Practical Guide To Doing Laundry While Traveling - All You Need To Know!

10/5/2020 Practical Guide to Doing Laundry While Traveling - All You Need to Know!
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Travel Tips: A Guide to

Doing Laundry While
Traveling
Last updated: September 14, 2020- Written
by Jessica Norah - 52 Comments
Welcome! We're Laurence and
Jessica Norah, a travel blogging
Travel is fun but doing laundry while
couple sharing our adventures
traveling can be a tedious chore.
from all over the world. We hope
However, washing your clothes
you'll stick around for our travel
during a trip gives you the advantage
advice, tips, and stories. Find out
of being able to pack less, rewear
more about us here.
your favorite travel clothing, and
return home with less dirty laundry.
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 Contents:
 1. How to Do Your Laundry While MONTHLY GIVEAWAY
 Traveling
 1.1. Use Hotel Services
1.2. Hand Wash Items in the Hotel Sink
or Bath Tub
1.3. Book Accommodation with a Self-
Service Laundry Option
1.4. Find a Laundromat
1.5. Local Laundry services
1.6. Travel by RV or Campervan
1.7. Hand Wash Outdoors (Camping,
Hiking, Backpacking)
2. 6 Things We Recommend for
Washing Clothes While Traveling
2.1. Sink Stopper
2.2. Travel Clothesline
2.3. Travel Sized Laundry Detergent
PHOTO COURSE
2.4. Travel Washing Bag
2.5. Dryer Sheets
2.6. Travel Laundry Bag or Cube
3. Laundry Items for RV / Campervan /
Caravan Travelers
3.1. RV Drying Racks
3.2. Plastic Basin or Dishpan
3.3. Washboard
3.4. Portable Washing Machines
3.5. Washing Machine and Dryer Units

for RVs 

4. Ultrasonic Cleaning Washing
Machines
5. How to Hand Wash Clothes While
Traveling
5.1. Step 1: Sort your Clothing

5.2. Step 2: Clean the Sink, Tub, or
 Basin
 5.3. Step 3: Fill the Sink & Add
 Detergent
5.4. Step 4. Add Clothing

5.5. Step 4. Swirl, Swish, and Scrub

5.6. Step 5. Rinse.

5.7. Step 6. Gently Squeeze or Pat Out
Water
5.8. Step 7. Hang Clothing or Lay Flat
to Dry
6. Tips for Doing Laundry While GIVING BACK
Traveling
How to Do Your Laundry

While Traveling
There are a number of options of
how to wash your laundry while
traveling, and it depends a lot on your
budget, where you are going, and
your travel style.
Use Hotel Services

Most full-service hotels (and cruise
ships) offer laundry services, which
generally include washing, drying,
ironing, and hanging or folding your


clothes. Many also offer dry cleaning
services.
There is normally a laundry bag in

your room that you can use to place

your dirty laundry inside and you then

ll out a form to let the hotel know

what you need done. The forms


normally includes the rates charged
 for each service. Directions of where
 to leave your laundry are normally on RECENT POSTS
the laundry bag (e.g., leave it in your
7 Travel Tips for Bath Lovers
room for housekeeping, call front
September 9, 2020
desk).
Isle of Raasay Travel Guide: Top
Normally you need to allow 24 hours Things to do on Raasay July 18,
to get your clothes returned to you 2020
clean although some hotels offer
Best Vacation Rental Websites:
express same-day
Where & How to Book Online July
service. Sometimes the hotel has its
2, 2020
own in-house laundry services it will
use, and other hotels send out your Guide to Attending the Château-
laundry to an outside service. d’Oex International Hot Air Balloon
Festival in Switzerland June 18,
This is normally the most expensive 2020
way to have your clothes laundered
Guide to the Best Travel Tripods
while traveling. Hotel laundry costs in
2020 May 3, 2020
the United States and Western
Europe are often around $3 to $5 per
shirt, $6 per dress, and $2 to $3 for ARCHIVES
underwear. Adding these up, you are

Select Month 
looking at $30 to $50 for a load of
laundry (we’ve seen prices as high as
$70!) whereas you can do a full load
of laundry at a laundromat for about
$6.


The trade-off of course is the

convenience as hotel laundry


services are easy and convenient.
 However, they are also your most
 expensive option. If you are on a
budget, we’d recommend another
option.
However, in some countries, such as

many in Asia, Africa, and Latin
America, prices for laundry are very
inexpensive. So you may pay only a
few dollars for a load of laundry to be
washed and dried and this is both a
convenient and inexpensive option.
However, luxury hotels in these
countries often still have fairly high
prices.
Note that in some places, this may

be your only option. For instance in a
national park in Africa, we had not
other options for laundry services
outside of our lodging. However,
prices are generally much more


reasonable in developing countries.
Hand Wash Items in the

Hotel Sink or Bath Tub
Another way is to hand wash your

dirty clothing in the hotel sink or bath


tub. This simply means lling up the
 sink with water, adding laundry soap,
 and hand washing your dirty clothing
 items. Then you can hang them up
 over the bath tub or shower to dry. If
you are new to hand washing, you
can skip ahead to read our detailed
step-by-step guide to hand washing
your clothing.
This is great way to do smaller items

like socks, underwear, hosiery, tank
tops, tee shirts, etc. However, it may
be less effective for larger items and
more soiled clothing. It also works
best with items made of quick dry
fabrics that are able to hang and dry
overnight (or at least within 24
hours). Items hung in humid
environments, such as tropical
countries, are going to take longer to
dry.
If you plan to do a lot of hand


washing, we recommend packing
clothing made of quick dry fabrics.
Synthetic fabrics typically dry faster
than natural bers, and quick dry
fabrics include polyester, nylon, and

other synthetic fabrics. Synthetic


blends combine natural bers with
 synthetic ones.

 Columbia, Ex-O cio, prAna, and

 Adidas are a few well-known brands
that produce a lot of quick dry
clothing that is well-suited for travel
and sports. You can see more
examples of quick dry clothing items
here.
You’ll need to bring your own laundry

soap and any other products you
need. We’d also recommend bringing
a sink stopper and a travel
clothesline. Some motels around the
world have a retractable
clothesline installed over the bathtub
so guests can do hand laundry but
the majority do not.
For those who plan to do a lot of

hand washing or are traveling for a
longer period of time, we also
recommend considering a

Scrubba travel washing bag or a mini
washboard to get items cleaner.
Note that some hotels strongly

discourage guests doing laundry in

sinks and hanging it in the rooms,

and it may be against the hotel

policy. The main reason is that some


guests make a wet mess all over the
 bathroom and cause extra work for
 the housekeeping staff and possible
damage. Other reasons may be
related to saving water, the extra
humidity that may damage walls,
hygiene, and getting lint stuck in
drains. Hotels with their own laundry
services may also want to encourage
you use them instead.
Hand washing laundry is a great way

to save money and is common
among budget travelers; however, be
sure to be a good guest and do it
without making a mess or wasting
water. Don’t hang wet laundry
anywhere where the dripping water
may cause damage.


