How To Do Laundry While On The Road?

Travel laundry is a crucial aspect of any trip, and there are various options available depending on your budget, destination, and travel style. Some common methods include using hotel services, which offer laundry services such as washing, drying, ironing, and hanging or folding clothes. Other options include using hotel sinks or bath tubs for hand washing, booking accommodations with self-service laundry options, finding a Laundromat, local laundry services, traveling by RV or campervan, and hand washing outdoors.

To ensure you can bring everything you need for your trip, consider packing less clothing and planning to do laundry while traveling. Travel wash bags are an all-in-one solution for small items like underwear, making it a viable option to wash as you go. Soak clothes with detergent, either purchased in the country or all-purpose camping soap. A microfiber towel can dry sopping wet laundry faster than a clothesline.

For sink laundry, use a travel clothesline, a sink stopper, and small packets of laundry detergent. To spot treat clothes, use a stain-removing pen and fill the sink with warm water and add detergent. Polyester blend jeans and pants are lighter and take less time to wash and air dry.

In summary, laundry while traveling can be done through various methods, including using hotel services, finding a Laundromat, local laundry services, and traveling by RV or campervan. By following these guidelines, you can ensure a comfortable and efficient laundry experience during your trip.


📹 How to do Laundry in a Hotel While Traveling

Sink, dry bag, Scrubba, shower…what say you? Links below – Fun Washy Stuff Soaps: Sea to Summit Laundry Wash: …


How do you keep dirty clothes from smelling when traveling?

To keep your luggage clean and smellless during your trip, pack a travel-size fabric refresher spray like Febreeze, which is an odor-eliminating spray that can be used to clean clothes and dirty ones. If you’re flying, opt for a travel-size spray that’s 100ml or less. Additionally, learn how to handle dirty clothes, as they can easily stifle your luggage. There are three effective ways to handle dirty laundry during your trip.

How to do laundry while backpacking through Europe?

To achieve a hygienic and tidy appearance for those with limited resources, it is recommended to pack a waterproof dry bag and a few laundry detergent packets. The bag should be filled with water and then agitated manually for a period of between three and five minutes, in a manner that imitates the action of a washing machine.

Is laundry free in hostels?

When traveling, it’s essential to inquire about your hostel’s laundry service, as many have a laundry room or service that allows for laundry service based on weight. If not available, you’ll need to find a local laundrette. To freshen up clothes, hang them on hangers or hang them in a breeze to dry them out and reduce odours. When packing clothes, choose items that can be easily mixed and matched, as washing them often isn’t always possible. Reversing underwear for the day is also acceptable if necessary. Remember, re-wearing dirty clothes isn’t shameful, and if you’re desperate, don’t hesitate to revert underwear for the day.

How to wash clothes in hotel room without detergent?

Rick Rome, founder of WashClub, recommends liquid hand soap as the best detergent substitute due to its ability to break down oils, dirt, and kill bacteria. Shampoo is also a gentle option for all fabrics, but should be used in small amounts for easy washing. If shampoo is unavailable, liquid body wash can be used, but not overused. For stains, a soap bar can be used, but avoid two-in-one products with conditioner as they can spoil textile fibers. Additionally, it is advised not to boil underwear in the kettle.

How do you deal with dirty laundry while traveling?

To store dirty laundry during travel, use a garbage bag or plastic bag, which helps keep the smell contained. Other options include compression bags, dry bags, packing cubes, or pillowcases. Roll up dirty clothes in a towel or store them separately in your suitcase. Doing laundry is a preferred method for dealing with dirty clothes, as it allows for fewer clothes and lighter travel as you don’t need to pack a different outfit for each day.

Where do you wash clothes when Travelling?
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Where do you wash clothes when Travelling?

Hotel services are essential in the hospitality industry, providing full laundry services for travelers. These services can be a lifesaver, especially if you have packed too little or intentionally packed lightly. Most hotels have a laundry bag available for you to place your clothes for washing. To use the laundry service, follow these steps:

  1. Get the hotel laundry bag, usually found in your room. If you cannot find one, call the front desk to request one.

  2. Check the price list for each service to avoid surprises when receiving your bill. Depending on your location, hotel laundry services can be expensive. Fill out the guest laundry card to ensure you receive exactly what you need for your clothes.

