{"format":"murdoku-puzzle/1","id":"laundry","version":1,"difficulty":"medium","level":5,"size":{"rows":8,"cols":8},"languages":["en","hu","de","fr","es","it","nl","pl","pt","ro","ca","cs","fi","vi","tr","el","ru","uk","ar","ko","ja","zh-Hans","zh-Hant"],"defaultLanguage":"en","title":"The Laundry","tagline":"An old steam laundry · washing day · the owner was found at the mangle","author":"mathace","concept":"Murdoku – Manuel Garand (murdoku.com); unofficial fan-made case","created":"2026-10-06","story":"Monday is washing day at Ventura's steam laundry, and the old building was full of steam and noise from dawn: the washtubs bubbled, the mangle creaked and the yard was white with drying sheets. Four workers kept the place running, and three customers had come in with their bundles – a hotel housekeeper, a waiter and a bride with her wedding dress. Ventura, the owner, was last seen going into the ironing room to check the irons heating on the stove. When the mangle fell silent, Amparo went to see why – and found him dead beside it. Nobody had left the building, so the police asked all seven where they had been.","rules":{"standard":["Every row and every column holds exactly one person. As soon as you place someone, cross out their whole row and column.","“Beside” = directly left, right, above or below, and in the same area. Squares with objects (the counter, the shelf, the tree, the desk, the carpet-beating rail, the handcart, the laundry baskets, the washtubs, the rinsing trough, the table, the mangle and the stove) cannot be occupied; the benches and the stool can.","Directions refer to rows and columns, not to the same line: “exactly one row north of him was a woman” = the person in the row directly above is a woman, in any column.","The murderer was alone with the victim: nobody else was in that area."],"special":[]},"roleNames":{"worker":"laundry worker","customer":"customer","victim":"victim"},"personGroups":[{"id":"workers","name":"Laundry workers","persons":["A","B","C","D"]},{"id":"customers","name":"Customers","persons":["E","F","G"]},{"id":"owner","name":"The owner","persons":["V"]}],"map":{"groups":[],"gaps":[],"areas":[{"id":"Entrance","cells":[[1,1],[1,2],[2,1],[2,2],[3,1]],"fill":"#ece7dd","pattern":"tiles","labelAt":[2,1],"name":"Entrance"},{"id":"Office","cells":[[1,3],[1,4],[2,3],[2,4]],"fill":"#e2d6c4","pattern":"planks","labelAt":[1,3],"name":"Office"},{"id":"Washing Hall","cells":[[3,2],[3,3],[3,4],[3,5],[4,1],[4,2],[4,3],[4,4],[4,5],[4,6],[5,1],[5,2],[5,3],[5,4],[5,5],[5,6],[6,4],[6,5],[7,5],[7,6]],"fill":"#dfe6ea","pattern":"tiles","labelAt":[4,4],"name":"Washing Hall"},{"id":"Ironing Room","cells":[[6,1],[6,2],[6,3],[7,1],[7,2],[7,3],[7,4],[8,1],[8,2],[8,3],[8,4],[8,5]],"fill":"#efe2cb","pattern":"boards","labelAt":[7,3],"name":"Ironing Room"},{"id":"Drying Yard","cells":[[1,5],[1,6],[1,7],[1,8],[2,5],[2,6],[2,7],[2,8],[3,6],[3,7],[3,8],[4,7],[4,8],[5,7],[5,8],[6,6],[6,7],[6,8],[7,7],[7,8],[8,6],[8,7],[8,8]],"fill":"#dce8d0","pattern":"marble","labelAt":[5,7],"name":"Drying Yard"}],"objectTypes":{"bench":{"occupiable":true,"name":"bench","icon":""},"stool":{"occupiable":true,"name":"stool","icon":""},"basket":{"occupiable":false,"name":"laundry basket","icon":""},"carpetrack":{"occupiable":false,"name":"carpet-beating rail","icon":""},"cart":{"occupiable":false,"name":"handcart","icon":""},"counter":{"occupiable":false,"name":"counter","icon":""},"desk":{"occupiable":false,"name":"desk","icon":""},"mangle":{"occupiable":false,"name":"mangle","icon":""},"shelf":{"occupiable":false,"name":"shelf","icon":""},"stove":{"occupiable":false,"name":"stove","icon":""},"table":{"occupiable":false,"name":"table","icon":""},"tree":{"occupiable":false,"name":"tree","icon":""},"trough":{"occupiable":false,"name":"rinsing