Book Accommodation with a

Self-Service Laundry Option


Another option is to book lodging
 with some sort of self-service
laundry option whether it is an
apartment, campsite, or hostel. The
laundry facilities may be free or
require a small fee.
You can book apartments, rooms,

vacation homes, or other types of
accommodation that come with a
washing machine (and possibly a
dryer) in the apartment or home.
These are typically free to use in
apartments and Airbnb properties if
they are private, or are coin-operated
if shared within the building. Laundry
detergent, dryer sheets, and other
products may be left to help you do
laundry or you may need to bring
these with you, so it’s good to check
ahead.
Airbnb properties can be a good


option if you are seeking an
apartment or room with laundry
facilities while traveling. If you
haven’t used Airbnb before, you can
read our Airbnb review here. You can

also check out our other


suggested apartment booking sites
 like AirBnB.

 Self-service laundry facilities are also

 often available in hostels, apartment
complexes, cruise ships, nicer RV
and campsites, resorts, and some
motels. These may be free to use,
but they usually require a fee (often
around $2.00 per load). Typically they
work with coins or cash. You will also
normally need to bring your own
laundry detergent and other products
or buy them on-site.
Find a Laundromat
Laundromats, also commonly known
as coin laundries, launderettes, and
laundrettes, are facilities where
people can wash their laundry on
their own or with little professional
help.
These may just offer self-service


washing and drying machines
(typically coin-operated), or they may
offer additional services such as
drop off laundry services where
someone else washes, dries, and

folds you laundry. They may also


offer other services such as dry
 cleaning or tailoring. Some have an
 on-site staff member to provide help
 and to provide change, but some are
 now totally self-service.
Laundromats are common in some

countries but nonexistent in others,
so you will want to do your research
in advance to see if there will be
laundromats along your travels. Also,
most laundromats exist in cities and
larger towns, but you’re unlikely to
nd them in small towns or rural
areas even in countries like the
United States where laundromats are
relatively common.
Machines typically work with coins or

tokens, so it is a good idea to bring
cash. If you have cash but no coins,
many coin-operated laundromats
have coin machines on-site you can
use to get coins or an assistant who
can exchange cash for coins. A few


newer laundromats have machines
you can pay for using a phone app.
It is typically about USD $1.00 to

$3.00 per wash and $1.00 to $3.00

per dry if you use the coin-operated

machines, and machines will

typically hold a large load. You can


use multiple machines at once so
 you can do all your washing at once
 and then all your drying at once if you
have multiple loads. Most
laundromats have heavy-duty
professional machines which can
hold larger loads and wash or dry
laundry faster than a typical home
machine.
Another option offered by many

laundromats is a drop off option
where you drop off your laundry and
a staff member will wash, dry, and
fold your laundry for you. You just
need to pick it back up. Although
more convenient, this service is
normally 3 to 4 times more
expensive than doing your laundry
yourself.
There is always seating available in


laundromats, but there may or may
not be any other amenities. WiFi is
fairly common these days. You are
wise to bring along a
book/magazine, headphones,

tablet/laptop, cards, etc. to keep


yourself occupied while you wait. We
 played a few games of UNO (a card
 game) the last time we were in a
 laundromat while traveling with my
 brother. Some newer laundromats
offer wide screen TVs, work desks,
arcade games, coffee, etc. but these
are not typical.
The main advantage is that

laundromats are inexpensive and
they allow you to do all your laundry
at once. It can also be a place to
meet other travelers and locals while
waiting.
However, the main disadvantage is

that it takes time out of your vacation
to do the laundry. We recommend
planning your trip around your
schedule so doing it after you are
done sightseeing for the day or when
you need a break from the sun in the
middle of the afternoon. Or you can
consider the drop off/pick up option


if you don’t have time to wait at a
laundromat.
If you plan to use laundromats, it is a

good idea to check on their locations

before your trip so you know they are

available and you can get an idea of

what hours they are open.

laundromat in United States
Local Laundry services

If you don’t want to pay for hotel
laundry services and are in an area
without laundromats, you might want
to see out local laundry services.
These are services where you drop
off your laundry and someone does it
for you and you either pick it back up
or it delivered to you.
In some countries, they may be


attached to dry cleaners or tailors, or
they may simply be a local family or
just a single woman who does
laundry from their home or shop.
These can be di cult to nd,

especially if you don’t speak the local


language, so you may need to ask
 around at your lodging and local
 people. Costs will vary greatly by
 country for such services, but can be
 very inexpensive in certain parts of
the world.
In our experience, when we’ve

needed laundry in places where there
are no laundromats or speci c
laundry services, our hotel or guest
house has either suggested
someone or offered to do the laundry
for us for a small charge. Generally
local people know someone locally
who is willing to do laundry for a
small fee. This has happened to us in
both Africa and Asia.
Travel by RV or Campervan
If you are traveling by RV or
campervan, you have most of the
above options such as stopping at
laundromats or hand washing items.


One advantage for those who want
to hand wash is that RV travelers
have more space for laundry supplies
than regular travelers, and often have
the ability to wash and hang laundry

outdoors. Many RV sites and


campgrounds have coin-operated
 laundry facilities you can use along
 the way.

 There are also all kinds of mini

movable compact washing units that
are designed for compact spaces like
RVs and small apartments. Some are
run by electricity and others work
without electricity.
For those traveling more long-term,

some larger RVs, particularly in the
United States, even have washing
machines and dryers installed in
them that tend to be smaller versions
of regular home machines.
Hand Wash Outdoors

(Camping, Hiking,
Backpacking)
If you are going on a camping, long-
distance hiking, backpacking, or
other type of outdoors holiday, you
can do your laundry using natural


water resources outdoors. People
have been hand washing clothing
using water directly from rivers,
streams, and lakes for centuries.