  3. Leave your clothes in the hotel laundry bag in the hallway for your maid to pick up. If you prefer not to leave your clothes in the hallway, call the front desk and make arrangements for another option.

  4. Note the turnaround service times to know the approximate time your clothes will be ready. If they are not returned within a reasonable amount of time, you can inquire about the delivery of your clothing. Overall, hotel laundry services are a crucial part of the hospitality industry, providing a convenient and efficient laundry service for travelers.

How do backpackers do laundry?

The sink approach is a prevalent methodology among backpackers for the cleansing of garments. This method employs a sink drain plug, soap, hot water, and hand-washing. A universal drain plug is available for travelers. Additionally, socks or washcloths can be rolled up and wrapped in plastic bags for cleansing. Coin-operated laundromats are a common feature of the global laundry infrastructure, typically located in larger towns or cities. They are often accessible within hostels or guesthouses.

How to do laundry when you’re Travelling?

To maintain optimal standards of cleanliness, it is recommended to either stay with someone who has access to a washing machine, utilize the laundry services provided by the hotel, or identify a suitable laundromat, dry cleaner, or wash-and-fold establishment on a weekly basis.

How to freshen clothes without washing while traveling?

Baking soda can be used to remove odors and sweat from clothing by shaking it in a bag and then brushing it off. However, it’s important to be mindful of the fabric, as using baking soda on silk or leather may cause harm. This method takes longer and doesn’t work as well as a steamer or other methods. If a steamer isn’t available, consider freezing garments like denim in a bag. The author prefers to put their garments in a bag before freezing.

How to wash clothes when traveling in Europe?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

How to wash clothes when traveling in Europe?

Launderette services are common in Western Europe, but less common east of Germany. It takes about an hour and $10-15 to wash and dry an average-size load. Some short-term rentals have laundry facilities, and many hostels have coin-op washers and dryers or heated drying rooms. Better launderettes have coin-op soap dispensers, change machines, English instructions, and helpful attendants. Some machines are automated, but many have pictogram instructions.

Look for a sign listing the “last wash” time and stick to it. The procedure usually includes the same steps as at home. If visiting a launderette, pack one or two small detergent boxes, but you can buy them at the launderette from a dispenser. Most washers have soap compartments with three reservoirs: prewash, main wash cycle, and fabric softener.

How can I freshen my clothes without washing while traveling?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

How can I freshen my clothes without washing while traveling?

Baking soda can be used to remove odors and sweat from clothing by shaking it in a bag and then brushing it off. However, it’s important to be mindful of the fabric, as using baking soda on silk or leather may cause harm. This method takes longer and doesn’t work as well as a steamer or other methods. If a steamer isn’t available, consider freezing garments like denim in a bag. The author prefers to put their garments in a bag before freezing.


📹 How to do laundry while traveling (& packing light)

I can’t even count the number of times I’ve been asked, so in this video, I’ll share the ultimate guide on how to pack AND wash …


How To Do Laundry While On The Road
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Debbie Green

I am a school teacher who was bitten by the travel bug many decades ago. My husband Billy has come along for the ride and now shares my dream to travel the world with our three children.The kids Pollyanna, 13, Cooper, 12 and Tommy 9 are in love with plane trips (thank goodness) and discovering new places, experiences and of course Disneyland.

About me

50 comments

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  • One of my little luxuries when traveling to NYC (or any major city) is to use whatever wash-and-fold is close by, I also do this on the last day of my trip if I can, so I can carry home a bunch of clean laundry and just put it away. Usually it’s US$10 and sure I could do it myself, but it’s such a treat.

  • I love these options a lot! Another option to save money is looking into laundry detergent sheets, like Earth’s Breeze. I put a bunch in a ziplock bag, flatten it out to get all the air out & seal it. It literally takes up no room. To do soaks, just dissolve it in water before adding the clothes. You have to handle the sheets with dry hands otherwise they will melt & stick together, so take out what you need before you wash. Then if you use all the soap, you have an extra bag for storage!

