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The 13 Best Travel Laundry Bags of 2024

Our favorite picks include everything from breathable mesh bags to waterproof options.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks
• Tips for Buying

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why Trust T+L

Travel + Leisure / Alli Waataja

When it comes to the gamut of travel essentials, a laundry bag often goes unnoticed until it’s needed (usually at the point in the trip when your soiled clothing items begin to outnumber your clean ones.) However, the right travel laundry bag can transform your journey from a cluttered mess to an organized adventure. 

Whether you're backpacking through Europe, embarking on a business trip, or simply taking a weekend getaway, these travel laundry bags ensure that your clothes stay clean and odor-free, and that your dirty items are kept separate until the next time they reach the washing machine. From breathable mesh bags to waterproof options, there's a travel laundry bag suited to every traveler's needs.

Best Overall

Eagle creek isolate clean/dirty cube.

Isolated compartments make it easy to separate your laundry based on clothing type and level of soil.

The zipper closure doesn’t go all the way around the bag.

This innovative bag features a dual-compartment design that allows for the separation of clean and dirty clothes, ensuring your garments stay fresh and orderly throughout your journey. The clean side provides a dedicated space for neatly folded clothing, while the dirty side accommodates used garments, keeping them isolated and contained to prevent odor transfer to clean items. This dual functionality eliminates the hassle of rummaging through luggage to find specific items and simplifies the packing and unpacking process. It’s a total game-changer for travelers. 

Another detail that sets the Eagle Creek Cube apart is its premium construction: crafted from high-quality, durable materials, this bag is built to withstand the rigors of travel, ensuring reliability trip after trip. Its lightweight design adds minimal bulk to luggage, maximizing packing space without compromising on functionality. We love that the Cube's breathable fabric on one side promotes air circulation, helping to prevent mildew buildup, while the opposite side is sturdier to lock in odor or moisture. This pack is also super versatile — whether embarking on a weekend getaway or an extended adventure, it effortlessly adapts to different packing needs. Keep in mind, though, that the more you pack into the side with clean clothes, the less room you will have for dirty clothes that accumulate (especially if you also brought another pack or suitcase). 

The Details: 10 x 14.25 x 4.5 inches | 100 percent polyester ripstop | 2.7 ounces

Best Organization

Travelon set of 7 packing envelopes.

A variety of seven different sizes makes it easy to find the right place for all your soiled items.

The plastic construction of these bags makes them sturdy rather than flexible.

Rather than one larger pack, this set by Travelon includes seven envelopes of ascending size. Each envelope is crafted to accommodate different types of clothing or travel essentials, from wet bathing suits or underwear to hiking shoes or sweatshirts, ensuring an organized approach to packing your belongings big and small. Whether separating clean clothes from dirty ones or categorizing items by type or usage, these envelopes provide an easy solution for travelers trying to keep track of their belongings on the go. The durable construction of these packing envelopes also ensures longevity throughout countless journeys — crafted from clear printed mesh PVC, they’re great for protecting clothing and accessories. The transparent design of the envelopes allows for easy identification of contents, so you don’t waste time rummaging. 

The Details: 6.5 x 5 inches (small), 13.25 x 9.5 inches (large) | Clear printed mesh PVC | 0.63 pounds

Best Water-Resistant

Alo keep it dry fitness bag.

It’s perfect for keeping wet swimsuits or sweaty fitness gear contained.

Its medium size makes it better for quick journeys.

Crafted with durable Tyvek and featuring a top buckle snap enclosure, this bag by Alo ensures that your laundry remains protected from moisture and water damage, making it perfect for travelers who frequently encounter wet or humid environments. Its water-resistant exterior shields your clothes from rain, spills, or accidental splashes, providing peace of mind during your adventures. Its lightweight, easy-to-carry design offers an easy solution if you need to bring your soiled linens to the laundry while traveling — perfect for after a big day of adventuring. Adaptable and stylish, it also works for trekking through rainforests or on your way back from yoga class.

The Details: Tyvek | Water-resistant

Best Compression

Gonex compression packing cubes.

These compression cubes ensure your soiled clothing doesn’t take up the bulk of your luggage space.

Be careful not to clamp your clothing with the zipper, or it could get stuck.

This set of four expandable packing organizers by Gonex allows you to maximize space in your luggage by compressing clothing, reducing bulk, and optimizing the storage capacity in your suitcase or duffel. The compression feature not only saves valuable space. but also helps to keep belongings neatly organized and odor free throughout the journey. They also prevent clothes from shifting and becoming wrinkled during transit. Crafted from premium nylon material, these packing cubes ensure long-lasting performance trip after trip, and each feature a handy top handle that makes them easy to individually carry. The set includes four cubes of ascending sizes, helping with the separation of various types of soiled linens. Since dirty clothes tend to take up tons of space as a trip goes on, these compression pouches ensure that they stay tidy and unobstructed. 

The Details: 4 bags | 17.3 x 13 x 3.54 inches (extra-large), 14.5 x 10.6 x 3.54 inches (large), 11.8 x 8.9 x 3.54 inches (medium), 9.8 x 7.5 x 3.54 inches (small) | Ripstop nylon | 0.75 pounds

Best Odor Blocking

Stnky bag pro.

Crafted with health workers in mind, this bag keeps your soiled linens (and their odors) from interacting with your clean ones.

While it has a small carrying loop, there is no larger handle.

This unique laundry bag by STNKY incorporates both an inner mesh bag and an outer layer made from odor-resistant polyester material. The clever design ensures that travelers never have to touch their soiled clothing, since dirty laundry is cradled by the inner layer, attached at the top of the bag’s interior. The inner mesh bag is made with zippers at both the top and bottom, so when travelers arrive home from a trip or pay a visit to the laundromat during their travels, they can simply unzip the bottom zipper and then unattach it from the outer. The entire mesh pouch can be thrown in the wash and in the dryer. It makes sense that the bag is favored by health care professionals such as nurses, doctors and EMTs who rely on the bag to keep themselves and their loved ones safe when bringing home scrubs. For those on the go, it means never having to come in contact with used airport outfits (or their odors) until they are fresh out of the wash. 

The Details: 16 x 14 x 0.3 inches | Polyester | 0.26 pounds

Best Durable

Thule clean/dirty packing cube.

Crafted from ultra rugged materials, this travel laundry container was designed with durability in mind.

Some might wish it could fit more inside, due to its dual compartments.

Crafted with high-quality materials, this packing cube by Thule ensures longevity and reliability for travelers entering even the most rugged of conditions. Its durable construction, featuring waterproof 100D ripstop nylon, YKK zippers and reinforced stitching, withstands the rigors of constant travel, ensuring that it remains intact trip after trip. Whether tossed into a suitcase, backpack, or carry-on, the Thule Clean/Dirty Packing Cube maintains its structural integrity, safeguarding your garments throughout your journey. Separate compartments meant for clean and dirty laundry allow for effortless organization while on the go, and the waterproof lining in the dirty clothing compartment locks in odor and moisture. 

The Details: 7.87 x 9.45 x 13.39 inches | Nylon | 0.4 pounds

Best Large Capacity

Aurflo jumbo mesh laundry bag - set of 2.

This dual set of extra large laundry bags is perfect for a longer trip.

There is no outer layer, so it might not be best for wet items.

With its spacious design and breathable-yet-tough material, this duo of laundry bags offers ample room to accommodate tons of dirty clothing, making it perfect for extended trips or family vacations. Since there are two that come with your order, it’s also easy for a couple to separate their soiled linens, or to separate dark and light colors. The latter is especially helpful as these are machine washable, so pre-sorted laundry post-trip becomes a breeze. Once in the washer and dryer, the bags help to protect your clothing as well. It’s also a plus that the mesh material not only provides breathability to prevent odors but also allows for easy identification of contents, ensuring efficient sorting. The inclusion of a sturdy drawstring closure and a loop for hanging or carrying adds to its versatility and usability while on the go. 

The Details: 24 x 20 x 0.5 inches | Polyester blend | 0.3 pounds

Veken 8 Set Packing Cubes

This travel organization set will not only keep your dirty laundry sorted, but your entire suitcase.

The laundry bag itself is not machine washable.

For travelers looking to hit eight birds with one stone, this complete set includes not only a laundry bag, but also four packing cubes, a shoe bag, a toiletry bag, and a small pouch. The packing cubes come in various sizes, allowing you to efficiently utilize every inch of your luggage space. A classic drawstring laundry bag can be used for all dirty clothes on short trips, or can function as the bag for storing your smelliest items. The other cubes in the set can be set aside for sorting other types of soiled linens. 

The Details: 20 x 14 inches (laundry bag) | Polyester | 1.26 pounds

Best Machine Washable

Grove co. laundry bag set.

This machine washable set will also protect your delicates when not traveling.

They may not be spacious enough for longer trips.

This duo of delicates bags is great for use at home and while traveling, providing you with a way to sort and protect your laundry all year round. Crafted from sustainably sourced machine washable mesh, they’re created by Grove Collaborative, which specializes in green household and personal care products. The machine washable mesh material makes it easy to see what’s inside, but contrasting colorful zippers also make it easy to identify which bag is which, in addition to their different sizes. While traveling, the bags are a great way to sort your dark and light-colored clothing, keeping them separate from your clean clothes and from one another before popping each into the wash. The bags are also dryer-friendly, which makes wash day much more seamless. 

The Details: 16 x 18.25 inches (large), 11.5 x 14.5 inches (medium)  | Polyester mesh | 0.16 pounds

Best Collapsible

Honoma sturdy mesh laundry hamper basket.

It’s not only super portable, but incredibly affordable.

It can take up a lot of room if overstuffed.

Affordable, light and collapsible, this laundry bag provides some major bang for your buck without taking up virtually any room when empty. It’s constructed from thick mesh with sturdy side paneling, and can be purchased in a horizontal or vertical configuration. Its large capacity means it can hold tons of soiled laundry, making it a good option if you plan on staying in one accommodation for an extended period of time, and doing your laundry while traveling. An additional side pocket is perfect for stowing a travel-sized laundry detergent, and sturdy carrying straps make it easy to take it from point A to point B. The sturdy nature of this laundry bag might not make it the best option for shorter journeys or those where you might be moving around frequently, as you won’t be able to easily pop it into a suitcase when full. 

The Details: 23 x 14  x 14 inches | Polyester | 0.5 pounds

Quiet Town Re:Canvas Laundry Bag Pine

It is both colorful and well-constructed.

There is only one large compartment, which doesn’t allow for sectioning laundry.

Crafted from durable, heavyweight cotton canvas, this bag by Brooklyn-based brand Quiet Town exudes playful elegance with its minimalist design and bold colors. The thoughtful inclusion of sturdy bright blue backpack straps ensures easy portability, so locals will be none the wiser that you’re toting dirty laundry around. The spacious interior provides ample room for stowing away your unlaundered garments, but be aware that there is only one large compartment. There is a small compartment on the front of the bag for laundry detergent, though, and a smaller one at the top of the interior compartment that would be perfect for coins or dryer sheets. Its collapsible design allows for effortless storage in your bags when not in use, making it an ideal choice for space-conscious travelers, and its attractive design means you can even use it as a normal backpack when the laundry is all done. 

The Details: 31 x 15 inches | Cotton canvas | 2 pounds

Dagne Dover Rae Roll-Top Dry Bag

This small travel bag is perfect for transporting a wet swimsuit or sweaty garments.

It won't fit more than a few garments.

This compact laundry bag features a roll-top design that not only maximizes space, but also ensures a secure closure, keeping odors and moisture at bay. Constructed from durable waterproof nylon with a roll and clip closure, it’s perfect to pop into your backpack before traveling to the beach or lake, or for use after a strenuous, sweat-inducing hike. Despite its petite size, the Rae Roll-Top Dry Bag boasts just enough room for storing dirty garments, making it ideal for short trips or as a supplemental laundry solution in larger luggage. A wipeable interior also means you can get multiple uses from it on one trip — if you aren’t using it for laundry at any one time, it can also store snacks for a hike or produce picked up from the local market.

The Details: 5.25 x 1”x 11 inches | Nylon | 0.21 pounds

Best for At Home and On the Go

Crate & barrel white canvas hamper liner.

This simple but effective laundry bag easily works for both home and travel use.

It’s not waterproof.

