This post is sponsored by CleanExpress

There’s not a time in life that can’t be stained. Be it that tipped glass of wine on a casual night out, or a dribble of francesinha sauce all over your fancy designer dress. It’s true, life can get messy. And sometimes it gets messy when you really just can’t afford to be messed up. You’re on vacation, chilling in your Airbnb or whatnot. You can’t be bothered with washing clothes. But even worse: drying them (oh, dread), or ironing them. But when that dreaded stain comes, there’s a place where all your worries can end: a self-service laundry.

It’s easy, you’ll solve it. I’ll tell you where you can go:

CleanExpress, a convenient, central self-service laundry right in the heart of Porto’s downtown.

Photo by: Nuno Carvalho

No need to wait for your turn…

But you ask me: “How am I going to get around to this? I don’t even speak Portuguese”. Well, the good news is that CleanExpress has English-speaking employees from 9 am to 7 pm (Monday through Saturday) who will aid you in your clothing predicaments. At any other hour (it’s open from 8 am to 12 am) you can easily figure things out for yourself by simply reading the thorough instructions in English.

Plus, with a fleet of 7 washing machines and 6 driers (it’s the biggest self-service laundry in Porto) you won’t have to wait in line to get your laundry done. If by any chance you don’t find a free machine, the staff will take care of your belongings; you just have to come back and pick your stuff up before closing time.

Photo by: Nuno Carvalho

Competitive prices…

But then again: that stain? Do you know the chemistry that goes behind removing a wine stain from a white Oxford shirt? Well, don’t bother, and don’t panic. They’ve got specialized stain-removal detergents on hand. Detergents, disinfectant, and fabric softener are included in the price. And if in doubt, just ask the pros, and they’ll deal with the problem for you. Plus, you’ve got an easy choice for every type of clothing (check those labels, people!), with 6 different programs that will handle anything from that itchy wool sweater without shrinking it into a kid’s size, or that tablecloth that was continuously mauled by Sunday lunch’s roast sauce.

Maybe you’re a student and you live with some friends. And we all know how that goes. A war zone of laundry, with defeated, smelly clothing on every chair, bathroom floor, or railing. It comes a time when you’ve had enough, and you heave that humongous pile of mangled clothing into bags and march out the door. Well, you’re in luck because at CleanExpress the washing machines can handle up to 20 kg of clothes in one sitting. Yes, even that really big blanket your mom sent you for Christmas will fit, wash — and dry. Whether you’re washing a load of 9 kg (4,90€), 12 kg (7€), 16 kg (9,50€) or 20 kg (10,90€), the cycles are always just 45 minutes long so that’s just enough time to have a French dessert at Chouquette, a coffee at Época or a snack at Quintal Bioshop.

But why would you need a self-service laundry at this point in your life?

Because winter is coming! You shouldn’t fear white walkers or an ice-spitting dragon, but instead the ungodly amount of time it takes to properly dry your clothes. And you know how cranky the weather can be in Porto during the winter: rainy and foggy, making most things (like you and your clothes) unbearably damp.

Photo by: Nuno Carvalho

If you’re like me and don’t have a drier, you’ll end up propping up a fan and dangling your clothes out to dry in an awkward corner of the house. The disappointing, musty smell will ruin your mood and increase your laundry-rage. Nobody needs more mildew in their life. So take a moment to breathe in, and chill. You’ve got this. You can just pick up your sad, wet laundry, and take it to CleanExpress. Toss it into their top of the line driers and collect your warm, soft clothes in just 15 minutes. All this for a convenient price of 2€ (or 1.50€ if you become a blue card member).

More love for members…

Another plus of being a customer of CleanExpress is that they really love their loyal costumers. When using their blue card, which you can acquire for 20€ (which is immediately converted into store credit), you’ll gain access to lower prices on every service, and get exclusive discounts from time to time. Now that’s a good deal, if you ask me.

Photo by: Nuno Carvalho

And when all things are washed and dry, if you need that shirt to be crease-free and looking crisp, they’ll do the hard work for you. No more scorch marks and wasted hours in front of an ironing board, it’s just as easy as leaving the clothes with them and picking them up later. If you really need the item on the go, just go ahead and ask, they’ll get it pressed in no time. It can be a one time, one-piece thing (0,80€), but if you’re really not a fan of the iron you can stick to their competitive ironing packs (starting at 10 pieces for 6€, up to 150 pieces for 60€).

The thing people often don’t realize about services like CleanExpress is the high standard of the end results. Sorry. This means you can’t possibly compete at home if you’re looking for optimum cleaning and drying. Professional machines with enzymatic detergents out-perform the washing and drying process of any home setup. And boy, you can bet your clothes will smell extra-nice for longer. You’ll notice that they’ve never been treated so nicely.

Tailored B to B services…

If you are the owner of a local tourist accommodation, hairdresser, restaurant, spa or any other business that needs laundry cleaned, CleanExpress will run the extra mile for you. They’ll pick up your clothes, and deal with the washing, drying, and ironing. Your pristine laundry will be delivered within 48 hours, without extra charges.