  • What previous generations did in the UK at least, was to wear cotton under shirts or vests and cotton underwear and socks that they could change each day whilst wearing the same exterior clothes each day. Keeping the external clothes from smelling bad from your sweat and oils, and it’s very hygienic for anyone even if they don’t shower or bath daily 🙂 . They just wiped clean any stains or blemishes when they happened with wet cotton cloth or damp handkerchief 👍

  • I have travelled to Scotland twice with one backpack, and I used polyester shorts and shirts. Even with large clothes (3x and 4x), and spraying Coke over my mock turtleneck on the plane first trip, i survived with hand-washing essentials, a couple washer loads, and just being careful about getting dirty. I recommend Doc Martens or similar black boots, because they are a lot more resistant to dirt than white tennis shoes. Black Docs go with everything from shorts to just short of black tie. Also, consider hostels if privacy isn’t required. Most hostels have pay washers or will provide laundry services at reasonable prices.

  • I have washed clothes in a sink quite a few times. I NEVER pack for more than 4 days. Washing clothing in a sink is quite simple. I use a body wash soap that I can also use for washing clothes. And, at least for me, rinsing them is usually just done when I take a shower. Best, is socks. I use hiking socks, so I can routinely get a couple days out of a pair. So long as one is dry, I am good. I usually only take a pair of socks for every 2 days I am away. I have practiced that for decades, with no ill effects.

  • I use an Ortlieb PS10 drybag both as my wet gym kit bag and to do my laundry in – fill with clothes, add water and detergent (and sometimes a couple of small rubber agitator ball thingies) and seal, then happily mush the contents back and forth for fifteen minutes while perusal youtube, then rinse and dry. That way i can get even quite large loads done in the same time as it takes to do small ones. And no worries about skin irritation from touching detergents.

  • I have a habit of accumulating old and worn out clothing and use them for my trips. I may not look the fanciest but my low key appearance makes me less of a target for pickpockets, and stain is no longer an issue. I dispose my worn and dirty clothes one by one along the way. No need to wash them or you get to do less laundry if you strategically plan your outfits in the itinerary. Another benefit is the empty space in your luggage at the end of the trip that you can use for souvenirs.

  • Thanks, Maurice, for your detailed and exacting explanations! I’m glad you added the towel trick at the end. That makes SUCH a difference in the dry time. Also, a fan or an A/C unit in the room to move the air makes a huge difference. I’m also a fan of merino wool because of all the reasons you give. Although they may be a little more pricey in the beginning, they will last and last. I’ve had my same four shirts for nine years, and no one else would ever be able to guess their age! Oh yeah, and one more one more thing: when I was being lazy, I’d wear my clothes into the shower, soap it down while still on me, and then do my final rinses in the sink. 😊

  • protip: learned this from my career flight attendant mother. For Step 10, you can make a clothing-towel sandwich (lay towel flat, lay clothing flat, then another towel) and stomping all over it in a kind of pow-wow dance. Your arms are probably really tired by step 10, and this lets you get rid of just as much moisture (if not more) with your legs instead of your arms. Your clothes will be protected by the top towel, but do this with bare or sock feet just to be safe.

  • I was my clothes on all my trips too so that j can keep things in one 25 liter backpack when I travel. I buy quick dry clothing like the workout shirts and and shorts and just bring those with me. Whatever I wear in that day I hope in the shower and wash the clothes and then myself. I let it air dry the full day and repeat with my next outfit. I only pack two outfits so I always have fresh clothes. You take it to a whole nother level though and I appreciate that. I also appreciate the dry ex recommendation and will be going in to see what they have. Thanks for your article. I always appreciate them.

  • One great advice, you deserve good quality clothes because they help you stay clean, and healty. Also if something is expensive see what are you wearing and how often it wears down as lesse quality items dont last as long. And then stop buying that item and save to get the great quality one. It helps you build slowly and then pack less as well

  • I essentially do the same when traveling for work. I carry two tide pods, 3 work shirts (cotton so only wearable twice) 2 pairs of redkap work pants, a pair of jeans, and 2 Volcom collared shirts. I normally do laundry on Saturday so I bring 6 underwear and 6 socks, all fits in a carry on neatly and people wonder how I go weeks, sometimes months on the road at a time. Little bit of planning goes a long way

  • Maurice, that was a very nice lesson on how to wash socks etc in a hotel sink. I think we forget to take care with washing and rinsing when travel. Especially in the very very small sinks in a hotel room. Also, I didn’t realize that cotton was such a problem with drying. Wrinkling I knew about but the drying issue is new to me. I think I also need to look into Marino wool. I’ve started using Marino wool socks exclusive but I’d like to find other items as well.

