Laundry & Dry Cleaning at Anantara Mina Al Arab.

Rash vests, cotton kaftans, T-shirts and sleepwear from a few nights over the lagoon rarely weigh much, which is why the small bag usually does. A 6kg bag at AED 60 usually covers a couple; 12kg is AED 99. It returns to Anantara Mina Al Arab folded within 24 hours.

Dinner at Beach House or Mekong deserves a clean outfit. A linen shirt or silk top is AED 15, a jumpsuit AED 35, a dress AED 40 and an evening dress AED 65. Handed over before noon, it can be back for that evening.

Linen hates a suitcase. Pressing alone is AED 9 per hung shirt, AED 10 for a top, AED 25 for a dress or jumpsuit and AED 40 for an evening gown, all back the next day.

For people with homes in Mina Al Arab; the resort's villa linen is its own. Bathrobes are AED 16, bed sheets AED 18 and beach towels AED 6, most of it back in a day.

Salt water and sand dry hard on summer shoes. Sandals and espadrilles are AED 45 a pair, sneakers AED 55. Shoes take two to four days, so they suit a stay of a week rather than a weekend.

Straw and canvas totes pick up sun cream and sand on the villa-only beach, and clutches pick up dinner. We clean totes and clutches for AED 45 and crossbody bags for AED 55; bags need between three and five days.

A new dress that needs shortening, or a cover-up whose zip gave up. Day-dress hems, waist changes and trouser zip replacements are AED 40 each, and the tailor needs two to three days.

Aimed at homeowners around the lagoon rather than resort guests. Carpets are AED 20 a square metre, wool AED 26, curtains AED 20 or AED 25 with blackout, back in three days.

Couples sometimes arrive straight from the wedding. A gown is cleaned from AED 250, a beaded gown from AED 450, and a preservation box costs AED 210 to keep it safe. Allow seven to fourteen days.

For entertainment teams and party planners working in Mina Al Arab. Costumes cost AED 200, AED 230 or AED 250 by size, with each accessory AED 30, in three to five days.

Families in a two-bedroom pool villa often bring one favourite toy that ends up in the plunge pool. Small toys are AED 55, medium AED 70, large AED 120, two to three days.

For residents with removable sofa covers in Mina Al Arab; resort furniture is not part of this. Regular covers are AED 35, large AED 40, cushion covers AED 10 to AED 20.

Leather sandals and belts darken and stiffen after a dip in salt water. Small leather goods cost AED 100 to clean, leather shoes from AED 180 and jackets from AED 150. Leather care needs three to five days, so plan it for a longer stay.