Les buanderies de quartier sont des lieux de rencontre informels à Montréal.
1. Laundromats in Quebec — what to know first
Many apartments in Montréal — particularly duplexes and triplexes in older neighbourhoods — have no washer or dryer inside the apartment itself. Some buildings have a shared laundry room in the basement; others have no laundry facilities at all.
Coin-operated laundromats (*buanderies* or *laveries automatiques*) are very common in Montréal. You can find them in virtually every neighbourhood.
Hours: typically 7 am – 10 or 11 pm; some are open 24 hours.
2. How a Montréal laundromat works
Step-by-step laundromat use:
- Arrive with your laundry and quarters (25¢ coins) — many newer machines also accept bank cards or mobile apps
- Choose an available machine, load your laundry
- Add detergent — many laundromats have vending machines for detergent, but better to bring your own
- Insert coins or pay by card and start the machine
- Wash cycle: 25–45 minutes depending on the machine
- Transfer laundry to a dryer — dryers typically run in 7–10 minute increments; add coins as needed
- Drying time: 30–45 minutes for a full load
Basic social rule: don't leave laundry in machines after the cycle ends — other customers need the machines.
3. Prices and practical tips
Typical prices:
| Service | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Standard wash cycle | $2.50–4.50 |
| Large capacity wash cycle | $4–7 |
| Dryer (per 30–40 min) | $2–3 |
Practical tips: - Bring enough 25¢ coins — change machines don't always work - Off-peak hours: weekday mornings — avoid weekends and evenings - Bring your own detergent — laundromat vending machines cost more - Bring a bag to separate clean from damp laundry - For delicates (silk, fine wool, fragile embroidery): use the machine's delicate cycle or hand-wash at home — avoid laundromat machines for these
4. See also
These related guides may be useful:
- Family budget for immigrants — planning your regular household expenses.
- Hardware stores and DIY in Quebec — if you want to eventually install a washer in your apartment.
5. Official sources
To find the nearest laundromat to your Montréal address: search 'buanderie' or 'laundromat' on Google Maps with your location enabled. The map will show all nearby laundromats with hours and customer reviews.
Author's Note: the neighbourhood laundromat is one of the first places where new Montrealers cross paths with their neighbours informally. I've seen friendships form based solely on conversations started while waiting for a wash cycle. Living without a washer in my first apartment, I got to know several neighbours at the corner laundromat — one of the most accidental and most valuable encounters of my first months.