  • Thanks for showing your washing routine, that was helpful! One tip I would add is to bring rubber gloves or single use kitchen gloves (which you can also use multiple times, just have to be careful). They take up hardly any space at all, but are bliss for dry and sensitive skin, as the detergent can be irritating to bare skin.

  • When washing I don’t wring (with twisting motion) the clothes to remove excess water. Wringing distorts the fibers as well as the seams. Instead, I squeeze as much of the water out and hang the clothes using a hanger in laundry clips that l’ve modified to have a hook. I carry laundry clips with hooks to accommodate just about any situation to hang stuff in the bathroom. If the hotel room has a patio with chairs, I’ll discretely hang the clothes outside to dry.

  • Crank up the AC in the evening as it helps with drying (at least in tropical countries) and ideally diy-hang it in a place facing the AC vents. Not ultra close but just generally in that direction. Or when it’s done dripping, just transfer it in the open room area instead of just the bathroom. Even my cotton shirts dry overnight if I do this. Also, for wrinkle-prone tops, if you must bring one, let it drip dry on a hanger. Don’t twist-wring it. Just press or squeeze lightly. Might stretch a bit when it dries, tho. Cons of some fabrics. Best affordable options for a frequent traveller in tropical/warm countries – uniqlo dryEx, dry fit/synthetic fabrics and the likes. Agree with Maurice. Try to always bring easy dry and non wrinkle options. I do bring at least 1 thin cotton top and bottoms for sleepwear for comfort. So you don’t always have to sacrifice comfort over convenience when travelling. Find your style and balance because exploring/travelling should feel good inside 😊 and on your skin! 😂

  • One thing I learned in the Philippines is that sometimes you gotta air dry with the air conditioning on our where the exhaust fan of the air conditioning is blowing if it’s otherwise too humid to dry your clothing outside. That’s not something I experienced here in the States if it wasn’t straight-up raining…. just 24 hours of sopping wet clothes if you line-dry outside and it’s humid!

  • Another great article 👍 We use a so called scrubba bag for washing over the last years on our cycle tours and it works great. Cause we are on tiny folding bikes, our space is rather limited, so it also doubles as a dry bag. Gonna be with us for our tour around Taiwan in 2 weeks. We actually found Merino wool, even the high quality kind, can get holes pretty quick under our more challenging conditions, so we also use a Polyester/cotton mixed fabric wich we tread with a so called ” anti stink 😂😅” softener before each long journey and it works pretty well so far. All the best Mister Moves! Ben&Sarah

  • Good tips This is what I do. 1. Invest in the right clothes. 2. Pack 1 clean shirt for each day. One set of underwear, 1 pair of socks per day. 3. Wear pants 2-3 days…3 pair of pants = 9 days. Black or blue bottoms, coordinates with every color top possible. 4. 2 sleep shirts, flip flops for casual wear, and as slippers.

  • Those “express” laundry service places are VERY convenient in Asia–they can even deliver your clothes to your hotel (usually for a small extra fee). One con is that they commonly run their dryers at high heat, which isn’t too good for the elastic in your underwear waistbands (and items like compression socks, which I wear daily).

  • Thanks to you, I have a ton of merino wool stuff. It’s been in Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, Costa Rica, all over North America, in hot and cold weather. I call them my magic shirts. It’s way easier travelling alone, though. We are heading to Vietnam as a family today, and doing laundry for four people (especially when they don’t all have magic clothing like mine) is more challenging! We will find a service or wait for a hotel with laundry where we are staying for a few days. I travel with Castile soap for laundry and multi-purpose, and sometimes a clothing line to hang stuff easier for drying. It doesn’t have to be anything special. I’ve been known to take a bungee cord or even a long shoelace or hockey skate lace to tie up under the AC. Thanks for the great content!

  • Hey Maurice, love your content, consistently solid! I’m a frequent traveller for work and often do one bag travel, whether for 4 days or 4 months. My go-to system for packing less and washing clothes is similar to yours except I use the Scrubba bag. It’s a “washer bag” that can double as a compression bag when packing and/or a waterproof bag for wet bathing suits, that is particularly good at what you describe as the fiber to fiber washing (I forget your exact words). I also always travel with a clothes line. Sea to Summit makes one with technology for easy hooking the line and hanging the clothes. It comes in handy if I do a big wash and there isn’t enough hangers or surfaces for drying. Thanks for all your amazing advice!