trough","icon":""},"washtub":{"occupiable":false,"name":"washtub","icon":""}},"wallTypes":{},"objects":[{"cell":[1,1],"type":"counter"},{"cell":[1,2],"type":"bench"},{"cell":[1,4],"type":"shelf"},{"cell":[1,8],"type":"tree"},{"cell":[2,3],"type":"desk"},{"cell":[2,7],"type":"carpetrack"},{"cell":[3,3],"type":"cart"},{"cell":[3,4],"type":"basket"},{"cell":[4,2],"type":"washtub"},{"cell":[4,5],"type":"washtub"},{"cell":[4,7],"type":"trough"},{"cell":[5,4],"type":"bench"},{"cell":[6,2],"type":"basket"},{"cell":[6,3],"type":"table"},{"cell":[6,8],"type":"washtub"},{"cell":[7,2],"type":"mangle"},{"cell":[8,1],"type":"stove"},{"cell":[8,4],"type":"stool"}],"wallFeatures":[],"extras":[],"cellSize":46},"persons":[{"id":"A","name":"Amparo","gender":"F","role":"worker","color":"#c62828","avatar":{"bg":"#6e2c4b","skin":"#f3d3b5","hair":"#1c1a1a","style":"bun","shirt":"#f4efe6","apron":true},"clue":"A laundry basket was somewhere in her column.","job":"ironer","avatarSvg":"","solverRole":"worker","constraints":[{"type":"col_has","obj":"basket"}]},{"id":"B","name":"Baltasar","gender":"M","role":"worker","color":"#2e7d32","avatar":{"bg":"#35607a","skin":"#e4b998","hair":"#3a2a1c","style":"short","shirt":"#4a5a7a","mustache":true,"mustacheColor":"#3a2a1c","apron":true},"clue":"Exactly one row north of him was a man.","job":"washerman","avatarSvg":"","solverRole":"worker","constraints":[{"type":"rel_any","dir":"N","exact":1,"gender":"M"}]},{"id":"C","name":"Consuelo","gender":"F","role":"worker","color":"#1565c0","avatar":{"bg":"#ad1457","skin":"#f0cdb0","hair":"#7a4a2a","style":"ponytail","shirt":"#f4efe6","apron":true,"headband":"#c62828"},"clue":"She was beside the handcart.","job":"washerwoman","avatarSvg":"","solverRole":"worker","constraints":[{"type":"beside","obj":"cart"}]},{"id":"D","name":"Domingo","gender":"M","role":"worker","color":"#6a1b9a","avatar":{"bg":"#5d4037","skin":"#e7b98f","hair":"#1c1a1a","style":"short","shirt":"#2f3b4c","cap":true,"beard":true},"clue":"There were exactly two other people in his area. He was in the last column.","job":"delivery man","avatarSvg":"","solverRole":"worker","constraints":[{"type":"with_count","n":2},{"type":"col","cols":[8]}]},{"id":"E","name":"Encarna","gender":"F","role":"customer","color":"#e65100","avatar":{"bg":"#3d2a5a","skin":"#f6d8c0","hair":"#8a8278","style":"bob","shirt":"#5b2c6f","glasses":true,"necklace":true},"clue":"She was sitting on a bench. She was alone with a laundry worker.","job":"hotel housekeeper","avatarSvg":"","solverRole":"customer","constraints":[{"type":"on","obj":"bench"},{"type":"with_role","role":"worker","exact":true}]},{"id":"F","name":"Fermín","gender":"M","role":"customer","color":"#00838f","avatar":{"bg":"#1b2a33","skin":"#f1c8a5","hair":"#1c1a1a","style":"slick","shirt":"#1b1b1b","bow":true,"mustache":true,"mustacheColor":"#1c1a1a"},"clue":"A washtub was somewhere in his column.","job":"a waiter collecting his uniforms","avatarSvg":"","solverRole":"customer","constraints":[{"type":"col_has","obj":"washtub"}]},{"id":"G","name":"Graciela","gender":"F","role":"customer","color":"#ad1457","avatar":{"bg":"#00695c","skin":"#f6d8c0","hair":"#d9b464","style":"long","shirt":"#f4efe6","necklace":true,"earrings":true},"clue":"She was beside a washtub.","job":"a bride with her wedding dress","avatarSvg":"","solverRole":"customer","constraints":[{"type":"beside","obj":"washtub"}]},{"id":"V","name":"Ventura","gender":"M","role":"victim","color":"#1b1b1b","avatar":{"bg":"#5a2a2a","skin":"#e4b998","hair":"#d9d4cc","style":"bald","shirt":"#8b7a5a","mustache":true,"mustacheColor":"#d9d4cc","apron":true},"clue":"The victim. He was found in the Ironing Room, beside the mangle – alone with the murderer.","job":"owner of the laundry","avatarSvg":"","solverRole":"owner","constraints":[{"type":"area","areas":["Ironing Room"]},{"type":"beside","obj":"mangle"}]}],"victim":"V","murderer":"F","solution":{"A":[1,2],"D":[2,8],"B":[3,6],"C":[4,3],"E":[5,4],"G":[6,7],"V":[7,1],"F":[8,5]},"walkthrough":[{"place":["C","V"],"cand":{"A":[[1,2],[2,2],[2,4],[3,2],[5,2],[5,4],[6,4],[8,2],[8,4]],"B":[[2,5],[2,6],[3,5],[3,6],[3,7],[5,5],[5,6],[5,7],[6,5],[6,6],[6,7],[8,5],[8,6],[8,7]],"D":[[2,8],[3,8],[5,8],[8,8]],"E":[[1,2],[5,4]],"F":[[1,5],[2,5],[3,5],[5,5],[6,5],[8,5]],"G":[[3,5],[5,5],[6,7]]},"text":"Ventura