For those who don’t have the storage space for multiple laundry bags, or simply want one that can do double duty, this classic laundry bag from Crate & Barrel is a great option. Made to fit inside of a hamper, it has drawstrings at the top and a sturdy carrying strap that also makes it easy to tote your laundry from the hamper to the wash, or to the laundromat while you’re traveling. Crafted from cotton canvas, it’s also machine washable, and can pack up tightly to fit into your suitcase or duffel bag. 

The Details: 15.5  x 15.5  x 27.5 inches | 100 percent cotton

Tips for Buying a Travel Laundry Bag

Prioritize materials the suit your needs.

When shopping for a travel laundry bag, it's crucial to pick one crafted from a material that aligns with your specific needs and travel style. Firstly, consider the durability of the bag. Opt for high-quality materials like ripstop nylon or polyester that can withstand frequent use and potential rough handling during travels. A durable laundry bag ensures longevity and reliability, preventing unexpected tears or damage that could compromise its functionality mid-journey. Additionally, prioritize water-resistant or waterproof materials if you anticipate exposure to moisture or inclement weather. This feature helps safeguard your clean clothes from accidental spills, rain showers, or damp environments, ensuring they stay dry and odor-free until laundry day. For those not anticipating rugged travels, and or anyone who prefers to prioritize washability, look for breathable mesh.

Consider the bag’s features

Each type of material presents an advantage. Polyester and nylon are both lightweight synthetic fibers that are designed to endure wear and tear. Polyester will repel water while nylon will absorb water. Neither are breathable, but natural fibers such as cotton are. Pay attention to what material best suits your needs and style of travel.

Those who travel with delicate garments will likely want a breathable, protective bag that can fold or hang. Others who travel under intense weather conditions should look for a durable, waterproof option. Adventure enthusiasts will likely want a laundry bag that allows clothing to breathe and prevents bacterial growth between adrenaline-pumping activities. You'll also want a bag that has a secure closure that's easy to use and won't break even if you fully stuff the bag with dirty items.

After investing in an excellent travel laundry bag, the last thing you want is to buy another one due to a defect or a short return period. Check the company policies to ensure you can get a refund should you need to exchange the laundry bag for a different option that better suits you. It is always worth noting the warranty as well as learning about free replacements and the corresponding time frame of availability.

Using a laundry bag while traveling is helpful for several reasons. First, it helps to keep your clean clothes separate from the dirty ones, maintaining organization and hygiene in your luggage. It also prevents odors and stains from spreading to other items, preserving the freshness of your garments throughout your trip. Many travelers find that using a laundry bag facilitates efficient unpacking, and it also helps speed up your wash if you have opted to use machine-washable, color-sorted bags.

Most mesh laundry bags can be thrown directly into the washer and dryer, solving the problem of washing the bag itself. Nylon and polyester laundry bags can usually be wiped clean with a wet cloth and mild soap. Before washing your travel laundry bag, make sure to double check the manufacturer's care instructions.

Some laundry bags can go in the dryer, but it depends on the material they're made of. Mesh or fabric laundry bags are generally safe for dryer use, but it's essential to check the care instructions first. Some laundry bags may be more prone to shrinking or melting in high heat, so it's crucial to follow the recommended drying settings to avoid damaging the bag. Additionally, if the bag contains any plastic components like zippers or drawstrings, it's usually best to air dry them.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

T+L contributor Austa Somvichian-Clausen is a travel writer and published author living in New York City. She has been covering travel and lifestyle content since 2017, and travels frequently for work, often for long periods of time. Her irregular travel schedule makes it necessary for her to organize and clean her clothes on-the-go. To find the best travel laundry bags, she also relied on research, gear tests, and more.

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The Ultimate Guide to Travel Laundry Kits: Stay Fresh on the Go

Lee Bradley | July 11, 2024

Keeping your clothes clean and fresh while traveling can be a challenge, but with the right travel laundry kit, it's a breeze. Whether you're camping in the wilderness or on an extended trip abroad, having a compact and efficient laundry solution is essential. In this guide, we'll explore various travel laundry kits, their features, and how to choose the best one for your needs.

Types of Travel Laundry Kits

Collapsible laundry kits.

Collapsible laundry kits are designed for convenience and space-saving. These kits can be easily packed and expanded when needed, making them perfect for travelers with limited space.

Example Product: Collapsible Outdoor Camping Portable Insulated Picnic Basket

This collapsible basket is versatile and can double as a laundry basket during your travels. Its insulated design makes it a multi-functional tool for any trip. 

Portable Wash Bags

Portable wash bags are an excellent solution for washing clothes on the go. They are lightweight, easy to use, and perfect for quick laundry tasks.

Example Product: Allurette Washer Wash Bag from Scrubba

The Allurette Washer is a compact, portable wash bag that allows you to do laundry anywhere. It's perfect for delicate items and small loads.

Example Product: Collapsible Outdoor Camping Portable Insulated Picnic Basket  

This collapsible basket is versatile and can double as a laundry basket during your travels. Its insulated design makes it a multi-functional tool for any trip.

Example Product: Allurette Washer Wash Bag from Scrubba   

Full-Feature Travel Laundry Kits

Full-feature travel laundry kits come with everything you need to wash, dry, and organize your clothes. These kits are comprehensive and ideal for long trips.

Example Product: Scrubba Wash Bag  

The Scrubba Wash Bag is a complete portable laundry system that fits in your backpack. It features a flexible washboard, making it easy to scrub clothes clean.

Key Features to Look For

When choosing a travel laundry kit, consider the following features to ensure you select the best one for your needs.

Portability

A travel laundry kit should be lightweight and easy to pack. Look for kits that are compact and can fit into your luggage without taking up too much space.

Example Product: Lapoche Flight Pouch

Travel laundry kits should be robust enough to withstand frequent use and the rigors of travel. High-quality materials and solid construction are key.

Example Product: Lapoche Outfit Organiser  

Ease of Use

The best travel laundry kits are easy to set up and use. Features like built-in washboards or simple mechanisms can make washing clothes less of a chore.

Travel Laundry Kit Reviews and Comparisons

Best travel laundry kits of 2024: our top picks.

• Collapsible Outdoor Camping Portable Insulated Picnic Basket
• Allurette Washer Wash Bag from Scrubba
• Scrubba Wash Bag
• Lapoche Flight Pouch
• Lapoche Outfit Organiser
• Sea to Summit Travelling Light Laundry Bag

How to Choose the Best Travel Laundry Kit for Your Needs

Choosing the right travel laundry kit depends on your specific needs and travel habits. Here are some tips to help you make the best decision:

Assess Your Laundry Needs

Consider the length of your trip and the amount of laundry you'll need to do. For longer trips, a full-feature kit like the Scrubba Wash Bag might be ideal, while a simple portable wash bag may suffice for shorter trips.

Check Compatibility

Ensure the travel laundry kit you choose is compatible with the types of clothes you'll be washing. Some kits are better suited for delicate fabrics, while others can handle more rugged items.

Prioritize Portability

If you travel light, opt for a compact and lightweight laundry kit. Look for models that can easily fit into your carry-on or backpack.

Look for Extra Features

Some travel laundry kits come with additional features like built-in washboards, storage compartments, or even detergent samples. These can add convenience and efficiency to your laundry routine.

Real-Life Anecdote: The Value of a Reliable Travel Laundry Kit

During a recent camping trip, one of our clients, Mark, realized the importance of having a reliable travel laundry kit. He had packed the Scrubba Wash Bag after reading about its versatility. Midway through his trip, after a muddy hike, he used the Scrubba to wash his clothes by a river. Within minutes, his clothes were clean and ready to dry. Mark now swears by this wash bag and recommends it to all his fellow adventurers.

Travel Laundry Kit Accessories

To make the most of your travel laundry kit, consider investing in some handy accessories:

Must-Have Travel Laundry Kit Accessories

• Laundry Bags : Keep your dirty clothes separate and organized.
• Portable Clothesline : Perfect for drying clothes on the go.
• Travel Detergent : Compact and easy to pack, ensuring you have the right soap for your laundry needs.
• Compression Bags : Reduce the volume of your clothes, making them easier to pack.

Example Product: Sea to Summit Travelling Light Laundry Bag

A reliable travel laundry kit is an essential part of your travel gear. Whether you're exploring a new city or camping in the great outdoors, having the right kit ensures your clothes stay clean and fresh. By considering your specific needs and preferences, you can find the perfect travel laundry kit to make your journeys smooth and enjoyable. Happy travels! 

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6 Products for Washing Clothes While Traveling

If you’re going on a long trip, be it a summer in Europe or a cross-country road trip, it can be tempting to bring your whole wardrobe. But between baggage fees and weight restrictions, that’s not always possible or practical. One way to avoid overpacking is to wash your clothes while you travel. That’s often easier said than done: Laundromats can be hard to track down or inconveniently located, laundry services at hotels and on ships can be prohibitively expensive, and if you’re spending time in the backcountry, neither are an option.

Taking matters into your own hands isn't as much of a chore as you might think, though: There are plenty of tools that make doing laundry while traveling cheap and simple (and we're not just talking about Tide to Go pens ), without adding too much extra bulk to your luggage. Below, six on-the-road laundry hacks.

All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Scrubba Portable Wash Bag

The Scrubba is basically a dry bag with a ribbed interior that functions like a washboard. You put your clothes, some clean water, and detergent in, and rub the garments against the bumps for a few minutes before rinsing everything out. Not counting drying time, the whole process takes about five minutes—and it actually does a good job of cleaning your clothes. It’s fabulous for long-term travelers and for those on days-long camping trips , where packing light is optimal. Plus, it folds down to the size of a deck of cards, so it won’t take up valuable suitcase or backpack real estate.

Nasdom Travel Clothesline

If you’ve ever done laundry in a sink, you’re familiar with the creative exercise in finding enough surfaces to drape your dripping clothes over. This 13-foot clothesline, which comes with built in pins, is easily packable. The hooked ends make it sturdy enough to connect between bed posts, across a balcony, or even from the shower curtain rod to a towel bar in a pinch.

Travelon Laundry Soap Sheets

These laundry soap sheets dissolve in water, so there’s no chance of spillage in your bag (you won't have to worry about the TSA's liquid restrictions either). There are 50 sheets in a box slightly bigger than a raisin container, so you’ll be able to get a lot of mileage out of each pack. Toss one sheet into whatever vessel you’re doing laundry in—a sink, tub, or scrub bag—and it’ll turn into suds. Just be careful to handle the carrying case with dry hands, so you don't accidentally dissolve any of the delicate sheets.

PackTowl Personal Towel

It might not be the most high tech option, but a microfiber towel can dry your sopping wet laundry faster than a clothesline. Start by spreading the towel out on a dry surface. After you wring out as much excess water from your clean clothes as possible, lay a few items on top of the towel. Then tightly roll up the towel with the clothes inside and squeeze. The microfiber fabric will sponge up more of the water (it can actually absorb four times its weight in water). This is a good method for washing heavy garments like jeans or thick sweaters when you need them dry by morning. In addition to its normal functions, this easy-to-pack towel can double as a lightweight blanket on a plane or something to sit on at the beach .

Mudder Silicone Tub Stopper

For some reason, it always seems that when you actually need a plug for your hotel room or rental's sink, there isn’t one to be found. Use this universal drain cover in any sink or tub: It is heavy duty enough that it won’t move as you soak your clothes, reducing water and soap waste, but light enough that you won't mind tossing it in your suitcase on trips when you know you'll want to do laundry.

Urpower Garment Steamer

Sometimes doing laundry while traveling comes out of necessity; but other times, it just feels good to freshen up your outfits. Some fabrics, like linen, love to wrinkle in transit; use this travel steamer to smooth out delicate outfits. It’s fairly portable, clocking in at just over eight inches tall and two inches wide. We think it’s worth the luggage space to make sure your outfit looks smart, especially if you’re traveling for a destination wedding or business trip .

Packing List

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Savvy Travel Advice

Travel Tips: A Guide to Doing Laundry While Traveling

Last updated: March 4, 2023 - Written by Jessica Norah 102 Comments

Travel is fun but doing laundry while traveling can be a tedious chore. However, washing your clothes during a trip gives you the advantage of being able to pack less, rewear your favorite travel clothing, and return home with less dirty laundry.