Since your waste water will be going

directly into the environment, be sure

to use biodegradable environmental-


friendly laundry soaps such as those
 offered by Campsuds or Sea to
 Summit. Many of these laundry
soaps are multipurpose and
designed to be used for all kinds of
cleaning purposes including as a
shampoo, dish soap, hand soap, and
shaving soap.
One strategy to wash clothes in the

outdoors is to use a Scrubba
washing bag to help get clothes
cleaner. Find relatively clean water, ll
up the bag, add clothes and soaps,
scrub, and rinse. Or a cheaper option
is to use a regular dry bag in a similar
fashion.
Of course, if you are staying at

campsites during your trip,
campsites normally have laundry
facilities or at least a sink where you


can hand wash laundry.

using Scrubba bag


6 Things We Recommend
for Washing Clothes While
Traveling
If you are planning on doing your
own laundry on the go, we
recommend putting together a
lightweight travel bag of all your
laundry items. All the things you need
can be put together in your dirty
laundry bag, dry bag, or in a Ziploc
bag so you have them when you
need them.
If you plan to use laundromats, you

probably just need to bring a pack of
detergent and maybe some dryer
sheets. But if you plan to hand wash
items, you may want to bring along a
few more of the laundry items below.
Here are some items you may want


to put in your travel laundry kit:
Sink Stopper
A sink stopper or bath stopper will

help you plug the drain in the hotel

sink or bath tub so you can hand
 wash your clothes. Although many
 hotels and apartments of course
 have a stopper, you might be
 surprised to know how many do NOT

have one.
Here are a couple of options:
Do it Best Rubber Stopper – This

simple 5 inch rubber stopper lies
at and ts most sink and bath
tub drains. This is the one we
have and it has worked with the
vast majority of drains we’ve
tried it on.
Mudder Silicone Stopper – This
well-reviewed 6 inch sink
stopper lies at and is made of
food grade silicone.
Most options lie at (such as the

suggested options above) and take
up very little space. If you have one
like we do that just lies at but
doesn’t work with suction, you need


to hold it at until the sink or tub has
a bit of water in it rst and the
stopper is completely submerged.
The weight of the water keeps it
down.


There is no sink stopper or drain plug

that will work on all sinks or tubs, but


we recommend getting a good
 universal one that will cover most
 drains effectively. We like the ones
that lie at over the drain.
If you are bath lover, this is also a

great item to take with you if you
enjoy taking baths when you travel.
As a bath lover myself, I always have
a at bath stopper at the bottom of
my luggage after numerous
experiences nding myself with a
bathtub but no stopper or convenient
way to plug the drain!
Travel Clothesline
A travel clothesline lets you hang up
your clothes to dry while you are
traveling. You can use it in your hotel
bathroom, rented apartment,
campsite, or RV/campervan.
You can check out a range of travel


clotheslines here but here are a few
options:
Going in Style line – This travel

laundry clothesline is made of

surgical quality braided rubber

tubing and comes with loops as

well as ties and a Velcro closure.


Stretches up to 7 feet (2.1
 meters).
 HAWATour portable clothesline
– This travel clothesline is made
of plastic and stainless steel and
includes attached clothespins. It
attaches using hooks. It
stretches to about 10 feet (3
meters).
solotrekk Deluxe Washing Line –
This travel clothesline is made of
interwoven elastic and has
durable metal hooks on the
ends. It stretches to about 10
feet (3 meters).
Coghlan’s Bungee Clothesline –
This travel clotheslines is well-
reviewed and made of twisted
nylon covered elastic with
carabiner like hooks on each
end. Stretches to 10 feet (3


meters).
We recommend avoiding the travel

clotheslines that attach only with
suction cups. Although suction cups

can work well on some smooth

surfaces, they will be more limited

than ones that come with hooks,


carabiners, or stretchy loops at the
 ends. So we suggest getting one that
 has loops or hooks or has both
suction cups as well as loops/hooks.
The trickiest part of these

clotheslines is getting savvy at how
to use them. The rst step is to nd a
place to attach the two ends. This
may require hooking it, looping it, or
wrapping it around something and
attaching it to itself. Depending on
where you are this could be a towel
rack, shower rod, door handle, tree,
RV ladder, etc.
I’d test using the travel laundry line at

home before your trip so you
understand how to do it. Depending
on the line you have, packing an extra
lightweight carabiner or velcro strap
can help so you have more


attachment options.
To hang your clothes, for the braided

elastic lines, you insert the fabric of
the wet laundry between the braided

elastic parts when the line is

stretched to hang it. So for a shirt,

you’d probably want to attach it at


both shoulder areas. No clothespins
 or pegs are needed. For the lines with
 clothespins attached, you simply
attach the clothes to the pegs.
clothes hung on travel clothesline
Travel Sized Laundry

Detergent
If you are going to do laundry, the
one thing you de nitely need to have
is some sort of laundry detergent.
Using hotel soap is not always a
great idea as it not meant for
clothing, can take a long time to rinse
out, and can leave clothes feeling


scratchy.
One option is to get travel-sized

bottles or tubes and ll them with
existing laundry soap you have at

home. I’d recommend this is you

have a brand you really love. Or you

can buy travel-sized laundry


detergents.


Most laundry detergents come in
liquid form. We recommend liquid as
it is most effective, but if you want to
avoid carrying liquids, laundry
detergent sheets are also available.
Here are several options:
Woolite travel packets –

Individual packets of pre-
measured liquid detergent. They
pack well and the detergent is
phosphate-free and
biodegradable. Work well in any
water temperature and on both
types of fabric. These have been
my go-to for years when doing
laundry on the go, but it’s
di cult to nd travel sized
packets, especially outside the


U.S.
Sink Suds – This is a good
potential replacement if you are
looking for Woolite packets and
can’t nd them (or they are

super expensive online). These


are pre-measured liquid
 detergent packs that work well
 in any water temperature;
 detergent is phosphate-free and
 biodegradable.
Tide Packets – If you use Tide at
home and want to use it on the
go, this is a good option. Comes
in multiple individual packets.
Biodegradable and contains no
phosphates.
Sea to Summit – A
concentrated liquid formula that
is biodegradable, phosphate-
free, and paraben-free. Comes in
a 3 . oz bottle and has a light
green tea fragrance.
Campsuds – This well-known
American camping brand wash
liquid is meant to be used as any
kind of soap, including as a
shampoo, laundry soap,
dishwashing soap, and shaving
soap. Biodegradable and eco-


friendly. Good option for those
who have limited space.
Dr. Beckmann Wash – A
concentrated laundry gel option
in a 100 ml (3.4 oz) tube. Non-

bio formula. Can do up to 20


washes.
 Dry laundry soap sheets – If you
 are looking for a non-liquid
 option, you might want to check
 out laundry detergent sheets
that dissolve in water from
TravelOn or Sea to Summit. Just
be careful to use completely dry
hands to use these as any
moisture will make all the sheets
clump together.
If you or a fellow traveler have

sensitive skin or a skin condition like
eczema, I’d test the laundry soap
before you travel if it is a brand you
don’t normally use. The non-bio and
enzyme free formulas are best for
those with skin conditions.
Note that most travel detergents sold

for handwashing are more gentle
than the average detergent on the
market and may not be great at
getting out tough stains. So you may


need to wait until you get home, have
them laundered in a machine, or use
a stain remover.
If you like your clothes to be soft, you


might also want to bring along a

travel sized bottle of fabric softener

as doing laundry by hand often


leaves clothes a bit stiffer and
 scratchier than doing it by machine.
 You can add in a little fabric softener
in the nal rinse if hand washing.
If you plan to use speci c washing

machines during your travels (e.g., at
a vacation home), you might want to
ask before your trip if there is speci c
type of laundry detergent that is
needed or recommended (e.g., liquid
versus powder, high e ciency versus
standard).
Remember that if you are ying, you

will want to use bottles or tubes that
hold 3.4 uid ounces (100 ml) or less
to satisfy TSA rules and airline
regulations if they are going in your
carry-on luggage. If the container will
hold more than 3.4 oz. be sure to put
it in your checked luggage.
Travel Washing Bag


Hand washing clothing in the sink
does an OK job of cleaning and
rinsing your clothing, but it doesn’t
really compare to a machine wash. If
 you plan to hand wash a lot, we’d
 recommend checking out a hand
 “washing machine” bag which is
 more effective than hand washing.

