Is there a washing machine? How does it work?
la-va-TRI-ce — four syllables, stress on the third. 'c' before 'e' is soft.
Ask on arrival for longer stays. Italian washing machine controls can be confusing — dials with Italian labels and unfamiliar programme symbols.
'Lavatrice' = washing machine. 'Come funziona' = how does it work. Italian washing machines are almost all front-loaders ('carica frontale') and use detergent in a drawer ('cassetto'). Cycles are labelled in Italian and programmes can vary significantly.
Dove metto il detersivo?
Where do I put the detergent?
Italian machines have a three-compartment drawer: prewash, main wash, softener
Quanto dura il programma?
How long does the programme last?
Italian washing machine cycles can be very long — up to 3 hours
C'è l'asciugatrice?
Is there a tumble dryer?
Tumble dryers are much less common in Italy than in northern Europe
Tumble dryers ('asciugatrice') are rare in Italian homes — many Italians consider them wasteful and prefer air-drying on a 'stendibiancheria' (clothes horse) or balcony. If you need to dry clothes quickly, ask the host — they may have a portable clothes horse you can use.