If you are going on a trip of more than a week, you’ll probably be thinking of laundry options. It can be difficult to figure out the best way to wash your clothes on a trip, and you don’t want to waste much of your vacation time on laundry. We’ve done trips of 6 months or more at a time, so doing laundry while traveling was essential!

We’ve put together a guide to washing clothing while traveling for all budgets, whether you are a backpacker or luxury traveler. We cover all your options from hotel services to laundromats to hand washing in the hotel sink to camping solutions.

We also list several products that we have found helpful in doing laundry while on the road that you may want to include in your own travel laundry kit. We also provide laundry product suggestions and tips for those traveling in an RV, campervan, or motorhome.

Table of Contents:

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 fill 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 the laundry bag (e.g., leave it in your room for housekeeping, call front desk).

Normally you need to allow 24 hours to get your clothes returned to you clean although some hotels offer express same-day service. Sometimes the hotel has its own in-house laundry services it will use, and other hotels send out your laundry to an outside service.

This is normally the most expensive way to have your clothes laundered while traveling. Hotel laundry costs in the United States and Western Europe are often around $3 to $5 per shirt, $6 per dress, and $2 to $3 for underwear. Adding these up, you are 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 filling 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 fibers, and quick dry fabrics include polyester, nylon, and other synthetic fabrics. Synthetic blends combine natural fibers with synthetic ones.

Columbia , Ex-Officio ,  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.

Vacation rentals  can be a good option if you are seeking an apartment or room with laundry facilities while traveling. 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 find 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.

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 difficult to find, 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 specific 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, fill 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.

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 flat and fits 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 flat and is made of food grade silicone.

Most options lie flat (such as the suggested options above) and take up very little space. If you have one like we do that just lies flat but doesn’t work with suction, you need to hold it flat until the sink or tub has a bit of water in it first 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 flat 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 flat bath stopper at the bottom of my luggage after numerous experiences finding 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 first step is to find 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 a couple extra lightweight carabiners or velcro straps 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.

Note that if you plan to wash a lot of clothing or heavier clothing, you might consider packing two lines. Most of the travel lines stretch out to 7 to 15 feet (2 to 3 meters) and can only tolerate so much weight.

Travel Sized Laundry Detergent

If you are going to do laundry, the one thing you definitely 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 fill 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 generally recommend liquid as it is most effective, but if you want to avoid carrying liquids, laundry detergent sheets, powders, and laundry soap bars are also available. Just note that most non-liquid laundry soaps can only be used for hand washing.

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 difficult to find 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 find 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 –  The Laundry Wash is concentrated liquid formula that is bio degradable, phosphate-free, and paraben-free. Comes in a 3 fl. oz bottle (and 2 other sizes) and is unscented. They also have a multi-use Wilderness Wash that can be used for washing your body, clothes, dishes, and gear.
• 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.
• Laundry bars – Laundry bars can be a good option for those who are looking for a non-liquid option for hand washing, but don’t want to mess with laundry soap sheets. A couple of options are The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar and this one by Aleva (no fragrance).

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, fragrance free, 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 final rinse if hand washing.

If you plan to use specific washing machines during your travels (e.g., at a vacation home), you might want to ask before your trip if there is specific type of laundry detergent that is needed or recommended (e.g., liquid versus powder, high efficiency versus standard).

Remember that if you are flying, you will want to use bottles or tubes that hold 3.4 fluid 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 flexible 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 fill 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 fit 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 microfiber 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.

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 difficult 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.

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 fit 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 the washer and dryer units by Splendide . 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 flood 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 flexible 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 find 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 small bamboo 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 fill 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 first, 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 first and then place the clothing back in to rinse. Be sure to rinse out the soap suds in the sink basic before filling 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 fill 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 fibers 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 flat 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. We generally use a travel clothesline in either the bathroom or outside on a balcony.

Try to hang in a ventilated space for best results (outdoor spaces are great if an option), and make sure that any dripping water will not damage surfaces.

Read care instructions. Some items like a wool sweater should be laid flat to dry to keep it from losing its shape.

Our Traveling Laundry Kit

Sometimes we are asked what we pack. To be honest, this really depends on the destination, type of trip, and length of the trip. If we are going to be in an apartment with a washing machine is going to be different if we plan to hand wash along the way at hotels.

But the one thing we always carry is a sink stopper. I actually own two of these and one I keep in the back of a suitcase and the other lives in our little travel laundry kit bag. I not only use if for laundry, but also it often comes in handy in doing dishes, taking baths, etc. as we have found many sinks and bathtubs are often missing working stoppers.

If planning to use washing machines or laundromats on trip, we’d recommend packing at a sink stopper and some laundry detergent. You might also want to bring optional extras like softener, stain remover, etc. You probably would not need a clothes line as there is usually also either a drying machine or some sort of clothes dryer or line where you can let your clothes air dry.

If planning to handwash your clothing as you, then you probably want to bring a sink stopper, laundry detergent, and a clothing line. Some people may also want extras like a clothing washing bag like Scrubba, mini-washboard, stain remover, etc.

Here is what we currently have in our travel laundry bag (for a trip through Uganda and Rwanda) where we mostly relied on handwashing with a few instances of having access to our clothing being washed as part of a free service offered at a hotel or apartment.

• A Sink Stopper – we specifically have this one which we have found works on about 90% of the drains we have tried it on. But anything with a similar design should work just as well.
• Laundry detergent – we normally use either liquid or gel ones and we have used ones by Sink Suds, Woolite, Sea to Summit, and Dr Beckmann – currently have a couple of bottles of Sea to Summit Laundry Wash in our bag.
• A travel clothesline – we own two of these, but normally just pack one. On trips where we know we will be doing big loads of laundry, we will pack two. We have one that I think was by Magellan’s but is no longer available (purchased back in 2011, still works!) and this very similar bungee stretch one by Coghlan’s.
• Carabiners – We keep a couple of extra carabiners in our laundry kit bag to be able to have more options to attach our clothes line and they can also stretch the length by a few inches if needed. But we pretty much always travel with a few of these anyway as they can be handy for a variety of things like attaching things to day bags or backpacks.
• I sopropyl alcohol – We also currently have a a little bottle of isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol used for disinfectant when washing reusable face masks as well as for tweezers, nail clippers etc. Just note there is often limitation on how much of this can be brought in luggage on planes due to its flammable nature.

I keep any liquid products in a Ziploc bag and then put everything together in a little mesh zipper bag. We have this little mesh bag set that we used to keep small things in such as our laundry kit, medical supplies, journal and pens, extra cash, etc. in when traveling.

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 figuring 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. Some thicker clothing, like sweaters and winter socks, can take up to 3 days to dry naturally, especially if it is drying in a damper cooler place.
• 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 flexibility in timing and doing laundry. Remember that synthetic fabrics typically dry faster than natural fibers, and quick dry fabrics include polyester, nylon, and other synthetic fabrics.
• If you are going to be doing big loads of laundry, especially if traveling as a family or group, you’ll probably want to bring a couple of clotheslines if you bring travel-sized ones. It can be challenging though to find space to hang huge amounts of laundry so best to do it more often than wait a long time in between loads. Or consider alternating between handwashing and laundromats or hotel services.
• 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 difficult to find 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 aborad, 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 flying, the majoirty of 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 confiscated by security.

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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James Post author

May 2, 2024 at 8:10 am

We usually travel twice a year, on transAtlantic cruises spending about a week in Barcelona or Rome before or after the cruise. We look for laundromats before leaving home and usually find one near our hotel.

We are generally away for about a month each time. Needless to say we have to do laundry at some point. We’ve tried almost every way you mention to do laundry, including taking extra clothes to avoid the task. We’ve finally settled on taking fewer clothes and opting for self-serve laundromats in places we visit. We use 1 or 2 of the 8-10 kg washers (about 4€ each and 1 dryer (about 1€ per 10 minutes). The washers dispense liquid detergent, fabric softener and disinfectant during the apropriate cycle. No fuss, no mess, just the time it tskes to run the cycles which is about 30 minutes per machine.

We stopped doing hand was many years ago. It’s too messy and takes too long for clothes to dry. Hotels often have ironing boards and irons for the things we need to iron, but cruise ships do not. We never use the kzundry services at hotels or on cruise ships. It’s far too expensive and we’ve had things go missing. We prefer taking the time to go to a laundromat and doing it ourselves.

Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

May 7, 2024 at 8:47 am

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and let us know about the different ways you have washed your clothes over time during your travels. And yes it obviously depends a lot on where you are traveling and how you are traveling. Laundromats are a really effective way, especially if you have a lot of clothes (whereas hand washing is often better for smaller amounts) and are traveling in larger towns and cities. Most laundromats have the detergent and such as well as you noted which is convenient.

Just a note on cruises for future readers, while some cruises only offer the regular paid laundry services that can often be pricey, I know the Cunard RMS Queen Mary 2 (transatlantic cruise ship) does offer a few little laundrettes areas on the ship which have clothing irons and boards (free to use, but only in those areas due to fire hazards) and washers and dryers where you can do your own laundry. They also provide free laundry soap (best to use the provided rather than your own if you can as it works best for those machines). I beleive all the Cunard ships have these free self-service laundrettes (as well as the regular paid professional laundry services) on board. Laurence just used one last week to iron his shirts on the Queen Mary 2 when we got on. But this is increasily uncommon on cruise ships but always good to check ahead. Our stateroom also had the drying line in the shower as well so if have a few pieces to hand wash or swimwear to hang, you could dry them there.

Best, Jessica

May 8, 2024 at 1:41 pm

Thanks for the note about Cunard Cruise Line. We have never sailed with them. NCL used to have free self-serve laundromats on some of its ships, but they have got rid if them. I have yet to find such on RCCL or MSC, and I doubt they have them. At a certain loyalty status, NCL used to offer one freebag of laundry to guests of that ststus or higher, I don’t know if this is still the case. My sister has told me there are paid self-serve laundromats on Princess.

As we frequently stay in big cities on our travels in Europe, it is not too difficult to find lsundromats near our hotel. We prefer this option to handwandwashing, and it’s chesper snd faster than hotel or cruise ship services.

May 13, 2024 at 2:47 pm

Yes, I don’t think most cruise ships have free self-service laundries. I think they are most common on larger ships that offer regular world cruises or other long crusies from what I’ve heard. This makes sense as it gives people a place to do their own laundry on months-long voyages if they want. Laurence and I were just on a 1 week transatlanic cruise aboard the QM2 earlier this month, but some people on the ship had been on since January as part of a world cruise (so about 5 months). But always a good idea for cruisers to check options in advance.

Yes, in larger Western Europe cities we’ve also had very good luck on doing laundry at laundromats as well as needed. There’s usually one nearby if staying in central areas. Similarly, usually easy to find a laundromate in large cities in the USA like NYC or San Francisco. I think we were staying at a hotel within walking distance of at least 3 laundrettes (around Chinatown) a couple weeks ago when in NYC.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences and tips on doing laundry on your travels!

Mohamed Hashi Post author

March 14, 2024 at 5:32 am

Jessica and Laurence, your guide is a treasure trove of practical advice for travelers grappling with laundry challenges on the road. The detailed breakdown of options from hotel services to hand washing in sinks, and the inclusion of innovative solutions like the Scrubba wash bag, provides valuable insights for both novice and seasoned travelers. Your emphasis on eco-friendly practices, especially when washing clothes in natural water sources, is particularly commendable. This guide not only helps travelers pack lighter but also encourages a more sustainable approach to travel. Thanks for sharing these invaluable tips and product recommendations to make travel laundry less of a chore.

March 21, 2024 at 10:26 am

Hi Mohamed,

Glad you found our guide to doing laundry on the go practical and helpful. If you have any questions about laundry while traveling, just ask us!

Jennifer Post author

September 21, 2023 at 8:35 am

Could you give me an idea of how much we should budget for doing laundry with machines (laundromats) in Italy? I think we’ll need to stop and do it every 5-7 days. Thanks for this great article on laundry when travelling!!

September 21, 2023 at 3:07 pm

Hi Jennifer,

Sure, happy to try to help. So based on our last time using a laundromat in Italy which was fairly recent (Spring 2023), prices ranged from around 4 euros to 8 euros per wash (usually depends on size of washer and part of Italy) and about 1 euros per 10 minutes worth of drying. If you buy laundry detergent/washing powder at the laundromats, it generally costs about 1 euro for a small pack for a wash or two. So I would probably estimate at least 10 euros per wash but you’ll likely pay a little more in some places.