 The Scrubba washing bag is billed as


the world’s smallest and lightest
washing machine. You can wash
small loads of clothing in it in 3
minutes. The texture in the bag is
similar to an old-fashioned exible
internal washboard which helps
scrub your clothes and get them
cleaner than just squeezing, swirling,
and rinsing them in a sink.
To use the Scrubba, you just follow

the directions on the bag. First you ll
it with the water, laundry detergent,
and clothing. Then roll and clip the
bag, and remove the air. Then you
rub the clothing for about 3 minutes.
Then release dirty water, rinse
clothing with clean water within bag,
and then remove clothes and hang


up to dry.
The Scrubba doesn’t take up too

much space and you can use it to
store dirty laundry or your laundry

supplies when it is not being used.

Just be sure not to put in anything

that might tear the bag.


We have found that the Scrubba is


best for doing smaller items like
socks, underwear, shirts, camisoles,
hosiery, sportswear, shorts, baby
items, etc. Several pieces of clothing
can t in it at once. You wouldn’t
want to use it for large or bulky items
or for items that have sharp or
jagged elements which could
puncture or damage the bag.
The Scrubba is basically an

innovative dry bag for laundry. Dry
bags have been used by campers
and outdoor enthusiasts to clean
laundry for years, but the design,
drain, and internal washboard of the
Scrubba make it more ideal for
laundry. However, if you on a tight
budget or need something that is
more dual purpose, a dry bag can


also be used.

Dryer Sheets

If you are planning to use dryers

during your travels, you might want
to pack along a few of your favorite
dryer sheets. They take up almost no
space and can help keep clothes soft
and static-free. As a bonus, they can
also help freshen up the scent of
your luggage!
Note: Many brands of dryer sheets

and fabric softeners contain toxic
and carcinogenic substances (can
read more about that here). We
recommend choosing a brand that
uses non-toxic ingredients or
choosing a eco-friendly reusuable
dryer sheet.
Travel Laundry Bag or Cube

When traveling, you will also of


course need a place to store your
dirty laundry and keep it separate
from your clean clothes. You can use
a drawstring bag, a packing cube, a
special pouch in your backpack, or

anything else you might already own


that would do the job.


Here are a few travel laundry bag
 options:

Wash Me Bag – This bag has a
fun design and is made of a
micro ber material and has a
drawstring closure. The
bag opens up to 21”L x 22”W
size, but when not in use it folds
up to about 6 inches and zips
shut. You can see more fun
designs of these bags here.
Map Drawstring Bag – This
laundry bag is made of polyester
with a map design and a
drawstring closure. Capable of
holding up to 6.6 pounds of
laundry. Folds up small.
Large Mesh Bag – This simple
white bag is made of a strong
mesh material and has a
drawstring closure. Bag can hold
us to 3 washing machine loads


of laundry, so a good option for
those who need a larger bag!
Folds up small when not in use.

travel laundry products
Laundry Items for RV /

Campervan / Caravan
Travelers
If you are traveling by RV or caravan,
you have more space than someone
traveling with just a suitcase or those
traveling by car. Although many of
the previous mentioned laundry
items and products may be helpful,
with an RV you can save money by
purchasing larger containers of
laundry detergent, consider more
effective methods of hand washing
laundry, and even consider a portable
or permanent washing machine
solution.
RV Drying Racks

RVers can take advantage of being
able to dry clothes both indoors or
outdoors. There are a number of
collapsible drying racks designed for
 RVs and motorhomes, some are free
 standing while others attach directly
 to the ladder on the back of the
 vehicle like this one and this one.

 Plastic Basin or Dishpan


Sinks in many RVs are small and
some campervans may not have one
at all. It can also be di cult to clean
and utilize a kitchen or bathroom sink
for laundry purposes.
An easy solution for hand washing is

to get an inexpensive plastic basin or
dishpan like this one. These all-
purpose basins come in a variety of
shapes and sizes and can be used
for washing laundry, soaking, dishes,
etc. When not in use, you can store
your laundry supplies in them.
Washboard
If you are planning to do a lot of
washing by hand, you might want to
pack along an old-fashioned
washboard. These can help you get


clothes cleaner and help scrub out
stains.
The less expensive washboards are

made of plastic but there are also

ones made of wood. Many come in

compact sizes so that they are easy

to stow away and store. You can see


some washboard options here.


If you don’t have room for a full
washboard, there are also these mini
handheld scrubbers that t into the
palm of your hand.
Portable Washing Machines

If you want something more
convenient and have a bit more
space in your RV, you might consider
a portable and compact washing
unit. Some of these are essentially
mini spin washing machines that
work with electricity and some are
electricity-free washing machines
that are powered by a hand crank.
Washing Machine and Dryer

Units for RVs
Larger RVs and motorhomes may


have space for compact or full-size
washing and dryer machines. A
number of washing and dryer units
have been designed to work aboard
RVs, such as this Splendide

washer/dryer unit. You can see a list


of models here.


Of course the downsides of installing
 a washer or dryer is they are
 expensive, take up a lot of space, and
will require maintenance.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
Washing Machines
We wanted to make a note about the
use of ultrasonic cleaning technology
as there have been a recent ood of
ultrasonic cleaning products
marketed towards cleaning clothes
while traveling. The technology of
using ultrasound for cleaning is a
sound technology and has been used
for decades.
Ultrasound is combined with a

cleaning solvent or just water to
provide cleaning. The technology has
been used to effectively clean and
sterilize a number of different types


of hard-to-clean objects including
watches, jewelry, lenses, medical
instruments, fountain pens, sports
equipment, CDs, eyewear, etc.

So it is not surprising that there has

been numerous attempts to try to

apply this to washing clothing and


laundry solutions. Lately, there have
 been a number of portable units
 developed and marketed for travel
and quick laundry solutions.
These portable ultrasonic washing

machines are usually in the form of a
wand or disc attached to small
handheld unit that you place in a sink
or container of water and leave for a
certain amount of time to clean. You
can see a good selection of these
units here.
There are four main problems so far

with these units. First, the technology
work best on hard surfaces so the
porous and exible surfaces of
clothing is not ideal. Second, the
more clothing you try to clean, the
more the cleaning ability is dulled.
Third, many are too small or don’t
have enough power to really work


effectively. Lastly, they are rarely dual
voltage meaning they only work for
120V or 230V normally so are not
ideal for international travel.

