runs once you have paid and then pressed the start button on the machine itself. Forget that and you'll wonder why nothing is happening. Choose the programme and temperature according to the care label; the price per wash stays the same.
Which machine should I use?
- 8 kg washing machine for everyday laundry, €5.00 per wash
- Large 18 kg washing machine for duvets, curtains and big loads, €13.50
- 20 kg dryer, €1.50 per 10 minutes
How much fits in a machine is covered in the guide How much laundry fits in 8 kg?
Altogether the laundromat Ludwigsburg has 18 machines: 11 washing machines with 8 kg, 3 large XXL washing machines with 18 kg and 4 dryers with a 20 kg drum. Lots of machines means hardly any waiting, even if you turn up with several bags.
Do I have to stay?
No. You can go shopping or have a coffee in the meantime, Ludwigsburg town centre is a few minutes away. As soon as the machine has finished, take your laundry out, because someone may already be waiting to wash after you.
If you'd rather stay, take a seat by the window onto Stuttgarter Straße and use the free Wi-Fi. A short walk to the Residential Palace (Residenzschloss) opposite or to the Friedenskirche on Karlsplatz also fits nicely into one wash.
What must not go in the public washing machine
You share a public washing machine with everyone who comes after you. That's why the laundromat Ludwigsburg has a few house rules, each for a good reason:
- No shoes or trainers: they damage the drum and get ruined themselves.
- No dyeing: dye residue stays in the machine and ends up in the next customer's laundry.
- No pet blankets from dogs or horses: people with allergies wash here after you.
- No oily, petrol-soaked or heavily soiled workwear and no stiff rugs. Flexible rugs are allowed.
Everything else, from your weekly wash to your duvet, is very welcome.
How to find the public washing machine in Ludwigsburg
The laundromat Ludwigsburg is at Stuttgarter Straße 54, right in the town centre, next to the Friedenskirche on Karlsplatz and opposite the Residential Palace. So if you search for a "public washing machine near me" or a "laundromat near me", you end up at a spot almost everyone in Ludwigsburg knows.
- Bus: lines 421 and 533 to Karlsplatz, then 3 minutes on foot
- S-Bahn: S4 or S5 to Ludwigsburg station, then about 9 minutes on foot
- Car: park right outside the door on Stuttgarter Straße or at Karlsplatz (paid parking)
All routes and times at a glance: Opening hours & directions.
Come often? Save
With the discount card you get up to 25 % bonus when you top up. It works at all 7 Wash&Go laundromats, including Stuttgart and Karlsruhe.
You get the card for a €5 deposit directly at the payment terminal. Top up €20 and you have €23.00 credit, top up €50 and it's even €62.50. With the discount card an 8 kg wash costs from €3.80 instead of €5.00. You don't need it for your first visit, but by your second it's worth a look.