Although Rome has some of the highest prices we’ve seen (10 euros for a big washer) we’ve also seen small no-frills places in Rome that still have 4 euros per wash and 4 euros for a dryer, so reading recent reviews can be useful in places where there are multiple options.

You can save money by packing your own laundry detergent and/or air drying the laundry if that is an option where you are staying. Some travelers like put it in dryer until damp (so not real wet) and then hang it up back in their hotel bathroom or balcony (pack a travel clothesline) or on an apartment drying rack to finish drying.

So we didn’t have any issues finding a laundromat on our last trip but it really depends in what part of Italy you are traveling. So it is good to investigate ahead of time to know where on your trip would be best to do laundry if you are going to multiple cities so you can plan and pack accordingly. To search for a self-service laundromat, I’d put in a search for lavanderia a gettone as that is the Italian term for a laundrette. Plural term is lavanderie.

If you can’t find something, I’d ask your hotel or the owner of the apartment/home you are staying in where the nearest one is located as they should be able to help with local advice as some are not easy to locate online.

Some machines are operated by coins only but many now also take these little cards you load with credit at the laundromat (you can usually pay for these cards by credit card or cash). Some take credit cards directly. Many have change machines if you only have bills but still good idea to have coins just in case. It is a good idea to bring along coins/cash and a credit card, so you know that payment type won’t be an issue. There is normally someone around to help if you are confused by how to pay or work the machines. In big cities instructions are often somewhere in English, but in smaller ones it will probably only be in Italian.

The length of time really depends on the type of machine, your wash cycle, etc. but when Laurence last did laundry it was relatively fast to do a full load to wash and dry. But sometimes the machines can be slower than people are used to back home so best to bring some things to do to kill time while you wait such as a book, puzzles, headphones to listen to music/watch videos, etc.

You’ll definitely save money using a laundromat compared to a hotel service as most Italian hotels that offer the service (generally nicer ones) charge by the article of clothing and is generally pricey.

Anyway, hope that helps and wishing you a wonderful trip to Italy!

Jason Lucas Post author

August 30, 2023 at 12:59 pm

hello! thanks for all this advice. my family and i (wife and two kids) like to go on a lot of shorter trips, a week or less. they generally involve camping or staying at budget motels or hotels. we have the sink stopper thing, a couple of laundry lines, and a bag to store dirty things in now thanks to your advice but wandering thoughts on what i can buy that can be multipurpose for doing hand laundry and other types of cleaning (such as dishes, camp stuff, hands etc.) without having to buy those tiny bottles. also needs to be biodegradable. we rarely fly and those little bottles are too small for us and seems wasteful to keep buying them for our kind of travels

August 30, 2023 at 3:53 pm

Yes, that totally makes sense for wanting something in a bigger container and something more versatile, especially for camping. In reality, most of the travel laundry soaps we recommend could be used in a multipurpose way.

But two brands that I know sell bigger bottles (16 oz or more) are Campsuds and Dr. Bronner’s. Both of them are sold as multipurpose and biogradable, and can be used for a range of things like washing dishes, body soap, hand soap, laundry, washing your dog, etc.

Campsuds is very popular among campers and hikers so you’ve probably used this one before and while it mostly sells in smaller bottles for travel, I know they come in at least 16 oz. size on Amazon .

But if you want an even larger size I’d consider Dr. Bronner’s. I personally have used the Dr. Bronner’s Baby one (unscented) that I have used for dishes, hand soap, hand washing laundry in sink, and general cleaning. I have a 32 oz size bottle at home and find it works really well although it can leave white spots (especially on glassware) if you are working with hard water but never found it a bit deal for the kinds of situations I have used it. Also the unscented is better for sensitive skin and more multipurpose in my opinion (but if you like scent the peppermint is very popular). It comes in a bunch of sizes from small bottles to giant gallon jugs. I’d recommend starting with a mid-sized bottle and test it and see if you like it before getting the largest size. But one of the big ones will last a long time and you can decant it into smaller bottles you already own for your travels. You can find Dr. Bronner’s at lots of stores from Walmart to Whole Foods, but for the largest sizes, you might need to look on Amazon or their website.

Another option is to check out a local bulk store or low waste shop as they often have some kind of laundry or multipurpose soap you can decant into your own containers you bring to the store. The only issue I have with these personally is they typically only stock soaps that include some kind of fragrance or essential oils which sadly irritate my skin.

Anyway, hope that helps give you some options to consider.

Happy travels! Jessica

Jason Post author

August 31, 2023 at 3:46 pm

thanks so much for your helpful reply Jessica – the dr bronners looks perfect for us and already placed an order!

August 31, 2023 at 3:50 pm

Glad to be helfpul, and hope you find that the Dr. Bronner’s soap works well for your upcoming family trips!

Carol T. Booker Post author

August 28, 2023 at 12:31 pm

Tackling laundry while traveling is such a pain and especially when its a one or two month trip to another country. Much needed blog, I am sure now I can confidently travel anywhere while making my laundry day hassle-free. Thanks for sharing!

August 28, 2023 at 4:13 pm

Thanks for taking the time to comment, glad you found our tips helpful.

Kimberly Post author

August 3, 2023 at 12:12 pm

I tried one of the suggested travel sized laundry detergents – the Sinksuds – and I tested in a sink with a couple of laundry items before our trip. But it doesn’t foam very much like I expected or have much of a scent. I guess I was expected something more foamy like handsoap. I imagine the foam makes things cleaner? So just wondering if I got a bad one or maybe I’m not using enough?

August 3, 2023 at 2:37 pm

Hi Kimberly,

Yes, the Sink Suds (at least the ones I’ve used) are normally unscented and fragrance free, so the smell of it to me just smells a bit like fresh soap. Like many of these specific sink laundry formulas, it is a gentle formula as it is supposed to be able to allow you to wash any kind of garment, be OK for most people with sensitive skin, and also be biodegradable.

So it should produce a bit of suds in our experience. Try running the water directly over the soap and then swishing it around a bit and you should have some suds. But no it shouldn’t foam much.

The amount of foam is not really important. Foam (caused by foaming agents) just allows the surfactant to sit longer on a surface (this is important in cases when washing something vertical, e.g., a wall, car tires, a hanging rug). So you don’t need foam to clean clothes in a sink so it should not make any difference how much or how little there is as most more natural detergents don’t foam, we just associate foam and lots of suds with cleaning because of advertising 😉 The most important thing is that you use enough of it and its dispersed throughout the sink/tub so it gets on all your clothing during the soaking/washing.

But if you really want foam or something with a stronger scent, you might try using a detergent you already use and like or a gentle foaming hand soap – just test it out in the sink before you go!

Hope that helps! Jessica

Marty Gibson Post author

July 27, 2023 at 7:56 am

Thanks for this, 2 questions:

1. I use an All laundry soap powder – will this work for handwashing in sinks or tubs? I noticed most of what you listed are liquid detergents? 2. I want to try to pack carry-on only but how often can you rewear the same things before washing?

Best, Marty

July 27, 2023 at 8:57 am

So please that you found our travel laundry post helpful! And happy to try to answer your questions.

1. So liquids or gels generally work much better for handwashing just because they are easier to get mixed with the water by hand in a smaller space such as a sink. Powders tend to be hearder to get dissolved and are more likely to leave residues on clothes based on our experience with handwashing. So I’d recommend a liquid detergent and there is an All liquid laundry detergent that you could get (just be sure to put into a refillable 3 oz/100ml or smaller container if doing carry-on on a plane). I have used the All Free & Clear liquid detergent for handwashing and found it works well and is great for those with more sensitive skin (I have eczema). However, you can always test the powder you have by trying to do a sinkload of handwashing in your home bathroom sink and see how it works as some powders work better for handwashing than others.

2. So I think that is a very personal and subjective question. Some people like to wash all their clothes after one wear, but obviously this doesn’t work if you want to travel carry-on only and do not want to do laundry every couple of days (nor is it very environmentally friendly). Most clothing can be reworn at least a few times and some people can wear items (especially sweaters, jackets, trousers/pants) several times or more before washing. If something doesn’t smell or isn’t noticeably soiled or stained, it is probably fine to keep wearing. The only things you probably need to wash regularly is underwear and socks. You can also get fabrics, like merino wool items, that are designed to be reworn more often. I’d look at brands like Smartwool, ExOfficio, and Darn Tough for some ideas of items that are meant to stay drier and fresher longer. But again how much you decide to rewear things is going to be up to your personal preferences and your specific travel situation. I would just make sure to take items that are easy to handwash and air dry quickly.

WS Post author

July 20, 2023 at 8:09 am

This laundry guide for travelers is incredibly useful, offering a range of practical options for handling laundry on the go. From using hotel services to hand washing techniques, the article covers all the bases to cater to different budgets and travel styles. The tips provided can help me pack less and rewear my favorite clothes during my journey.

July 27, 2023 at 7:58 am

Thanks W.S., glad you enjoyed our travel laundry guide! Wishing you happy travels and clean clothes 😉

Adrienne Crawford Post author

July 10, 2023 at 12:35 am

These laundry tips for traveling are a game-changer! The practical suggestions, like packing a portable laundry kit and researching laundry facilities, make doing laundry on the go so much easier. Thanks to the author for sharing these valuable insights that can help travelers maintain fresh and clean clothes while exploring the world. Happy travels and clean laundry to all!

July 10, 2023 at 2:42 am

Hi Adrienne,

So glad you enjoyed our travel tips, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.

Happy travels, Jessica

queenslanddry Post author

May 8, 2023 at 10:13 pm

We got free washing on the trip I once took, which was AMAZING. Over the years, I’ve done a lot of laundry in the washbasin. I adore the soap sheets since you can travel with them without worrying. No matter where you go, keeping the water in the sink is always a struggle, so having a sink stopper is a fantastic idea!

May 16, 2023 at 8:37 am

Thanks for sharing your experiences with soap sheets, and yes we find having a sink stopper very helpful. Just used it in our rental apartment bathtub only last night in fact 😉

Sarah H Post author

April 10, 2023 at 12:28 pm

Thanks for all these great laundry tips and letting us know what you use – do you travel with a laundry bag or something? If so, can you tell me which one? How much does it hold? Trying to pack for first big trip and just want some advice. ~ Sarah

April 10, 2023 at 1:16 pm

You’re very welcome. Yes, the clotheslines and sink stoppers are the main items that don’t change for us when we travel, but we do change the laundry soap depending on what is available. We’ve also used a few different bags for laundry.

Currently for a travel laundry bag, we specifically have this one at the moment. It is lightweight, has a drawstring, and seems fine so far (only had it for about 6 months) and hold about 5 days worth of laundry for us. Our one concern is that it seems a bit flimsy but so far no tears or anything after months of travel. But to be honest, the best laundry bag for you will depend on what size you need. Also take into account that a bag will hold more or less clothing depending on what you plan to wear at your destination (for example you may want a larger bag if traveling with bulky clothes versus more lightsweight hot weather clothes). You should also consider if you have anything at home already that will work as a laundry bag as you may have something that will work well. Basically something lightweight, big enough, won’t tear, and will close (such as via a drawstring or zipper) are the main things you probably want.

Hope that helps and just let me know if you have further questions as you pack for your trip.

Wishing you some wonderful travels!

Elle Jones Post author

April 4, 2023 at 3:46 am

I appreciate that you pointed out that laundromats occasionally provide dry cleaning services. You could also locate a nearby dry cleaner if you require these services. Finding one that provides pick-up and delivery services may be helpful if you want to schedule having your clothing cleaned as needed throughout your trip. I’ll make sure to pass this along to my sister, who travels frequently, so she can wash her clothes herself. Thanks for the suggestion.

April 4, 2023 at 12:34 pm

So glad you found some our tips helpful about doing laundry when traveling! Sometimes it can be helpful when traveling to have someone else do the laundry (and dry cleaning if needed – we rarely travel with clothing that requires dry cleaning ourselves) for you and have them pick up/drop it off for you.

Gomer Reyes Post author

January 5, 2023 at 11:07 pm

Good day! Just want you to know that your blog article on travel laundry is really helpful in my end. Thanks for this information.