Overall, we personally can’t

recommend these products. Our

experience and the reviews of others


so far do not support these as
 effective laundry solutions for those
 wanting to wash clothing while
traveling. We have had multiple
companies contact us about trying to
get their product included in our
article and we can’t recommend any
of them so far.
If you do decide to try one, be sure to

read recent reviews and the return
policy information carefully before
making your purchase. Also be sure
the product you are buying will work
in the places you want to use it (e.g.,
a 120V product is not going to work
well in Spain without needing a
converter).
However, this is a space to watch as

being able to have a portable and
effective laundry wand that just
needs to be added to water would be


an ideal travel laundry solution for
many people.
If you have used such a product that

you believe is effective, do let us

know about it. We’d love to nd an

effective product in this category!


How to Hand Wash Clothes

While Traveling

 When discussing the topic of laundry

with others, we found that some
people had never hand washed their
clothes before. If you have never
hand washed clothing before, or are
wondering if you are doing it properly,
here is a step-by-step guide. This will
work whether you are hand washing
some delicates at home or washing
your clothing by hand on a trip.
Step 1: Sort your Clothing

Grab your dirty laundry and sort


clothes by color (like you would with
machine washing) and wash dark
and light colors separately.
Check your clothing labels. Lay aside


very delicate items to do on their

own.


Step 2: Clean the Sink, Tub, or

Basin

 Always wash out the sink or bath

before using it for laundry. Dirt or
residues can be in the sink, such as
from bleach cleaners, that can stain
or discolor clothing.
Step 3: Fill the Sink & Add

Detergent
Fill the sink with lukewarm water
(don’t use hot water). Add your
laundry soap to the running water.
Read directions on how much you
need to use. For most, you just need
to add a few drops of a regular liquid
detergent or a capful of travel-sized
hand wash laundry soap.
Step 4. Add Clothing
Now place you dirty clothing in the


sink. Don’t put all your clothing into
the sink at once, wash only a couple
of items at a time for best results.
Try to use a bath tub or basin if you
have a lot of clothing to wash.


Step 4. Swirl, Swish, and

Scrub

 Swirl, swish, and knead the clothing

 in the soapy water for about 2
 minutes to get them clean. If there
are any more soiled areas or stains,
you’ll want to spend extra time on the
stained area and do some light
scrubbing with your hand to try to get
the soil off.
If the items are soiled you may want

to use a laundry scrubbing brush or
washboard. For longer term travels,
you may consider getting a portable
small washboard or one of these
mini handheld scrubbers.
If you are using fabric softener you

may want to drain the water after the
wash, and ll up the sink again and
add a couple of drops of the fabric
softener to the water.
Note: If you have more than one sink


full of clothing, we would
recommend doing all your washing
rst, and then rinse out the sink and
rinse all the clothing. This will make
things faster and help conserve

water.


Step 5. Rinse.

 Next rinse the clothing in clean water.

 If you only have one sink or basin,

you’ll need to drain and rinse the sink
rst and then place the clothing back
in to rinse. Be sure to rinse out the
soap suds in the sink basic before
lling it up again with clean water.
Place clothing back in and swish

around until there are no more soap
suds coming from them. This may
take a couple of rinses, so you may
need to ll up the sink a couple of
times. Repeat until water runs clear
from clothing.
Step 6. Gently Squeeze or Pat

Out Water
After all the soap is rinsed out, gently
squeeze the water out of the
clothing. Be careful not to wring
delicate items or items made of


certain fabrics (like wool) as it can
damage the bers and cause them to
lose their shape.
For delicate fabrics or heavier items,


you may want to place them in a

thick towel and then roll up to absorb

the water before hanging or laying


at to dry. This will help remove
 excess water and can be used for
 any clothing item.
Step 7. Hang Clothing or Lay

Flat to Dry
Hang your clothing up to dry on a
travel clothing line, shower bar, or
clothing dryer rack. Try to hang in a
ventilated space for best results, and
make sure that any dripping water
will not damage surfaces.
Read care instructions. Some items

like a wool sweater should be laid at
to dry to keep it from losing its
shape.

Tips for Doing Laundry

While Traveling
Below are some tips, advice, and
reminders about washing clothes
when traveling to help you get your
clothes clean while minimizing the
headaches and time spent doing
laundry.
Consider where and how you are

traveling to determine the best
way to do laundry during your
trip. What will work at one
destination may not work well in


another.
Spend a few minutes thinking

and researching how you will do
laundry while traveling. Doing it

before your trip will keep you

from wasting valuable vacation

time guring out how and where


to do laundry. For example: Plan
 may be to stop at laundromats
 in City X and City X, and you’ve
checked that laundromats exist
in these cities. Or your plan may
be to book an apartment every 6
days that has a washing
machine and dryer. Or to pack
laundry soap and supplies to
hand wash your smaller items
every few days.
Always read the care labels of

your clothing before you pack or
wash them. Most garments,
even silk, wool, and linen, can be
handwashed, but they need to
be hand washed with a gentle
laundry soap. Best to leave
delicate, expensive, and “dry
clean only” items at home.
If you or a member of your


family has sensitive skin or a
skin condition like eczema, be
sure to pack a gentle laundry
soap that you’ve tested at
home. You don’t want an allergic

reaction or rash to deal with


while traveling.


If you are planning to air dry your
 clothing, be sure that you time
 your washing so there is enough
time for your clothes to dry
completely before you need to
move again. Traveling with
damp clothing is not fun, and
clothing tends to become smelly
and wrinkly when not dried
properly. Remember that clothes
will dry more slowly in humid
climates than in dry climates.
If you are planning to hand wash

your clothing or letting it air dry,
pack quick drying clothing when
you can. Clothes that dry
overnight or within 24 hours will
give you much more exibility in
timing and doing laundry.
Remember that synthetic fabrics
typically dry faster than natural
bers, and quick dry fabrics


include polyester, nylon, and
other synthetic fabrics.
If your plan is to use

laundromats, do a little research

before your trip to make sure

laundromats are available in the

places you are traveling. Some


countries don’t have them and
 they can be di cult to nd in
 certain areas even in countries
where they are fairly common.
If you plan to rent places with

private laundry facilities (e.g., an
apartment, room, or vacation
home with washing machine) in
a country where this is not that
common, it is wise to book such
properties in advance.
Remember that although most
homes in your home country
may have washing machines,
most families in the world do
not have access to a washing
machine and have to wash their
clothing by hand.
For Americans traveling to

Europe (or elsewhere), while
washing machines are common


throughout households in the
UK and most of Europe, tumble
dryers are not. Washing
machines and dryers are also
usually smaller. Also be warned

that the washer/dryer combo


units crammed into small
 apartments often don’t work as
 well (especially the dryer) as full-
 sized separate machines.