  • Enjoyed the article and brought back travel laundry memories. one idea to consider is a small rechargeable travel fan. While you are spot on that cotton can take days to dry in SE Asia, any kind of air movement can speed up drying time. You can pretty reliably dry clothes over night with just a small fan.

  • Great hand washing tutorial plus other options! We pack one week or less worth of clothing no matter how long we’re traveling (even for years). We wash our laundry in all different manners: washing machine at Airbnb, washing machine at hotel, laundromat, laundry service. I could hand wash, but I haven’t really needed to in years. We also pack almost exclusively Merino wool, which makes air drying so much easier! 🌸Heidi

  • Haha, that’s almost how I do my laundry while on cruise or abroad staying in hotels sans the soaking and 3 cycles. I use whatever is in my disposal, bath soap or body wash that the hotel or ship provides. If it cleanses the oil and grime off my body, I believe that does wonders to my clothes and they smell good, too😀😀😀 And if it is just a piece or two, I would hang it close to the air vent or every few hours or so, I would use hair dryer.

  • To save a lot of handwashing time, or if you have a tiny sink (I go on a lot of cruises and the sinks are usually only about 10 cm deep), carry a lightweight kayaking dry-bag and a rinse-optional laundry soap like Eucalan (which will also help your merino, cashmere and silk last longer). Pretreat stains with Eucalan, stuff dirty clothing in dry-bag, add the remaing Eucalan. Add water to the dry-bag (from shower or bathtub tap is easier), seal it, and roll it around on the tub or shower floor to agitate. Let it soak 15 minutes, roll it around some more, open the seal and stand on the bag to get most of the water out. Squeeze the remaining water out of each piece, then lay them flat on a beach or bath towel, roll them up, let capillary action remove most of the remaining water over 15 minutes or so, then hang each piece on hangers. Merino will dry overnight. PS: also get merino socks; like the shirts they remain fresh an amazingly long time and you can get 6 pairs of black merino socks from Amazon for $26 (brand name LIXIA).

  • We’re driving a jeep from Alaska to the bottom of Argentina. We occasionally use laundry services but also often use a scrubba (to wash) and a synthetic chamois (to dry partially). Also… Latin America has bar laundry soap so if you can pickup some of that you could probably cut a bit off for air travel.

  • Great article! I spot treat clothing before washing them in the sink. It’s easier to hold up the garment while still dry, and quickly find spots that need an extra spot scrub with the toothbrush. Then suds up with the other stuff. 🤓 I’m one of those lucky people who gets chilli oil stains – esp when I’m wearing a white T shirt 😅

  • I had the worst case scenario when I was in Taipei. I had hand wash my clothes, however the sink didn’t keep the water, it just kept flowing out, like in most of the hotels in Taiwan I stayed at. And the room in Taipei had such high humidity and I couldn’t figure out how to use the air-conditioning, that my clothes needed days to dry. 😅 Luckily the next hotel had coin laundry and I could wash my clothes again because they didn’t really smell well after taking too long for drying. 😅 The towel trick with rolling the clothes in the towel is great!

  • I’ve travelled a bit by myself when I was younger & it’s not that difficult to find hostels with laundry room – they charge extra of course. In many parts of SE Asia laundromats are quite affordable, maybe not the case in the EU though. I’m also accustomed to washing my own stuffs & when I moved to NL I’m learning more about caring for natural fabrics like wool & linen. What I think also a great idea is to “slow down” your travel pace: not only it gives me some days to do laundry, it relaxes my mind a bit. If you go to a new city every other day then maybe it’s a hassle to do laundry (even the express one) & you may end up overpacking.. 😅

  • In some of the European hotels, I’ve been to there are no hangers. I actually bring along a traveling clothesline with snap on to hang wet items. There’s always a way to connect it, don’t use anything that comes with suction cups. They’re worthless. And I use shampoo, always provided by the hotel to wash out my items…

  • I soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Rub a little on certain spots. Rinse 3 times. Done. My wife taught me this and she used to hand wash everything in days gone by. But I also just found some detergenct sheets which are very light and quite cheap on Amazon. Not tested yet so we will se how good they are.