January 7, 2023 at 3:33 am

You are very welcome, and wishing you happy travels (and clean clothes)!

Kevin L. Enriquez Post author

November 30, 2022 at 3:38 am

Thanks for this informative article about travel laundry, It would be very helpful for me on my next trip which I am planning for next week.

December 3, 2022 at 10:12 am

You’re very welcome and thanks for taking the time to comment. If you have any questions about doing laundry while traveling, just ask!

Wishing you a great trip! Jessica

Laura G. Post author

July 26, 2022 at 8:43 am

I just wanted to stay thanks so much for these tips. We just came back to London after travelling for 3 weeks in Southeast Asia and these tips for doing laundry were so helpful. I especially love the tip about packing a rubber sink plug – that really saved us in a couple of places and make doing hand laundry much easier on the go!

July 26, 2022 at 8:54 am

So glad to hear and yes, those sink stopper/plugs things are great for doing laundry as you go when traveling. We are currently traveling in Italy, and just used ours a couple day ago to wash out some socks and reusable face masks in Italy as the provided sink stopper didn’t hold water in the sink.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

Henry Killingsworth Post author

July 25, 2022 at 11:58 am

Thank you for helping me to understand that laundromats exist in cities and larger towns. I am going to be moving to a new state in the U.S. soon, and I won’t have access to a washing machine or dryer. I will have to see if there is a laundromat nearby that I can use to do my laundry.

July 26, 2022 at 8:38 am

Yes, if you are moving to a city of any size in the U.S. you shouldn’t have much problem finding a laundromat to use. It is also common for many apartment complexes that don’t have washing machines in apartments to have an on-site shared laundry machines (often coin or credit operated) so I would ask about that first. But if not, I am sure you can easy find a local laundromat or laundry service.

Fiona Post author

June 26, 2022 at 7:02 am

Great blog about laundry care! This is good to know for the people that’s travelling all around the world a lot.

June 26, 2022 at 8:12 am

Thanks for taking the time to comment, and glad our article was helpful to you! Just let us know if you have any questions about laundry when traveling and happy to try to help.

Shanta Jacobs Post author

June 18, 2022 at 12:59 am

How would you recommend removing stubborn stains from clothes when traveling? I want to not worry about stains.

June 18, 2022 at 8:24 am

First, I would recommend packing clothes for travel that are easy care and would be easy to clean (either washing or just spot cleaning). Darker clothes will show less stains. There are also fabrics and certain fabric treatments that make clothes more stain resistant.

But if you are worried about stains, you can also pack along some sort of stain remover liquid, pen, or wipe. There are lot of travel-friendly stain remover options from brands like Tide, Shout, Dreft, and OxiClean.

Hope that helps and happy travels! Jessica

Laura Post author

June 16, 2022 at 7:33 am

Planning a 2 week trip from USA to Africa (Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania) later this summer. Thoughts on laundry facility options and hand washing as we go? Mostly will be staying in safari hotels and tented camps in national parks. Prefer to avoid high fees for laundry. First time in Africa. Two of us, my husband and I, and would need to do some laundry as we go, particularly underthings, socks, t-shirts, face masks, etc. – any expert advise appreciated!

Thanks, Laura & Josh

June 16, 2022 at 8:19 am

Hi Laura & Josh,

That sounds like a great trip!

What we would recommend, based on our own travels in East Africa, would be to pack about 7 days worth of clothing and plan to do one big load of laundry once (around the 7 to 10 day point in your trip) and smaller loads via handwashing (socks, underwear, masks, etc.) along the way as needed. The less you have to pack, the better, especially on an international trip like this where you will be making a lot of stops. We’d recommend choosing to pack clothes that are easy care (so can be handwashed or machine washed) and made of fabrics that will dry farily quickly. We’d also recommend packing items that you can wear multiple times before they need to be washed.

It is going to depend partly on how long you stay at any one place, but generally you will need at least 2 nights (3 is even better) to be able to do handwash laundry and give it adequate time to dry. For this, we’d recommend packing a sink/tub stopper, a travel laundry line, a couple of carabiners, and some laundry detergent. That should be all you need.

Many hotels and safari camps offer guest laundry services. Many hang laundry to dry (or run dryers using solar power) so you generally need to be staying at least two nights for that as well to guarantee the laundry will dry before you leave. Many charge a fee (sometimes low, sometimes high), but some places do offer laundry free to guests, so you can check to see if any of the places you are staying offer that as an option.

So I’d take a look at your itinerary and see when you have 2 nights or more stops in any location that would allow you time to do laundry. We would make a note on our itinerary that we needed to do laundry after check-in so we wouldn’t forget.

When we were in East Africa for about a month, we did handwashing at any place we stopped for 3 nights. Hung laundry either in or around showers or on outdoor hotel balconies or outside tents. We also did one big proper wash with a washing machine around the middle of our trip. But since you are going to only be traveling for 2 weeks, you should be OK with either handwashing laundry as you go and/or doing one big wash around the middle of your trip.

Anyway, hope that helps. Let us know if you have any further questions and wishing you a wonderful trip this summer!

June 17, 2022 at 4:54 am

thanks so much Jessica!! Should I buy detergent or is that something I can buy when I am there? Also do you know if there are laundromats? Thanks again!

June 17, 2022 at 5:46 am

You’re very welcome. For only 2 weeks, I would recommend packing a small thing of detergent that would be enough for how much laundry you plan to do on your trip. We generally prefer liquid, but bars, powder, or strips are also options. Just make sure it is something that works for handwashing in a sink or tub. I’d try it out first.

You can of course buy laundry detergent in any of those countries but unless you are already planning a trip to a grocery store, I would not waste your vacation time going to a store just to purchase detergent. Also it can be hard to find a small bottle and you don’t want to carry around a full size thing of laundry detergent on your trip. If you do plan to go to a supermarket, Carrefour (a French supermarket chain) is a good options and there are locations in Nairobi, Kigali, and Dar es Salaam – we have purchased small bottles of Dettol laundry detergent there. Prices were similar to what we pay in the UK/Europe.

There are laundromats or laundrettes in the big cities like Nairobi, Dar es Saleem, Arusha, Kigali, etc. Some have the self-service machines like in the USA but many are ones where you drop off your laundry for washing/dry cleaning and pick it up later. But again, if you don’t have a lot of time, it probably makes more sense to hand wash as you go and/or have a hotel service do it for you. But laundrettes and local laundry services are a good option for those with longer trips who have more time as these services can be found at very good prices. But most of the hotels/camps you stay will offer laundry services to guests and that is probably a much more practical option.

Also, a quick note that in many places in East Africa like Kenya, it is often not considered culturally appropriate to wash someone else’s undergarments (“smalls”), such as panties, bras, etc. This is particularly true of women’s underwear. Some hotel services will accept these (you can check their laundry lists to see if accepted) but generally I would plan to hand wash these yourself. Most places that don’t accept these will give you a small thing of laundry soap to do them yourself in the sink if you ask.

Rick Jones Post author

November 29, 2021 at 5:19 pm

I will do some research to find a laundromat before going somewhere. I would hate to go somewhere that doesn’t have one. So I’ll make sure I always have somewhere to clean my clothes.

November 30, 2021 at 5:43 am

That is a good idea, especially if you plan to be in a certain area for a longer time and know you’ll need to launder your clothes 😉 It is generally pretty easy to research laundromat locations online for most parts of the world.

Margaret Post author

April 10, 2021 at 11:46 pm

I travel a lot and always wash as I go. I try to book at least two nights in each place to make sure laundry has time to dry. When not on the move, each night I strip off and wash what I wore that day, plus sometimes also the previous day. I don’t bother with a stopper or detergent. I just use the bar soap provided, I wet the clothes, rub soap in stinky spots. Swish around as best I can for several minutes, then drain, rinse, drain, and wring. If I can’t hang clothes over the tub or shower until the drip stops, I roll wet clothes in a towel to soak up excess moisture, I bring regular paracord or lightweight rope (nothing elastic with suction cups or hooks) and find two attachmenT points in the room. The Upper hinge of the bathroom door usually works for one. I also bring plastic clothes pins and a couple of plastic coated wire hangers. As soon as they are done dripping they get pinned on the line. Hanging on radiator or heated towel rack, or using hair dryer can help hasten dry time. Traveling with easy quick-dry clothing helps, although my husband won’t wear anything but the heaviest wool socks. 15 minutes a day for my husband and me is all it takes. Who wants to waste time on vacation trying to find a laundromat, or paying huge sums to laundry service. Make it a habit to do laundry every night.

April 11, 2021 at 5:17 am

Hi Margaret,

Thanks for sharing your travel laundry routine with us! I am glad that you have found a system of doing laundry on the go that works well for you and is inexpensive. Yes, you definitely do not have to spend a lot of time or money on doing laundry while traveling.

I would just recommend that people do use a sink stopper (either one in sink or one you bring) as otherwise you are likely unnecessarily using extra water that is not needed and won’t have the ability to soak clothes.

I would also caution people with sensitive skin from using hotel bar soap or hand soap for laundry as it can cause skin irritation (and potentially stain clothing). This might work OK for some people, but most hotel and motel hand soaps have ingredients that may cause skin irritation for me (I have sensitive skin) so I would not wash my clothes with them unless I didn’t have a gentle laundry detergent available which is why we’d recommend bringing along a little bottle of a detergent that you have already tested at home.

Carl Green Post author

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.

September 24, 2020 at 7:07 am

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 efficient option. Just be sure to take something to do at the laundromat while you are waiting 😉

Alice Carroll Post author

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.

July 9, 2020 at 4:48 am

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 difficult and there are a lot of shared high-touch surfaces. Just something to consider!

Wishing you a wonderful honeymoon trip!

Homer Post author

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 find laundromats in the UK and Ireland?

April 21, 2020 at 5:23 am

Laundromats here in the UK and Ireland are often called launderettes or laundrettes. They used to be very common, but are definitely on the decline. But you can still find 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 finding 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.

Frank Ball Post author

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.

January 20, 2020 at 9:47 am

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.

John Martin Post author

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 flying 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!!

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

Yuki Post author

January 1, 2020 at 11:48 am

Really helpful article – helped us figure out what to do on our month long trip with laundry and be abel to better research and understand our options, thanks!

January 1, 2020 at 12:20 pm

Hi Yuki, Glad it was helpful and wishing you a wonderful trip! Best, Jessica

Saurabh Post author

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.

August 24, 2019 at 3:15 am

Hi Saurabh, Yes, there are a lot of alternatives to expensive hotel laundry fees, and hope you find one that works well for you. Happy travels, Jessica

Adrienne McGuire Post author

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!

August 21, 2019 at 3:33 am

Thanks Adrienne, glad our tips were helpful! Happy travels, Jessica

Skylar Williams Post author

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.

August 1, 2019 at 1:48 am

Hi Skylar, Glad it was helpful, and happy travels! Best, Jessica

Tyler Johnson Post author

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.

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

Brian Lu Post author

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.

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

Oliver Finch Post author

July 19, 2019 at 4:07 am

It might be difficult to find any laundry servicing firm nearby. In case I don’t find any, need to make sure wash in bathroom in tub in place where staying right now.

July 20, 2019 at 9:44 am

Hi Oliver, Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and yes, if you can’t find 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

Erika Brady Post author

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 find a local dry cleaner. When choosing one, it could help to find one that offers pick up and delivery services so you can schedule to have your clothing properly cleaned whenever you want during your trip.

April 2, 2019 at 9:33 am

Hi Erika, Yes, definitely, 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 difficult to find and arrange in countries where you don’t speak the local language. Thanks for sharing your tip! Best, Jessica

Rahul Post author

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!!

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

Mark Murphy Post author

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 find a soap that isn’t toxic.

February 28, 2019 at 12:54 pm

Congrats on the recent wedding and welcome to the newlywed life 😉

We specifically 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 find brands that don’t contain these (or at least contain less!). Jessica

Levia Lee Post author

January 24, 2019 at 2:25 am

great tips. thanks for sharing

February 22, 2019 at 7:22 pm

You’re very welcome! ~ Jessica

Kerry Forrest Post author

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 affiliation with them, but use their product over my bath.

January 16, 2019 at 4:29 pm

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.

Jordan Post author

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.