If you have booked places to

stay which have private or
shared laundry facilities, you can
ask in advance of your trip what
you should bring. For instance
laundry soap may or may not be
provided or available.
Remember that washing

machines and dryers can make
a lot of noise. So be sure to be
respectful of your neighbors and
do your laundry during
acceptable hours if staying in a
rented apartment or shared
housing area!
If you are packing liquid or gel

items and ying, most countries,
including the United States,


United Kingdom, and European
Union countries have
restrictions on the size of liquid
containers you can pack in your
carry-on luggage. Be sure that

any items in your carry-on are in


3.4 oz. (100ml) or smaller
 containers and packed in a
 transparent liter sized bag. If the
 container is more than 3.4 oz.,
 you will need to pack it in your
checked luggage or it will be
con scated by security.
Italian apartments sometimes come with outdoor

clotheslines
So that’s our guide to doing laundry

while traveling! We hope you have
found it helpful, and you might want
to check out more of our travel tips.
Planning to do laundry during your


next trip? PIN this article to Pinterest
to read later:
Have you had experience washing

clothing while traveling? If so, please
tell us about your travel laundry
experiences and what you have
found helpful. Any special items in
your travel laundry kit? We’re always
looking for recommendations!
If you have a question about doing

laundry while on the road, just leave
us your question in the Comments


section below!
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
 There are 52 comments on this

 post

Please scroll to the end to leave a

comment
Carl Green
September 23, 2020 at 10:07
am
I liked how you mentioned

that you can get laundry done
quickly by going to a
laundromat. My wife and I are
moving to a new area and we
were wondering how we
could get laundry done
quickly at the new house. I’ll
be sure to tell her that we
should try going to a
laundromat to do our laundry
quicker.
Reply

Jessica & Laurence Norah

POST AUTHOR
September 24, 2020 at


7:07 am


Hi Carl,

 Our article is more about


doing laundry when

traveling, but if you don’t
have washing facilities at
your new house, then a
laundromat can indeed be
an e cient option. Just
be sure to take something
to do at the laundromat
while you are waiting 😉
Best,
Jessica
Reply
Alice Carroll
July 9, 2020 at 12:51 am
Thanks for the tip that going


to a local laundromat would
be totally reasonable when
doing laundry during a trip out
of town. My husband and I
are planning to go on a two-

week honeymoon once travel


restrictions have been lifted.
 Perhaps using self service
 laundry cleaning would be the
 most economical way to do
 our laundry during those two
weeks.
Reply

POST AUTHOR
July 9, 2020 at 4:48 am
Hi Alice,
If you are planning to

travel this year, I would
check ahead at your
destination before your
trip, as a lot of shared
laundry facilities like
laundromats may be
closed or have more
limited services due to the


pandemic. Until the
pandemic is over, you
may be better off hand
washing, having it done by
the hotel/resort services,

or staying in a vacation


rental that has a washing
 machine than going to
 shared facilities like
 laundromats where social
 distancing can be di cult
and there are a lot of
shared high-touch
surfaces. Just something
to consider!
Wishing you a wonderful

honeymoon trip!
Best,
Jessica
Reply
Homer
April 20, 2020 at 10:00 pm
Hi there,

I just read your blog, really
awesome post about laundry
cleaning. Could you tell me if
it is easy to nd laundromats
in the UK and Ireland?


Reply



POST AUTHOR

April 21, 2020 at 5:23 am
Hi Homer,
Laundromats here in the

UK and Ireland are often
called launderettes or
laundrettes. They used to
be very common, but are
de nitely on the decline.
But you can still nd them
in just about any larger UK
or Irish city – they are
usually coin operated or
use a card that you put
credit on to run the
machine. So you should
not have much of a
problems nding one as
long as part of your trip


will be to cities. You can
easily search for options
online or in a local phone
book once you know your
trip itinerary.


Many hostels in the UK

offer a laundry room with

coin-operated washing


machines. There may also
 be a coin-operated tumble
dryer, or if not, a drying
room where you can leave
your laundry to air dry. So
if staying in hostels, that
is an option as well, I’d
just make sure to check to
make sure the hostels you
book have laundry
facilities.
Hope that helps!

Jessica
Reply
Frank Ball
January 20, 2020 at 8:59 am


It’s great to learn that
laundromats are inexpensive
and allow you to do your
cleaning all at once. My wife

and I are going on a vacation

soon and we were wondering

where we could wash and dry

our clothes. I’ll be sure to tell


her that we should look for a
 laundromat in the city we’re
going to.
Reply

POST AUTHOR
January 20, 2020 at 9:47

am
Hi Frank,
Yes, laundromats can be

a great way to do laundry
if want to machine wash
and dry your clothes as it
is often much less
expensive to do it
yourselves than to have a
hotel service do it for you.


Although some motels
and hotels do offer self-
service machines as well.
I’d just check ahead and


make sure that there are

laundromats available in

the destination to which

you are traveling as they


are not very common in
 some regions. For
example, we are heading
to Switzerland next week
for 2 weeks and have
noted down the location
of a 24-hour laundromat
at a small hotel near
where we are staying as a
possible place we could
do laundry if needed at
that point on our trip.
Best,
Jessica
Reply

John Martin
January 4, 2020 at 10:54 pm
First of all i would like to A big

Thanks for awesome

guideline regarding laundry

while a journeymen therefore

once I went on we had

toughest laundry, which was


splendid. We’ve done a lot of
 laundry. I love too much to
the soap sheets because we
should not get worried about
ying with them. So having a
sink stopper is a great idea
because the sinks always
drain… I do not care where
you are, keeping the water in
the sink is always a
challenge!!
Reply

POST AUTHOR
January 5, 2020 at 5:47

am
Hi John, Glad you found


our tips helpful and yes, a
sink stopper is a must-
have travel item for us.
Soap sheets can be great
to travel with, especially if

you have limited space in


luggage. The cons though
 of the soap sheets is that
 they are a bit harder to
 use (have to be delicate
 and keep them from
getting wet in the
package) and you often
need to use more to get
stuff clean compared to
the liquid and gel options.
But I am glad that they
have worked well for you!
Best, Jessica
Reply
Yuki
Really helpful article – helped

us gure out what to do on
our month long trip with


laundry and be abel to better
research and understand our
options, thanks!
Reply



POST AUTHOR

January 1, 2020 at 12:20

pm

Hi Yuki, Glad it was helpful

and wishing you a
wonderful trip! Best,
Jessica
Reply
Saurabh
August 24, 2019 at 1:21 am
This is very Informative, I like

to travel a lot and its really
expensive to do laundry in
Hotels… I will try to implement
some of these tips on my
next trip. Thanks, guys.
Reply


POST AUTHOR
August 24, 2019 at 3:15


am


Hi Saurabh, Yes, there are

a lot of alternatives to

expensive hotel laundry

fees, and hope you nd

one that works well for
you. Happy travels,
Jessica
Reply
Adrienne McGuire
August 20, 2019 at 2:28 pm
Thanks for your super helpful

tips on doing laundry while
travelling. It’s such a common
problem in the current day,
but your tips are great!
Keep up the good work!
Reply

POST AUTHOR
August 21, 2019 at 3:33

am

Thanks Adrienne, glad our

tips were helpful! Happy

travels, Jessica


Reply

Skylar Williams
July 31, 2019 at 9:33 am
Thank you for your tip to use

a laundromat to clean my
clothes when traveling. I have
been thinking about going
traveling to another country
where hopefully they do have
laundromats. I will make sure
to keep this tip in mind as I
travel.
Reply

POST AUTHOR
August 1, 2019 at 1:48 am
Hi Skylar, Glad it was


helpful, and happy travels!