was found in the Ironing Room beside the mangle (R7C2): R7C1, R7C3 or R8C2 (R6C2 is a laundry basket) – and the murderer was alone with him, so the Ironing Room holds exactly two people. Consuelo was beside the handcart (R3C3): R3C2 or R4C3 (R3C4 is a laundry basket, and the desk at R2C3 is in the Office). Amparo had a laundry basket (R3C4 or R6C2) somewhere in her column, so she is in column 2 or 4; Encarna was sitting on a bench, R1C2 or R5C4 – column 2 or 4 as well. Two people confined to the same two columns fill them between them: nobody else is in column 2 or 4. So Consuelo is not at R3C2: Consuelo is at R4C3, in the Washing Hall. Ventura’s R8C2 lies in column 2 and R7C3 in Consuelo’s column: Ventura is at R7C1. Two facts for later: Domingo was in the last column, and every free square of column 8 lies in the Drying Yard – so Domingo is in the Yard, the Yard holds exactly three people (him and two others) and nobody else is in column 8; and Baltasar had a man one row north of him, so he is not in row 1."},{"place":["E","G"],"cand":{"A":[[1,2],[2,2],[8,2]],"B":[[2,5],[2,6],[3,6],[8,5],[8,6]],"D":[[2,8],[3,8],[8,8]],"F":[[1,5],[2,5],[8,5]]},"text":"Encarna was alone with one laundry worker: her area holds exactly two people, she and a worker. On the bench at R1C2 in the Entrance she would have nobody with her at all – R2C2 is in her own column, R2C1 and R3C1 are in Ventura’s column, and R1C1 is the counter. So Encarna is at R5C4, on the bench in the Washing Hall, and the worker with her is Consuelo. The Washing Hall is therefore full: nobody else is in it. Column 4 is Encarna’s, so Amparo is in column 2 – R1C2, R2C2 or R8C2 (R3C2 lies in the full Washing Hall). Graciela was beside a washtub. Every square beside the washtubs R4C2 and R4C5 lies in the Washing Hall; beside the washtub R6C8 there are R5C8 (Encarna’s row), R7C8 (Ventura’s row) and R6C7: Graciela is at R6C7, in the Drying Yard."},{"place":["F","A"],"cand":{"B":[[2,6],[3,6]],"D":[[2,8],[3,8]]},"text":"Now a head count of the Drying Yard. Domingo said exactly two other people were in his area, so the Yard holds exactly three people – Domingo, Graciela and one more. Who can the third be? Four people are left, Amparo, Baltasar, Domingo and Fermín, for the four free columns 2, 5, 6 and 8. Amparo is in column 2 and Domingo in column 8; Fermín had a washtub somewhere in his column – column 2, 5 or 8 – so he is in column 5, and column 6 is left for Baltasar. Outside the taken rows 4–7, column 6 has R1C6, R2C6, R3C6 and R8C6 left – all in the Drying Yard: Baltasar is the third person of the Yard, and the Yard is full. Fermín’s squares in column 5: R1C5 and R2C5 lie in the full Yard, R3C5 in the full Washing Hall, rows 5–7 are taken – Fermín is at R8C5, in the Ironing Room. He is the one who was alone with Ventura: Fermín is the murderer. Rows 1, 2 and 3 remain for Amparo, Baltasar and Domingo; Baltasar is not in row 1, and Domingo’s column has the tree at R1C8 – so Amparo is in row 1: Amparo is at R1C2, on the bench in the Entrance."},{"place":["B","D"],"cand":{},"text":"Baltasar is in column 6, in row 2 or 3 (R2C6 or R3C6), Domingo in column 8, in row 2 or 3 (R2C8 or R3C8). Baltasar had a man exactly one row north of him: at R2C6 the person one row north would be Amparo – a woman. So Baltasar is at R3C6, and Domingo takes row 2: Domingo is at R2C8 – indeed a man one row north of Baltasar. The Drying Yard holds Domingo, Baltasar and Graciela: exactly two other people with Domingo, as he said. Everyone is placed."},{"final":true,"text":"Case closed: Ventura was alone in the Ironing Room with the waiter who had come for his uniforms. Fermín is the murderer!"}],"solver":{"rules":[],"occupiable":["bench","stool"]},"verification":{"tool":"tools/murdoku_solver.py","unique":true,"guessFree":true,"checked":"2026-10-06"},"score":8.1332}