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

Agness Post author

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 fingers crossed for me so I finally learn how to do laundry properly 🙂

December 18, 2018 at 7:32 am

Hi Agness, At least your boyfriend seems to have a good handle on doing laundry while traveling, and it is not difficult to learn how to hand wash laundry on the go. Or you can always find a laundromat or laundry service 😉 Best of luck! Jessica

Betty Schmidt Post author

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 confines 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

December 10, 2018 at 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

Catherine Post author

December 2, 2018 at 1:06 pm

Great suggestions, we always try to have at least one accommodation with laundry facilities!

December 3, 2018 at 5:59 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

Anda Post author

December 2, 2018 at 11:08 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.

December 3, 2018 at 5:58 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

Anisa Post author

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 find an airbnb that had a washer. I agree small items are easy enough to wash by hand.

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 find a proper washer/dryer in an apartment or laundromat. Best, Jessica

Deborah Regen Post author

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.

December 2, 2018 at 9:04 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

Tammy G Post author

December 1, 2018 at 6:31 pm

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!

December 2, 2018 at 8:57 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 figure out what I was saying or what I wanted…turns out they did not have them available at all. I always keep a flat sink stopper at the bottom of my luggage now – cheap, convenient, and take up almost no space. Happy travels, Jessica

Seana turner Post author

December 1, 2018 at 4:45 pm

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 flying 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!!

December 2, 2018 at 8:54 am

Hi Seana, Ah, you were lucky having free laundry services on a cruise. We were surprised to find 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

November 22, 2023 at 7:32 am

You’re very welcome, and hope you had a wonderful trip! Thanks for taking the time to leave us a comment to let us know that you found our travel laundry tips helpful.

Best, Jessica & Laurence

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The 7 Best Travel Laundry Bags in 2024 [Mesh, Canvas, Nylon]

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

817 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63 U.S. States Visited: 9

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

38 Published Articles 3344 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 48 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

Travel laundry bag considerations, the 7 best travel laundry bags, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Nothing spoils a suitcase full of fresh, clean clothes quicker than a pile of dirty laundry. Keep your clean clothes away from unwanted odors or find ways to wash your small items on the go with a specially-designed travel laundry bag for your next big adventure.

Being able to wash your dirty clothes while you are away helps to cut down on the amount of luggage you need to pack and keeps you feeling fresh and clean on the go.

Whether you choose to use your hotel’s laundry facilities or save your washing until you get back, using a laundry bag will keep your dirty clothes separate from your clean ones.

Most travel laundry bags are compact and pretty basic and will fold up small when not in use for ease of transport. While you are away, use these bags to help separate your dirty clothing from your clean ones, and when you find a laundromat, simply take your laundry bag with you and leave the rest of your wardrobe back at the base.

Material and Hygiene

Made from lightweight, washable, and breathable materials, travel laundry bags can also be washed to help prevent the build-up of grimy odors.

This is especially important if you are heading somewhere warm and humid, as damp, dirty clothing can soon become moldy if left in cramped conditions in material that doesn’t breathe. To prevent this from happening, look for a bag made from mesh, cotton, or water-resistant fabrics .

If you have a lot of laundry to take to the cleaners, consider investing in a bag made from heavy-duty fabrics that will be able to cope with the additional weight of damp and dirty clothing, or consider taking more than 1 laundry bag with you if you want to keep stinky gym gear away from wet bathing suits, and all of your dirty clothes separated from your clean ones.

You should also pay attention to the way in which your laundry bag closes. While both drawstring and zipper closures do essentially the same thing, a drawstring can double up as a carry handle for trips to the laundry.

Hot Tip: If you are traveling as a couple or a family, you may want to consider buying a set of bags so that you can have 1 each or more to easily separate different types of laundry on the go.

Whether you hand them to the hotel porter, hit the laundromat, or wash and wipe with drinking water, keeping your clothes clean on the go makes for lighter luggage . There is a huge variety of laundry bags to choose from, but these are some of our favorites.

1. Best for Big Loads of Laundry

HOMEST 2 Pack XL Wash Me Travel Laundry Bag

Strong and durable while still being compact and easy to carry with you, this 2-pack of extra-large laundry bags has double-stitched and superstrong seams to prevent tears or ripping while in use. Measuring a spacious 28 x 40 inches each, these bags can easily hold 3 to 4 loads of laundry , making them just as useful at home or college as they are on the road.

With a drawstring closure that provides an easy-to-access opening, this bag can handle lots of dirty clothing, yet still fold up incredibly small when it is empty. Perfect for camping trips, backpacking , and hiking, these are also an excellent choice if you want to keep your towels and pillows clean while you are away.

What We Like

• Available in a range of colors

What We Don’t Like

• White writing can flake off the bag after washing

2. Wash Your Own Clothes on the Go

Scrubba Portable Wash Bag

This clever portable washing device allows you to scrub your clothes clean, even when you have limited access to water. With a flexible textured washboard hidden away on the inside , you can wash your clothes in an instant by simply adding water and detergent to the Scrubba wash bag, sealing it tight, and rubbing it for 3 minutes before rinsing with water.

Made from 100 percent synthetic material and weighing just over 5 ounces, this pocket-size washing machine is perfect for taking away with you and has been designed to keep underwear, socks, and smaller items of clothing clean on the go. The Scrubba portable wash bag is a great idea for adventurers who like to wander far from the beaten path.

• Saves expensive laundry bills in hotels or on cruise ships
• It only fits a few items at a time

3. A Stylish and Discreet Laundry Bag for Fashionable Travelers

Miamica Laundry Bag

This pretty laundry bag will keep your dirty items separate from your clean ones and offer extra storage space while you are away.

The subtle gray coloring with rose gold lettering offers an elegant take on traditional drawstring laundry bags , and if this colorway doesn’t suit your personal style, there are plenty of other designs and colors to choose from. Easy to zip out and fold up small again, this bag is made from a lightweight microfiber material that is also moisture- and tear-resistant.

With a drawstring closure for easy loading and unloading, this ladies’ laundry bag folds flat enough to be tucked away in your suitcase or carried on for the outward journey. The zipper closure will ensure that your dirty items stay safely separated from your clean ones on the way home.

• Folds up into a small portable bag
• Fabric is quite thin

4. An Extra-large Laundry Bag for Even Bigger Adventures

Nylon Laundry Bag

Made from top-quality nylon fabric, this travel laundry bag is incredibly durable, with strong double-stitched seams to prevent rips and tears.

Large enough to fit several loads of washing in at 1 time, the bag also comes complete with a drawstring slider that closes neatly without the need for fiddly knots. Available in a wide range of colors, you can even choose a laundry bag that matches your luggage .

Compact enough to fold flat for your outward journey, you can use this as a standalone bag for trips to the laundromat while you are away, or simply use it to separate your dirty items from your clean ones until you get back home again.

• Fits a lot of clothing
• No handle for easy carrying

5. Perfect for Use Both at Home and Away

HOMEST 2 Pack Large Nylon Laundry Bag With Strap

With a supersize capacity in both bags, this 2 piece set is perfect for long vacations or family-sized trips away. Made from super-tough nylon fabric , these bags can more than handle being full to the brim with enough room to comfortably hold 3 to 4 loads of laundry every time.

The locking drawstring closure will ensure that your items stay safely separated from your clean clothes on the go, as and the wide shoulder strap provides a practical solution for trips to the laundromat or hotel laundry while you are away.

With each bag measuring 28 x 40 inches, these brilliant nylon laundry bags come in a wide range of colors and can even be used for storing pillows or bedding for camping trips, vacation rentals, or even back at home.

• Has a sturdy shoulder strap for easy carrying
• Too large for short trips

6. The Perfect 2-Piece Travel Laundry Bag Set

Cotton Craft 2-Pack Extra-Large Cotton Canvas Heavy-Duty Laundry Bags

Made from soft and breathable 100 percent cotton material, this set of 2 extra-large laundry bags is the perfect accessory for your next adventure. The heavy-duty material is lightweight but incredibly durable , and the drawstring cinch-top with cord lock offers super-easy and secure closing on the go.

Fold the clean bags flat for your outbound journey, then keep your dirty, smelly clothing separated from your clean items when you reach your destination. If you need to wash while you are away, these bags are perfect for hauling your dirties to the hotel laundry or simply filling them up, ready for washing when you get home.

• Drawstring cord for quick and easy access
• Can shrink after washing

7. Protect Your Delicate Items in the Wash

Set of 5 Mesh Laundry Bags

Keep your laundry super-organized with this impressive set of 5 matching laundry bags. Containing 1 jumbo bag, 2 extra-large bags, and 2 medium bags, this set is perfect for short trips, family vacations, and longer stays.

Made from durable and breathable polyester material, these bags are designed to be used to keep your lingerie and delicates safe in the washing machine.

The see-through mesh design makes it easy to identify which items are in the bags , and these clever little storage bags can also be used to help organize your suitcase. Machine washable at 140 degrees and suitable for use in the tumble dryer, you can quickly throw your dirty laundry in the machine when you get home.

With snag-proof zippers, you can also be sure of a quiet and efficient wash that protects your delicates from tangling during the laundry process.

• Can be used to protect your delicates while washing
• Zippers are a bit fragile

Whether you choose to invest in a bag that will wash your clothes for you, even with just a touch of water, or just a simple cotton laundry bag to keep your dirties away from cleans, a laundry bag is a useful addition to your travel collection that you won’t want to be without.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you wash laundry in a bag.

Depending on the bag, you can wash your laundry in a bag. You should try and wash your laundry in a mesh bag, and it shouldn’t be too full either. This method of washing is particularly good for delicates as it protects them during the wash cycle.

What can I use instead of a laundry bag?

If you’re in a pinch, you can use a pillowcase instead of a laundry bag to wash delicates and underwear.

How do you wash a laundry bag?

You can wash a laundry bag at the same time as your regular laundry. If, however, there are strong odors, you can put it on a separate wash using heavy-duty detergent.

How do you separate dirty clothes in a suitcase?

There are 2 simple methods for separating dirty clothes in your suitcase. The first is to use a travel laundry bag, or you can use packing cubes with some dedicated to clean clothes and others for dirty ones.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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Best Travel Laundry Soap in 2023

Need to find travel laundry detergent? Then you’re definitely in the right place because this guide features all the top options for travel laundry soap.

At A Glance: Best Travel Laundry Soap

• Most Portable Travel Laundry Detergent Breezeo Laundry Detergent Sheets Jump To Review
• Best Travel Laundry Detergent For Camping Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash Jump To Review
• Best Value For Money Finzy Laundry Soap Sheets Jump To Review
• Best Laundry Soap Bar The Laundress Wash And Stain Bar Jump To Review

Not everyone has the luxury of using hotel laundry services and if you usually do your own laundry while traveling, you’ll find plenty of useful options right here. Biodegradable soap, laundry detergent travel packs, and even detergent strips are all included in this review. Read on to see the top options for travel laundry soap and find the best solution for you!

Top Product Overview

Top products, breezeo laundry detergent sheets.

The Breezeo Laundry Detergent Sheets  are an amazing solution for travel laundry soap. They’re literally strips of detergent, so they’re incredibly compact and portable. One strip equals one load of laundry, and one tiny box holds 48 strips!

It’s worth noting that you can use multiple strips at once, and it’s actually recommended to use two strips for medium-large loads, or just clothes that are very dirty.

The detergent strips work best when used in a washing machine, so they’re certainly not the perfect option for hand washing dirty clothes. However, they will dissolve completely in hot or cold water, so you could try to use them in the sink and see how well they perform when used for handwashing.

Also, it’s worth noting that the detergent strips are just the best value for money you will find. It’s a little less than $10 for a box of 48 strips, which comes down to just some 20 cents per load.

• Great value for money
• Lightweight and portable
• Plant-based composition
• Clumping issues

Product Information

• Weight: 3.52 oz
• Laundry Loads: 48

Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash

If you’re looking for travel laundry detergent that’s great for camping, the Sea to Summit wash is one of the best options. It’s a thick and concentrated formula that’s both paraben-free and biodegradable. The laundry soap is very gentle on your hands and you can get away without using any gloves when doing laundry.

It also has a fresh citrusy smell, and it helps keep the bugs away from you outdoors. It’s easily one of the best travel laundry detergents, but it’s also one of the priciest.