Best, Jessica


Reply

Tyler Johnson
July 26, 2019 at 11:27 am
That’s a good idea to take

your clothes to a coin laundry
to clean them. I would thin kt
hat would let you pack fewer
clothes and smell better. I’ll
have to consider doing that
next time I take a trip.
Reply

POST AUTHOR
July 27, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Hi Tyler, Yes, doing


laundry at a laundromat is
an easy thing to plan into
your travel itinerary – just
be sure there are coin
laundry facilities available

where you are traveling.


Best, Jessica

Reply

Brian Lu
July 24, 2019 at 6:26 am
Your tips to wash the laundry

while traveling are so helpful
for me. Such a Great Share.
Keep it up.
Reply

POST AUTHOR
July 24, 2019 at 10:15 am
Hi Brian, Glad to hear our

laundry tips were helpful.
Wishing you happy travels
and clean clothes! Best,


Jessica
Reply

Oliver Finch

July 19, 2019 at 4:07 am


It might be di cult to nd any

laundry servicing rm nearby.
In case I don’t nd any, need
to make sure wash in
bathroom in tub in place
where staying right now.
Reply

POST AUTHOR
July 20, 2019 at 9:44 am
Hi Oliver, Thanks for

taking the time to leave a
comment and yes, if you
can’t nd a laundry
service in a particular
travel destination, doing
them in the hotel or
apartment where you are


staying is always a good
option and a good reason
to travel with a small
bottle of laundry soap 😉
Happy travels, Jessica


Reply


Erika Brady
April 1, 2019 at 9:35 pm
I like that you mention how

laundromats can sometimes
offer dry cleaning services. If
you need these services, you
could also nd a local dry
cleaner. When choosing one,
it could help to nd one that
offers pick up and delivery
services so you can schedule
to have your clothing properly
cleaned whenever you want
during your trip.
Reply

POST AUTHOR
April 2, 2019 at 9:33 am
Hi Erika, Yes, de nitely, a


laundry / dry cleaning

service that picks up and

drops off is about as

convenient as a hotel


service, and will likely be
 less expensive than a
hotel if you are in a
country with a weaker
currency. But these can
be more di cult to nd
and arrange in countries
where you don’t speak the
local language. Thanks
for sharing your tip! Best,
Jessica
Reply
Rahul
March 25, 2019 at 6:43 am
While I always opt for


professional laundry when I
travel, I do agree that knowing
some laundry tips can come
in handy. So thank you
Jessica for sharing this

amazing guide! really helpful!!


Reply



POST AUTHOR
March 25, 2019 at 9:41

am
Hi Rahul, Glad it was

useful. Professional
laundry services are
obviously ideal for
convenience but not
affordable (or worth the
cost) for many travelers
and not always available
in some parts of the
world, so it is good to
have options 😉 Best,
Jessica
Reply

Mark Murphy
February 28, 2019 at 11:53
am

I really appreciate your tip to

avoid buying products that


have any toxic chemicals in

them. My wife and I recently
 got married, and we have
 never had to buy any of our
laundry soap before. I will be
sure to tell my wife that we
should nd a soap that isn’t
toxic.
Reply

POST AUTHOR
February 28, 2019 at

12:54 pm
Hi Mark,
Congrats on the recent

wedding and welcome to
the newlywed life 😉
We speci cally mention


dryer sheets and fabric
softeners, but yes many
laundry soaps also
include toxic chemicals.
While some of the

chemicals in laundry


detergent are probably
 not harmful, some have
 been linked to cancer and
 many can cause other
 health issues and skin
issues, and are not good
for the environment. For
instance, I have fairly
sensitive skin and certain
detergents made me
break out in rashes. This
article gives a quik
overview and an Internet
search can help you nd
brands that don’t contain
these (or at least contain
less!). Jessica
Reply
Levia Lee


great tips. thanks for sharing
Reply
 Jessica & Laurence Norah

 POST AUTHOR
 February 22, 2019 at 7:22

 pm

 You’re very welcome! ~

Jessica
Reply
Kerry Forrest
January 16, 2019 at 3:31 pm
I just saw you on House

Hunters International. At the
end, you were shown
removing your washing from
a clothesline. I laughed when
you said it was old fashioned.
With our clean environment
and plentiful sunshine, line
drying is normal practice here
in Australia. It is superior for


many reasons, but most
importantly, it is better for the
environment. There is an
Australian invention called
Ezyline

(https://www.ezyline.com.au/)


which I thought you should
 also be aware of. I have no
 a liation with them, but use
 their product over my bath.

Reply

POST AUTHOR
January 16, 2019 at 4:29

pm
Hi Kerry,
Yes, that scene on House

Hunters International was
quite contrived and the
“laundry” was just clean
dry clothes I was hanging
I am from the USA and
we often hung laundry out
to dry growing up but here
in Scotland often just dry
it inside as the weather is


often not ideal. Thanks for
the rec about the
clothesline, it looks like a
great local product. But
they don’t seem to be able

to ship outside of


Australia yet but perhaps
 they will in the future.


Best,
 Jessica
Reply
Jordan
December 22, 2018 at 10:02
am
I was concerned about doing

laundry when traveling from
Germany to new places, but
this has helped me. Thank
you for posting.
Reply

POST AUTHOR
December 22, 2018 at

12:04 pm

Hi Jordan, Thanks for

taking the time to

comment, and we are

always happy to hear that


our travel articles have
 been helpful. Wishing you
fun travels and clean
laundry 😉 Best, Jessica
Reply
Agness
December 17, 2018 at 6:40
pm
Thanks for sharing, guys. I

am a real retard when it
comes to cleaning and doing
my laundry. Although my
boyfriend usually does it for
both of us during our travels, I
feel like I should help me out
a bit more. Saving this post


for my Sunday read. Keep
your ngers crossed for me
so I nally learn how to do
laundry properly

Reply



POST AUTHOR


7:32 am
Hi Agness, At least your

boyfriend seems to have a
good handle on doing
laundry while traveling,
and it is not di cult to
learn how to hand wash
laundry on the go. Or you
can always nd a
laundromat or laundry
service 😉 Best of luck!
Jessica
Reply

Betty Schmidt
December 10, 2018 at 12:35
pm
Hi Jessica and Laurence,


 Great practical tips on doing


laundry on the road. We are

relatively new and recently

retired RVers in the USA, and

were looking for some info on

handwashing and doing
laundry in the con nes of a
RV. We have a very tiny sink
so loved the suggested about
the large dishpan, washboard
(never would have thought of
this one!), drying rack, and
travel washline. All are going
onto the list of things to buy
now! Thanks so much for this
very practical article.
Warm regards,
Betty
Reply

POST AUTHOR

4:28 pm

Hi Betty, So glad you

enjoyed our post on doing

laundry while traveling!

