The Liveaboard Laundry Question (And Other Domestic Mysteries)

One of the first questions people ask about narrowboat life is: “How do you do laundry?”

The idea of having a washing machine on board might seem appealing. But for continuous cruisers, this would quickly become more trouble than it’s worth:

• Water Usage: Even a compact washing machine uses around 10-15 litres of water per load. On a narrowboat, your water tank holds about 100-200 litres, and you’ll quickly decide you’d rather have a regular shower. If you’re washing clothes regularly, you’ll find yourself topping up your water tank much more often than you’d like. When you’re continuously cruising, this can become a real hassle.
• Space and Power: Narrowboats are small, and every inch of space is precious. A washing machine takes up valuable room that could be better used for storage or other essentials. Add to that the fact that most boats don’t have access to shore power, and suddenly, running a washing machine isn’t just inconvenient — it’s a drain on your boat’s limited resources.
• Drying Clothes: With a washing machine on board you also need to figure out how to dry your clothes. Hanging wet clothes on a small boat and trying to dry them next to a smokey wood burning stove, really isn’t ideal…

So none of our boats have washing machines – We think you’ll prefer the storage space instead.

Liveaboards generally just use laundromats to wash and dry their clothes. Every town along the canal network has them, and marinas also offer laundry rooms.

Over time, you’ll get to know which laundromats offer the best service and fair prices, and some even offer pickup and delivery.

This lets you focus on enjoying the journey rather than worrying about laundry.

Simplifying Your Wardrobe

Living aboard a narrowboat naturally leads to a more minimalist wardrobe. You’ll learn to simplify what you carry on board. The key is to keep your clothing choices versatile and practical – warm down layers, decent waterproofs, versatile outdoor gear.

At ETRR, we help take the stress out of life afloat with boats designed for long-term comfort, including plenty of storage and regular maintenance. We also offer support for everything you need to make your time on the canals as easy as possible.