The 3-ounce bottle has limited availability and it sometimes costs more than the 8-ounce bottle, which makes no sense. It’s better to just buy the bigger bottle and transfer the soap to a smaller container so you’re not paying $1 per load.

• Great for camping
• Repels bugs
• Biodegradable and paraben-free
• Not the most portable option
• Weight: 8.5 oz
• Laundry Loads: /

Finzy Laundry Soap Sheets

The Finzy Laundry Soap sheets are perfect if you’re looking for value for money. A pack of these includes 32 detergent sheets, which is enough to do 32 loads of laundry. And the box costs only some $9, so the total cost per load is just a little under $0.3.

Also, it’s important to note that one sheet is enough to do a classic load of laundry that you would be doing at home. If you’re washing a smaller load or just a couple of items, you can cut the detergent sheets into halves and even quarters.

They’re suitable for both washing machines and hand washing, but it’s worth noting that you won’t need an entire sheet to hand wash some laundry in the sink. A quarter of a sheet should be enough, just make sure to let it dissolve entirely before you add any laundry to the sink.

Additionally, you should know that these detergent sheets are phosphate-free and biodegradable, so they’re completely safe for use outdoors.

• Suitable for machine and hand washing
• Can be cut into pieces for smaller loads
• Very strong scent
• Weight: 3.2 oz
• Laundry Loads: 32

The Laundress Wash And Stain Bar

The Laundress Wash and Stain Bar is an interesting solution for travel laundry detergent. It’s a soap bar that functions as a magic eraser – it’s made to easily remove spots and stains from clothes, carpets, and upholstery.

This works even with oil-based stains, so you can easily get out makeup, pit stains, and even cooking grease out of your clothes. It’s also perfect for those moments when you just need to get a stain out, plus it doubles as a classic laundry soap.

Also, it’s entirely biodegradable because it’s made from plant-based ingredients, so it’s perfectly safe for your hands and eco-friendly. The only downside is that it’s a soap bar, so it’s not quite as convenient as liquid soap and you’ll need to find better packaging for it. But other than that, it’s certainly one of the best laundry soaps for travel you can get your hands on.

• Plant-based ingredients
• Great for spot treatment
• Soap bars can be clunky
• Only for hand washing
• Weight: 2 oz

washEZE Laundry Sheets

The WashEZE laundry sheets are a good option if you’re looking for something ultra-compact and portable. They’re 3-in-1 laundry sheets that include detergent, softener, and static control, plus they’re phosphate-free.

The laundry sheets are compatible with all kinds of washing machines, plus they’re suitable for handwashing. If you’re using the sheet for handwashing, just let it dissolve in the water entirely, before you add your laundry to it.

What makes these so great for travel is that there won’t be any soap accidents in your suitcase, which could happen with classic laundry soap. It’s worth noting that the box includes 20 detergent sheets for some $15, so it comes down to about $0.75 per load. That’s not too bad, considering that the strips also include fabric softener and that they’re suitable for larger loads.

• Suitable for washers and handwashing
• Includes detergent and fabric softener
• Not the best for heavily soiled clothes
• Weight: 3 oz
• Laundry Loads: 20

Tide Sport Travel Sink Packets

The Tide travel sink packets are worth considering if you prefer using liquid detergent. These are tiny (0.17 fl oz) packs of liquid laundry detergent that take up practically no space in your luggage. They’re extremely portable and excellent for those of you who are used to hand-washing your clothes when traveling.

They’re called sink packets because the amount of detergent is just enough to wash a sink full of dirty clothes, or just a laundry bag. That means that one packet should be enough to hand wash a small load of laundry, but keep in mind that you’d normally use a lot more liquid laundry detergent when washing clothes in a machine.

The downside is that these are quite pricey. It’s a little more than $1 per packet (and load), which definitely isn’t budget-friendly. On the other hand, it is Tide detergent, so at least you can be certain that it’s going to perform well and actually clean your clothes, instead of just making them smell nice.

• Quality detergent
• Great for washing clothes in a sink
• Small and portable
• One of the priciest options
• Weight: 2.08 oz
• Laundry Loads: 3

Lazy Coconuts Eco Laundry Detergent Strips

The Lazy Coconuts Eco detergent strips are an excellent option if you want a sustainable solution for doing laundry while traveling. These are eco-friendly laundry strips in recycled packaging, and they’re suitable for hand washing and machine washing.

One strip is enough for a daily wash of a small-medium load, but you’ll need two strips for a bigger load or heavily soiled clothes. When using the strips for hand washing, you should add the strip to the water and let it dissolve before adding the clothes. Also, it’s best to let heavily soiled clothes soak for a while, to ensure you can wash them properly.

It’s also worth noting that the strips are free of plastics, paraben, and phosphates, plus they’re vegan and hypoallergenic. They’re safe for your hands and the environment, which makes them suitable for use outdoors as well.

• Good value for money
• Not great for very dirty/greasy clothes
• Weight: 4.7 oz

What To Look For

Machine or hand washing.

Do you plan to wash clothes in the washer or by hand? Depending on what you usually do, you should choose the appropriate travel laundry soap.

Pods and soap sheets are the most portable option for machine washing, while plastic packets of soap are more suitable for handwashing. Laundry strips can also work for hand washing, but it’s best to cut them into smaller strips since they are made for larger loads. That way you don’t waste anything, and you get more use out of a single strip.

It’s also easier to pack laundry detergent when it’s in the form of strips because it takes up much less space in your luggage.

Indoor or Outdoor use?

Are you washing the clothes indoors, or are you doing it outdoors?

If it’s the latter and you’re going to be dumping that water outside, you should look into biodegradable soaps. They’re safe for the environment and don’t have any toxic chemicals, so you can safely dump the water anywhere, without having to look for chemical dump tanks.

They’re also a lot easier on your hands, and you don’t have to wear gloves when doing laundry. This is especially convenient for using laundry bags or doing laundry at campsites.

If you’re washing the laundry at home, you don’t have to look at the chemical composition as much. Plus you have more options at your disposal, especially if you have access to a washer.

Best Travel Laundry Soap: Our Top Picks

Not sure what kind of travel laundry soap you should get? Go with one of our top three picks, depending on how you usually do laundry while traveling.

Sea to Summit wash is one of the best travel laundry detergent options if you prefer liquid soap. It’s biodegradable and paraben-free, so it’s a great option for camping. The citrus-scented wash is also quite versatile, since it’s suitable for clothes, dishes, and even as a hair/body wash! Also, it’s available in several packaging sizes, but the largest one is the best value for money.

• Super thick concentrated formula with the fresh scent of Citronella
• Biodegradable and Paraben-free

If you just want a cheap solution, go with the Finzy portable detergent sheets . They’re by far the best value for money out of the bunch since the total cost comes down to less than $0.3 per load. They’re also biodegradable and phosphate-free, plus you can use them for either hand washing or machine washing.

If you mostly wash clothes by hand when traveling or camping, pick up the Laundress Wash & Stain Bar . It’s a stain remover soap bar that works for both getting out stains and just classic laundry washing, and it’s excellent value for money. It’s also allergen-free, made from plant-based ingredients, and biodegradable, so it’s safe for both your hands and the environment.

Head over to Amazon to see the prices and packaging options of all the travel laundry soaps featured in this review. And check out our related posts for ideas on other items that might make doing laundry while traveling a bit easier!

RELATED POSTS: 

BEST DIRTY LAUNDRY BAG FOR TRAVEL

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How to Wash Clothes Without a Washer While Traveling Using a Dry Bag and Dish Detergent

When it comes to luggage and travel, less is more. The dry bag laundry method is the epitome of this “traveler minimalism” and it makes for the perfect travel laundry kit.  Keeping a dry bag for laundry allows you to wash anytime, meaning you can travel more with fewer sets of clothes but still have fresh clothes anywhere. Having fewer sets of clothes means smaller bags, an easier time moving from place to place, less money spent on checked bags, and more money to spend on food wine and adventures.  

Note: This article contains affiliate links

Unfortunately for most travelers, the question of how to wash clothes while traveling is a difficult question…but one with plenty of very simple solutions, and we’ll give them all to you here. From deciding the best travel laundry detergent or soap (to improvise) to sharing the best travel laundry bag options that are less “improvised” (like the Scrubba and Laundreez ), we’ll give you all of the best travel clothes wash method and tools for travelers who want to stay light, and a couple extra, more luxurious options that will make life easier.

To make sure you’re fully equipped to handle laundry on the road, without packing too much, we’ll review the solutions and costs for doing your laundry while traveling in Europe, Asia, and South America, and then share my preferred method of doing my laundry while traveling using a dry bag for washing clothes (Jump to “ How to wash your clothes without a washer in 10 Minutes Using a Dry Bag “)

How to Wash Clothes without a Washer While Traveling

If you’re wondering how to wash clothes without a washer while you’re traveling, you’re not alone. Don’t worry! Once you’re learn our preferred option for laundry while traveling, you’ll be able to travel indefinitely out of a single bag as single week’s worth of clothes will last indefinitely. 

Here are your options for laundry on the road:

• Let your hostel or hotel do it: Usually charged by the lb/kg and expensive
• Let a third party do your laundry (Southeast Asia and South America): Much cheaper but requires waiting 24-48 hours and I have had my nice undies stolen
• Do it yourself at a laundromat (Europe): Your cheapest option in Europe. Requires a few hours of time, but is efficient
• Do it yourself in your bathroom – In the Sink : Free, but in hostels can be inconsiderate of shared bathrooms.
• Do it yourself in your bathroom in laundry bag or dry bag: Free, easiest, and simplest as soaking (not agitation) works and no sink is required. Can be done nearly anywhere. This is why a drybag is always part of my travel laundry kit

1. Let your hostel or hotel do your laundry

Letting your hostel or hotel do your laundry is nearly always an option.  Plan on paying by the kilogram and receiving your laundry back in ~24 hours

• In Southeast Asia and South America, laundry in a hostel usually costs $2-$5 per kilogram
• In Europe, laundry in a hostel usually costs $5-$10 per kilogram

2. Let a third party do your laundry (Southeast Asia and South America)

The third party services that normally do your hostel’s laundry Southeast Asia and South America are very happy to your laundry as well.  Just walk up the street from your hostel, look for a sign saying “laundry” or “lavadero” and walk right in.  Costs will be slightly cheaper than at your hostel and you will receive it back much more quickly.  So plan on $2-$5 a load in Southeast Asia and South America

3. Wash your clothes at a laundromat (Europe)

Throughout Europe there are great, easy to use and very clean self-service laundromats. All of the laundromats I’ve seen are completely automated and always in walking distance of my hostel.  Price averages 7 to 10 Euros to wash and dry 5kg of clothes including detergent and softender, so if you have a lot of laundry this is a great option

4. Wash your clothes in your bathroom: In the Sink

This is my least favorite option, as you occupy the bathroom if you’re in a shared bathroom situation, preventing others from using the facilities.  Also…that sink is seriously pretty disgusting, and you’ll probably find Paleolithic Zombie bacteria on that thing.  But, sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.  To get your clothes (kinda) clean this way, be sure to bring a universal sink stopper on your journey.  I highly recommend going with the following option though, as it is easier, less time consuming, more sanitary, and doesn’t keep the bathroom occupied if you’re staying in a hostel.

5. Wash your clothes using a dry bag or portable laundry bag and your travel laundry kit

When I have a small amount of clothes to wash or will be leaving a place within 24 hours, this performing my own dry bag laundry is the option I go for.  All it takes is bringing a dry bag, like the many drybags sold at REI , or the many other drybags sold on amazon . From there, a good travel laundry soap or detergent makes a quick and easy laundry option that can be done anywhere. 

Alternatively, you could get a specially made laundry bag that is made specifically for a travel laundry kit. The best travel laundry bag options I’ve tested are the Landreez and the Scrubba .

These portable laundry bags have special features that make the travel clothes wash process much simpler.

The “ Laundreez ” has a special side cap allowing you easily drain the bag while squeezing water out of the clothes, and then refilling without removing your clothes from the bag.

For the Laundreez, simply fill with water, add detergent, add clothes, soak, drain, fill to rinse, drain, and it’s done. This video gives a quick snapshot to show how easy the drain spout makes the process.