  • Thanks for taking the time to make this article! Have you noticed that using laundry detergent with enzymes wears down the natural lanolin / anti-odor properties of Unbound Merino shirts faster? I’m also curious about all that wringing, do you notice it stretching out your shirts over time? I’m interested in improving my own travel laundry process based on your experience. (You were the one who got me into Unbound Merino in the first place and I’ve been so happy I made the switch! 🙏🏻)

  • Two things to keep in mind: * All my clothes are cold wash only so its always easy to wash them anywhere * I have one of those collapsible pop-up washing machines. Whilst not the largest, socks, jocks and singlet will fit. Shirts and pants need to be done separately though on their own cycles. Providing you use it daily, it makes it very easy to do your washing as you’re free to be productive or to relax whilst it runs.

  • Also seems like you haven’t heard of Supima cotton yet? 🙂 100% supima T-shirts are lighter and softer and while they get wet with sweat, they dry fast also…overnight full dry. I have tried the Uniqlo Airism T-shirt and while they are nice, they are thicker and heavier and adds to the weight when doing 7kg carry on only.

  • I don’t know how people wear merino in hot weather. I bought into the “temperature regulating” hype and brought few icebreaker and outlier merino shirts to Japan in the summer, and it was the most miserable experience. Once you sweat it stays wet and heavy for longer periods of time than cotton and leaves this disgusting damp heavy towel feeling. If it’s 100% merino it’s also scratchy and itchy against the skin. Since it stays wet for longer periods of time, when you wash it in the hotel room it also takes longer to dry. The better solution is to go with linen or thin synthetics like patagonia capilene shirts, uniqlo airism or any tencel shirts. They don’t have as great of an anti odor property as merino so you probably can’t wear it for as long without washing but I wouldn’t want to wear merino shirts for too many wears after soaking it with my sweat anyways. I only buy merino blend shirts now so they aren’t as scratchy and are less likely to tear and only take them for colder weather trips.

  • Cotton is hydrophilic, meaning it loves water. And like wool, it wicks sweat (water & salt) and fatty oils from your groin and armpits away that’s easily washed with soapy water. In comparison, Nylon and Polyester are oil based materials that attract oil—this essentially makes them a sieve where bad smelling oils remain trapped. Rayon is cellulose based like cotton and reacts similarly with bacteria. Your bad impression of cotton might be from where you leave it to dry. If you put a freshly washed cotton item that’s still damp in a laundry basket covered in bacteria, a ‘bloom’ of bad smells could occur. But it’s easily avoided if you wash and dry clothes the way you did in this article.

  • I always travel super light and on a few occasions I didn’t have time to wait for things to air dry so I used the in room microwave. You don’t want to cook your clothes but you can use the microwave to get the water in the clothes quite hot which speeds up the drying process. You can microwave the clothes, hang it to dry and repeat as needed. A few occasions I only had t2o hours to dry my stuff and this really worked out. Try not to put your socks and underwear in the microwave even if they are clean… out of respect for other guests.

  • I have bought and tried a bunch of Unbound Merino clothing (T-shirts, pants, socks, beanies — almost USD 900 in merchandise) but I was not impressed. The pants in my size didn’t fit me well and was stretchy, which made both my tailor and I wonder what fabric it was since wool wasn’t stretchy like that. The beanie was one size and too small. The shirt doesn’t stay odor-free even after a couple of days in hot and humid weather. Unlike their marketing claims, their clothing doesn’t keep you extra warm or cool. Moreover, they pill easily when washed, which makes the expensive clothing especially painful on the wallet. Also, the shirts have to be dried flat, and not hung up as the weight of the water would pull on and misshapen the clothing, adding another hassle. Even the socks pill easily — they wear out and holes eventually appear after regular use. I’d say each pair has about 1-2 months of life. However, they are comfortable, and more importantly, they stay up and this is the only reason I still use and buy them. I kept the shirt I used and the socks, and returned all the other clothing. I can only recommend their socks albeit the expense. I haven’t tried the products other than those above, so YMMV. Also, whenever I travel, whether for work or leisure, I simply use the hotel’s laundry service. Considering the cost of the flights and accommodation, it does not make sense to me to waste my time and energy on laundry when I should be using my limited time there to travel, explore, or work.

  • Sorry but I will not wear plastic. That airism stuff makes me sweat and its wholly uncomfortable. I take linen everywhere and am looking at merino thanks to you. I’ve never really had a problem with cotton not drying but Jakarta is more humid than where I generally end up. I like looking for the laundromat because I’ve met some of the most interesting people in them.

