Who needs washing machines when you have dhobi-wallahs? In India, these are the people who wash clothes. I'm going to plagarise my Lonely Planet book, but they describe it better than I can: "What happens to your clothes between their departure and return? First they're taken to the dhobi ghat - a series of steps near a lake or river. Upon arrival the clothes are separated - all the white t-shirts are washed together, all the purple socks and so on. Your clothes are soaked in soapy water for a few hours, following which the dirt is literally belted out of them. No newfangled washing machine can wash as clean as a determined dhobi, although admittedly after a few visits your clothes to look distinctly thinner and faded. Buttons can get shattered, so bring some spares. Once clean, the clothes are dried in the glorious Indian sun, then they're pressed with ancient-looking irons - even your underwear will come back with knife-edge creases".
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