Yes, laundry can be


challenging in a RV but I
 think you will develop your
own methods and
routines once out on the
road. Sounds like you
have some fun RV travel
coming up, and wishing
you some grand
adventures. Best, Jessica
Reply
Catherine
December 2, 2018 at 1:06 pm
Great suggestions, we always

try to have at least one
accommodation with laundry


facilities!
Reply
 Jessica & Laurence Norah

 POST AUTHOR


am


Hi Catherine, Yes we

usually do this as well and
try to book
accommodation with
washing machine at least
every week to 1.5 weeks if
we are doing a longer trip.
Best, Jessica
Reply
Anda
am
Great suggestions, Jessica. I

tried all these methods,
except for a Scrubba washing
bag. We usually rent


apartments which are
equipped with washers and
dryers. However, I don’t like
doing laundry when I travel.
That’s why I prefer carrying a

bigger bag.


Reply



POST AUTHOR

am
Hi Anda, Yes, apartments

with washers are a good
idea, especially if you
don’t like to hand wash
laundry. A larger bag is
also a potential solution
but perhaps not the best
solution for long trips 😉
Best, Jessica
Reply

Anisa
December 2, 2018 at 7:21 am
Such a thorough article and

great tips! When I traveled for

work, I used to do laundry at

the hotel and some of them

charged crazy amounts. Now

for longer trips I would try to


nd an airbnb that had a
 washer. I agree small items
are easy enough to wash by
hand.
Reply

POST AUTHOR
December 2, 2018 at
10:06 am
Hi Anisa, Yes, using

laundry services at hotels
can be crazy expensive!
But I guess if a lot of
people using them are
traveling with business
expense accounts, that
may be one reason they
can maintain the high


prices. Yeah, on longer
trips we normally do a mix
of hand washing and nd
a proper washer/dryer in
an apartment or

laundromat. Best, Jessica


Reply

Deborah Regen
December 2, 2018 at 5:44 am
I was wondering when

someone was going to tackle
this subject in a travel blog
post. Unless your holiday trip
is short, like 7 days, where
you can wait to clean your
laundry once you are back
home, it will become
necessary to wash clothes on
the road. These are all good
tips. It seems washing bags
are becoming more popular. I
will have to try that in the
future.
Reply


POST AUTHOR


am


Hi Deborah, Yes, doing

laundry while traveling is

not exactly a fun or sexy

topic, but one that many

people face if they take
longer trips. How people
do it seems to mainly
depend on the destination
and one’s budget. The
washing bags like the
Scrubba are convenient
but not necessary – the
internal washboard in
them helps get stuff a
little cleaner. If you want
to try one out, I think the
Scrubba gives a 30 day
money back return policy.
Best, Jessica
Reply

Tammy G
What a fantastic guide to

doing laundry on the road!! I

usually take a two week

summer vacation each year

and pack about 7 days worth

of clothes, so always need to


do laundry while traveling at
 least once. Used many of
your solutions – including
coin laundry, campsites, hand
washing etc – even own a
Scrubba and travel
clothesline. But you know I’ve
never taken a sink stopper
even though I have run into
the same problem where
there is no plug for the drain!,
urgh! Thanks for this
reminder as I need to get one
for our next trip!
Reply

POST AUTHOR


am
Hi Tammy, It is really
surprising how many
sinks don’t have any sort

of drain plug. Similarly,

even more surprising, is

how many hotels have a

bathtub but no plug to


actually take a bath. We
 had a funny incident in
Egypt at a hotel where I
requested a plug for the
bath tub but they could
not gure out what I was
saying or what I wanted…
turns out they did not
have them available at all.
I always keep a at sink
stopper at the bottom of
my luggage now – cheap,
convenient, and take up
almost no space. Happy
travels, Jessica
Reply

Seana turner
The once cruise I went on we

had complimentary laundry,

which was AWESOME. I’ve

done a lot of laundry in the

sink over the years. I love the

soap sheets because you


don’t have to worry about
 ying with them. Having a
sink stopper is a great idea
because the sinks always
drain… I don’t care where you
are, keeping the water in the
sink is always a challenge!!
Reply

POST AUTHOR

am
Hi Seana, Ah, you were

lucky having free laundry
services on a cruise. We
were surprised to nd that
the Queen Mary 2 had a
self-service laundry option


with coin operated
machines which was of
course much less
expensive than the
laundry services offered. I

haven’t use the soap


sheets for laundry but
 good to hear a positive
 endorsement as I have
 avoided them because of
 the fear that I’d get them
wet and ruin them. Best,
Jessica
Reply
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 Home » Travel Planning and Advice »

Travel Tips: A Guide to

wash your clothes on a trip, and you

don’t want to waste much of your

 backpacker or luxury traveler. We

services to laundromats to hand

We also list several products that we

traveling in an RV, campervan, or SEARCH

Follow along on our travels via our

Search the site 

3.5. Washing Machine and Dryer Units

for RVs 

How to Do Your Laundry

Use Hotel Services

ironing, and hanging or folding your

There is normally a laundry bag in

underwear. Adding these up, you are

However, in some countries, such as

Note that in some places, this may

prices are generally much more

Hand Wash Items in the

This is great way to do smaller items

If you plan to do a lot of hand

 Columbia, Ex-O cio, prAna, and

You’ll need to bring your own laundry

For those who plan to do a lot of

Note that some hotels strongly

Hand washing laundry is a great way

You can book apartments, rooms,

Airbnb properties can be a good

 Self-service laundry facilities are also

These may just offer self-service

Laundromats are common in some

Machines typically work with coins or

can exchange cash for coins. A few

It is typically about USD $1.00 to

Another option offered by many

There is always seating available in

The main advantage is that

However, the main disadvantage is

consider the drop off/pick up option

If you plan to use laundromats, it is a

laundromat in United States

Local Laundry services

In some countries, they may be

In our experience, when we’ve

laundromats or hand washing items.

 There are also all kinds of mini

For those traveling more long-term,

Hand Wash Outdoors

can do your laundry using natural

One strategy to wash clothes in the

Of course, if you are staying at

facilities or at least a sink where you

If you plan to use laundromats, you

Here are some items you may want

Here are a couple of options:

Do it Best Rubber Stopper – This

Most options lie at (such as the

doesn’t work with suction, you need

If you are bath lover, this is also a

You can check out a range of travel