Laundry & Dry Cleaning at Lou'Lou'a Beach Resort.

For long stays this is the cheapest service by far. A bag up to 12kg costs AED 99, up to 6kg AED 60, and anything over 12kg AED 12 a kilo. T-shirts, underwear, children's clothes and towels you brought yourself all count, folded within 24 hours.

Some pieces must be dry cleaned: a kandura at AED 15, trousers at AED 18, a basic abaya at AED 18 or a saree at AED 40. Hand them over before midday and they can return to Lou'Lou'a the same evening, pressed.

Washed in the room sink but need it crisp? Pressing alone is AED 9 for a shirt on a hanger, AED 10 folded, AED 12 for trousers or a kandura and AED 15 for a men's shalwar kameez. Back the following day.

Not the resort's linen, which it handles itself, but for the relatives you are visiting in Al Layyeh or Al Khan. A blanket costs AED 30, a large blanket AED 40, a duvet AED 50 and a bed sheet AED 18.

Formal shoes for family visits and trainers for the beach are AED 55 a pair, sandals AED 45 and children's shoes AED 35. Light restoration for scuffed leather is AED 50. Allow two to four days.

Soft suitcases and backpacks pick up marks on the way. A small suitcase is AED 85, a medium AED 130, a large AED 165, and a backpack AED 45. Three to five days, so plan it before the last week.

A trouser hem is AED 40, a split crotch seam AED 40, a knitwear hole darned for AED 40 and a jeans rivet replaced for AED 15. Repairs take 48 to 72 hours from collection.

For family homes you are staying near, never the resort. Carpets cost AED 20 per square metre, wool AED 26, curtains AED 20 or AED 25 with blackout lining. Collected and returned in three days.

Many long-stay guests are in Sharjah for a family wedding. A wedding sherwani is AED 70 to clean, a bridesmaid dress AED 35, a wedding abaya AED 50 and a flower girl dress AED 28. Seven to fourteen days.

For event staff or entertainers staying on the coast with a character suit. Small mascots cost AED 200, medium AED 230 and large AED 250, plus AED 30 for each accessory. Three to five days.

A toy that has been carried through airports and onto the beach can be cleaned gently: small AED 55, medium AED 70, large AED 120. It takes two to three days, so send it a few days before the flight home.

For relatives' flats nearby with removable covers. A regular sofa cover is AED 35, a large one AED 40, and cushion covers AED 10 to AED 20 depending on size. Ready in two to three days.

A leather jacket is AED 150 to clean and condition, a leather coat or blazer AED 130, and a leather wallet, belt or small bag AED 100. Allow three to five days, which fits easily into a longer stay.