  • Great article. One questions: the “wringing” you are doing is pretty aggressive and I’ve heard others say (and my own experience has shown me) that the aggressive twisting/wringing can damage and stretch the fibers, particularly wool. Squeezing without twisting gets most of the water out, but not as much as wringing. Anyone else have feedback on this?

  • Very informative article. Much appreciated. Laundry in the sink reminds me of the movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, lol. Still in Jakarta? Well, many greetings from the neighboring city of Bogor. Also, since you are here in Indonesia during the monsoon season, maybe you could also do a article of how you protect yourself, your bags, and your gear from heavy downpour. Might be interesting for the viewers.

  • Ahhhhh…. I wear my underwear and shirts in the shower. Shampoo works great as a laundry detergent. Ring them out; let them dry overnight and then iron them between two towels if it’s polyester. if I don’t want to let them hang. I just iron them for a minute and then iron them between towels. I wash my polyester pants and socks in the sink. Shampoo!

  • Im not sure whether this holds any weight to you but opened your website on a new tab after perusal the geowizard article and seeing your comment, anyways I completely forgot to check it until just now when im closing my tabs a few hours later and I immediately knew it was your website page because your face (saw it in the pinned article) is so similar to your fathers

  • I do it faster. Clean the sink with detergent first. Plug up the sink. Fill up with water & add a bit of concentrated liquid detergent (not powder because powder is harder to wash out of clothes & cause itchiness). Hand scrub the clothing individually. Unplug sink. Bring clothes to shower head & spray clothing inside & out one by one (prevents further clogging up of sink with fibers & cleaner rinse.). Wring dry. Finish.

  • Cotton dominates the market because it is easy and cheap to mass grow, harvest and process. Also quite a tought fabric, not much you have to worry about (good for jeans for example). But anything else about cotton sucks. Merino is a great material, but if you going to a cold climate country cashmere wool is also fantastic… and fantastically expensive.

  • thank you for years of content,! an unsolicited question if all possible, for years ive failed to find the perfect item, the Alpaca zip clutch is almost there.. its, the right footprint at least, just not deep enough, Looking for something that has a sleeve on the outside for a passport, and enough inside for phone, AirPods, pen and a cable, that easily slips into the seatback in front for air travel, sorry, to ask and thank you for any suggestions

  • Thank you for the article! Do you have any advice for trips to EU? I traveled to EU and had trouble with laundry. I couldn’t find small packs of detergent. I ended up going to a laundromat. It had an app that I can use but didn’t load my credit card. (I used both Canadian and Japanese credit cards). I avoid using cash because it is clunky but that is just my preference.

  • WashEZE Laundry Sheets & 5L Dry Bag (cheaper option than Scrubba Portable Wash Bag). Cut WashEZE Laundry Sheets into 1-2 inch wide strips and store in zip lock bag vs. carrying powdered laundry soap. Fill Dry Bag (Freegrace Waterproof Dry Bag) with warm water from sink or bathtub. Toss in 1 strip of WashEZE into dry bag and let the soap from impregnated laundry sheet dissolve into the water. Add an additional strip if you really need to have soapy water to wash really dirty clothes. Place one large item, like a pair of pants, into the dry bag or multiple smaller items. Let soak and then use one arm to churn the clothes vigorously to wash. Pour out dirty water and fill with clean water….repeat until water is clear….clothes are clean. Wring out and hang to dry. These items can be purchased on Amazon. @Maurice…..the dry bag will allow you to use one arm to vigorously plunge/churn the cloths up and down better than a shallow sink for a quicker and better wash. You can also do your laundry at a table or on your bed as the dry bag is like a bucket. You can also use the dry bag to protect clothing or small electronics in your backpack from getting wet/rain. You can use it as a laundry bag to separate dirty from clean clothes. It rolls up to be compact, but is heavier than the plastic bag you used to carry your laundry to the cleaner. However, the dry bag is multi purpose. The WashEZE laundry sheets probably will save you space vs. the small jar you have to store your detergent powder.

  • I can’t believe that people actually need instructions for hand washing clothes. Soak, soap, rinse, wring, hang to dry. Cotton, no iron sport shirts with collars dry fast. Washing is not all that difficult. I spent six months in India with three shirts and two pairs of pants and always managed to look and smell presentable.