On our first trip to Paris , a few years ago, we had to wash some of our clothes. Down the street from our hotel was a laverie libre-service – a laundromat. We gathered up the things that we needed to wash, stuffed them in a backpack, and off we went. We stopped at a Franprix ( a chain of grocery stores that are found all over Paris ) and bought lessive – laundry detergent, and soupline – fabric softener. Then we went into the laverie . At first it seemed as if it might be closed. There was no one inside. We pushed the door open and discovered why it is called libre-service. You are free to serve yourself.

We were just reading the instructions on how to use the machines, when we heard a knocking on the door. There was another American couple outside, and when we came to the door they said, “Are you open?”

“It's not our place, but it is open. Come on in,” we replied.

“How?” They started pulling on the door.

“Push”, we said. They pushed. The door opened. They walked in. They looked a bit bewildered.

“We have come by here for the last three days, and we thought it was closed. There was never anyone inside, and when we pulled on the door it wouldn't open. So we thought it was closed.” They looked happy to finally be inside.

If you are in Paris, or anywhere else in France for that matter, and you need to wash your clothes, do go to a laverie libre-service . Don't be put off if there is no one inside, and if the door doesn't open if you pull, try pushing. It might say poussez – push. The laverie is just like a laundromat in the U.S. – kind of. To the extent that it is a self service place where you wash your clothes, it is the same as a laundromat. The big difference is in how the machines are activated. In the U.S. , you put your clothes in the washer, throw in some soap, put some quarters in the slot on top of the machine, push the button, and wait until it's done. Same thing for the dryer.

In a laverie libre-service there are some subtle differences. First, for the washer you put the soap in a little chamber on top of the machine. You also have the option of adding fabric softener liquid to another chamber next to where you put the soap. It will be noted – one will say “ lessive ” the other will say “ soupline ”. Now for the big difference. The machines in a laverie are controlled by a central board. You don't put coins into the individual machine. Instead, you go to the central console, select the number of the machine that you put your clothes into, put the indicated amount of euros and centimes in the coin slot, and push the button. The washer will then start. You can fill multiple machines, just like in the U.S. , if no one else is using them. The dryer works the same way – put the clothes in the machine, select the number of the machine from the central board, put in the money and press the button. It usually takes 2 – 3 drying cycles to get clothes really dry. A lot of people take the damp clothes home and hang them up to dry.

So there you have it. First, make sure you have laundry detergent and, optionally, fabric softener. Most laveries sell lessive , but the machine may be out, so try it first. Second, remember that you need to put the money in the central console and push the correct number. Third, have an ample supply of one euro pieces and centimes on hand. You may want to check the price of a wash and a dry before you start washing your clothes, to make sure you have the correct amount of coins. Bill changers are few and far between. And last, if the door doesn't open if you pull, try pushing. The laverie will have its hours posted on the door or near the door, in military time, such as “ ouvert de 7:00 à 19:00 ” – open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. If you are there within that time frame, it's open and ready to take your change. Most are open 7 days a week. Bonne chance .