On the other hand, the Scrubba has soft raised dots on the inside of the bag that gently “scrub” your clothes clean.

Of these two options, the Scrubba is my favorite as the raised dots help with the cleaning process, but both options are decent.

In the end, I recommend using a normal dry bag because of its versatility.

The dry bags can be used as a day bag for routine travel and a place to hide electronics when your adventures take you on the water. From there, steal a little dish soap from the kitchen and you’re ready to go.  By the way, dish soap is an underrated detergent that is cheap, available everywhere, only requires a little bit, and pulls stains out of anything.

The Travel Clothes Wash Procress

(Continue scrolling for step by step instructions)

The “Dry Bag Laundry” caters to lazy, procrastinating travelers (like me)

An upside to using this, “laundry in a dry bag” method is that you don’t actually have to wash anything…you can just let the clothes soak.  You simply fill up the bag with clothes and soapy water, swish around the clothes in the the bag once (5 seconds of effort total) and set the bag aside to soak for anywhere from 15 minutes to a day. 

After that soak period, rinse by pouring out the water and refilling with clear water until clean – usually 2 to 3 rinses total gets everything squeaky clean.  This method has cleaned everything from oil stains to European bar smoke out of my favorite garments, all quickly, conveniently, and cheaply.  Read on for step by step instructions for how to wash your clothes without a washer.

Additionally, you can wash as many or as few items as you’d like, while with normal laundry you have to wait for “an entire load” of laundry to be efficient.  If you realize you’ve procrastinate and are on your last pair of socks and undies, you can quickly do those two items and wait a few hours for them to dry…if you’ve brought travel friendly goods.  This is one more reason I love traveling with wool clothing , as it dries much more quickly than you’d expect.

How to wash your clothes without a washer in 10 Minutes Using a Dry Bag and Dish Detergent

Step 1: find a dry bag or portable laundry bag .

Get a dry bag or specially designed travel laundry bag like the Landreze or the Scrubba.  (My personal preference is the dry bag)

These options on Amazon are cheap, leak proof, and will work for the task. As I said before, I recommend dry bags over “ portable laundry bags ” because most dry bags (like the ones below) can double as a day pack during wet adventures ..

Step 2: Find the best travel laundry soap available: Dish Soap

You may initially think “what is the best travel laundry soap I can use to wash my clothes?” Though your head is in the right place, the best travel laundry detergent may be – regular dish soap (yes, dish washing soap). Any will do, but aim for one with a decent scent or no scent at all.

Dish washing detergent works well because it’s concentrated, meaning we don’t need much, easy to find, so any hostel kitchen has it or you can buy a bottle for $1, and its great at breaking down oils, dirt and pulling out stains.

The single warning here is to rinse thoroughly. For some materials, dark colors that are rinsed well may fade when exposed to the sun if they haven’t been rinsed well. This happened with the inside of my travel pants – my Outlier Slim Dungarees – (as the cuff was folded and the inside was exposed to the sun) but the outer material didn’t noticeably fade

Step 3: Dilute 1 spoon of dish soap in water

Add one tablespoon of dish soap to a glass of water, stir to mix the water and soap, then pour into the dry bag

Step 4: Add clothes, water, soap

Add your clothes to fill the bag 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full, but make sure the bag can still be closed

Add enough water to cover clothes plus ~1 inch

Step 5: Mix and Let Soak

Agitate with hands 15-30 seconds to ensure all of the clothes are covered with and soak up the soapy water

Let the clothes sit in the water and dry bag for 15 minutes at least…don’t feel bad if a day or two goes by, especially if the clothes are very dirty

Step 6: Drain dirty water, refill with clean water, agitate, repeat

Rinse (~2-3 times) by pouring out the water, refilling with clean water, agitating with hands, and pouring out the water again. Repeat the process until the water is clear

Step 7: Remove clothes from bag and squeeze out excess water

Squeeze water out of clothes by hand.  Avoid twisting or wringing out the clothes as this will stretch and damage the clothes

Lay out clothes to dry, ideally on a flat surface

Step 8: Wear the clothes, look stylish, and get them dirty again…and repeat

Wear again until dirty

Travel Clothes Wash FAQ

Can you wash clothes with soap.

Yes, virtually any soap (shampoo, hand soap, dish soap) will work to get clothes clean , just beware of washing delicate items, dark colored items, or delicate wool items with harsher soaps like dish detergent. Beyond this, as long as you rinse thoroughly you won’t have many major problems

What is the Best Travel Laundry soap?

The best travel laundry soap is liquid dish soap, as it is easily accessible, available everywhere, cheap, and pulls stains, oils, and sweat out very well.

For soaps to take with you, Dr. Bronner’s unscented soap is the best, as it is highly concentrated and multi-purpose. It can also be used as a body wash or facial cleanser if diluted. I generally carry a small bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap at the start of my trips and it lasts a while.

What is the Best Travel Laundry detergent? (That isn’t dish soap)

Any powdered laundry detergent that you can pickup at a mini-mart is the best travel laundry detergent – as it is cheap, readily available, and keeps your bags lighter making your travels easier. Throughout Asia, South America, and even Europe, it is possible to buy a small bag of laundry detergent for under $1 USD. I’ll purchase this bag, and pour enough detergent for a few washes into a zip-loc bag and leave the rest at a hostel as a donation…for a “future me” to wash with.

What is the best travel laundry bag?

The best best travel laundry bag is a normal dry bag, between 10L and 20L in size. This bag can serve as an actual laundry bag, storing your dirty clothes, and serving as the holder for the travel clothes wash process.

Is washing clothes with dish soap ok?

Yes, just be careful washing delicate laundry items (ready the label) and rinse dark clothes thoroughly, as residual dish soap in the clothes can cause slight fading in the sunlight. If you’re very worried, take a small amount of powdered laundry detergent in a zip-loc bag and refill it with powdered detergent from mini-marts along the way.

A Note on choosing the right clothes for travel…for easier washing

The process of washing clothes by hand while traveling can become much harder or easier, depending on how “travel friendly” the clothing.

How much water materials hold (cotton is the worst), how long the materials resist grime and stains, and how quickly they dry (again, cotton is the worst) affect how quickly you can wash your clothes and how quickly they’ll dry.

Make the most of your travels, and reduce your wash time and time between washes by packing travel friendly clothes. These “best of” lists of the travel shirts, pants, and even shoes, that have been my favorites and best performing during my adventures.

• The 7 Best Men’s Shorts for Travel
• Travel Pants for Every Type of Travel: 27 Options for Adventuring Hard and Looking Good
• My Favorite Shirts for Minimalist Travel
• Wool Socks: A Travel Essential

Tips for Washing Clothes while Traveling

• For heavily stained clothes, get an old toothbrush and scrub dish detergent into the stain and allow the garment to sit for 10 minutes, then wash as usual.
• Depending on the type of stain you’re trying to get out, washing in cold water or soaking in hot water may be appropriate. Google the stain type to confirm

So now that you know how to wash your clothes without a washer while backpacking….here are a few great options travel laundry bags and dry bag laundry options on Amazon.

See dry bags available at REI.com

Other great travel gear and clothing content.

• 7 Great Men’s Travel Pants
• The 5 Best Men’s Travel Shorts
• The Perfect Carry on Packing List

See why wool is worth the price in my experiment of wearing a shirt for one week straight — the ultimate odor fighting garment material

About the author.

Carlos is a nomad, slow traveler, and writer dedicated to helping others live abroad and travel better by using his 7+ years of experience living abroad and background as a management consultant and financial advisor to help other nomad and expats plot better paths for an international lifestyle. Click here to learn more about Carlos's story.

women's clothes

Monday 26th of August 2019

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Best Laundry Detergents for Travel (Top 6 Picks)

Travel author

Hi there! My name is Joe, and I am a travel writer and blogger with a passion for discovering new places and sharing my experiences with others. From city breaks to epic road trips, I am always on the lookout for my next adventure

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Traveling is an adventure that opens our minds to new cultures, experiences, and memories.

However, the dirty laundry that comes with it can sometimes be a hassle to deal with.

Whether you’re backpacking through the wilderness, taking a long flight, or staying in a hotel with limited laundry options, having a reliable travel detergent for odor elimination is essential.

Read on to find the perfect travel laundry detergent that will keep your clothes fresh and clean no matter where your adventures take you.

Table of Contents

Best Laundry Detergents for Travel

Best Eco-friendly

LAZY COCONUTS

Best Overall

Best For Tough Stains

Though the three products mentioned above undoubtedly excel with their exceptional features, we recognize that everyone has distinct requirements.  

Because of this diversity in taste, we’ve gone above and beyond to review alternative detergent choices below.

Additionally, remember to factor in the importance of travel insurance for an extra layer of security for your valued possessions.

1. Best Overall: Tide 

• Unit Count:  10.6 Ounce
• Item Form:  Liquid
• Scent:  Clean Breeze

The Tide 1-Load Travel Packets are a lifesaver for travelers who want to keep their clothes fresh and clean throughout their journey. Each packet contains 10.6 ounces of concentrated detergent, ensuring you have enough to clean a single load of laundry. The small size of these packets makes them travel-friendly, taking up minimal space in your luggage or backpack.

Despite their small size, they pack a punch. The Tide formula is known for its ability to effortlessly remove tough stains, dirt, and odors, ensuring that your clothes come out clean and fresh.

Furthermore, their lightweight and spill-proof packaging makes them easy to pack into your suitcase or carry-on bag.

• The inclusion of Febreze in the pods helps to eliminate odors
• Compatible with high-efficiency (HE) washing machines
• Contains Sport Odor Defense
• Limited fragrance options
• Not suitable for handwashing or certain delicate fabrics

2. Best Eco-friendly: LAZY COCONUTS

• Unit Count:  48.0 Count
• Item Form:  Sheet
• Scent:  Fragrance-free

If you’re looking to make an eco-conscious choice without compromising on cleanliness, LAZY COCONUTS is the way to go. Talk about going above and beyond to minimize their carbon footprint! Not only that, but they are also cruelty-free, vegan, and biodegradable. It’s like having a guilt-free laundry experience every time!

This sulfate-free detergent sheet is specially formulated to be gentle on sensitive skin, making it perfect for those with allergies or babies. The detergent dissolves completely and fast, leaving no residue on your clothing. 

Each pack contains 48 sheets, ensuring an ample supply for multiple laundry loads. The fragrance-free formulation is ideal for those who prefer a scent-free experience, and the sheets are also free from dyes and parabens. Rest assured that your dirty laundry will be clean and fresh without harsh chemicals or irritating fragrances.

• Eco-friendly
• Works great in all water temps
• No residue on the clothing
• Limited fragrance options for those seeking a specific fragrance

3. Best for Removing Tough Stains: CLEACE Laundry Detergent

• Unit Count:  31.0 Count
• Scent:  Blueberry

With CLEACE, doing laundry while traveling has never been easier. Featuring a refreshing Blueberry scent, CLEACE Laundry Detergent brings a new level of freshness to your laundry routine. The detergent sheets are free of irritating ingredients, making them safe for even the most sensitive skin types.

The pre-cut and pre-measured sheets eliminate the need for measuring cups or messy spills. Each sheet is designed to last for up to 60 loads; for smaller loads, you can even use half a sheet for a thorough clean. 

They slowly dissolve in water, and with the nano-technology, this detergent goes beyond surface-level cleaning. The advanced technology enables deep cleaning, eliminating tough stains and leaving your clothes fresh and revitalized. They are even graded A and safe for washing underwear, ensuring a gentle and comfortable experience.

• No measuring required
• Blueberry scent adds a pleasant aroma
• Environmentally friendly
• Everyone may not prefer the blueberry scent

4. Best for Odor Elimination: OxiClean Odor Blasters Odor & Stain Remover Powder

• Unit Count:  80.0 Ounce
• Item Form:  Powder
• Scent:  Citrus

Traveling can be an exciting adventure, but dealing with dirty laundry and unpleasant odors can put a damper on your experience. Fortunately, OxiClean Odor Blasters Odor & Stain Remover Powder has the solution. This incredible travel detergent is designed to tackle tough odors and stains, making it the perfect companion for your journeys.

Its powerful active detergents are specially formulated to neutralize even the most stubborn smells, leaving garments smelling fresh and appearing clean. Plus, its unique combination of ingredients ensures that no residue is left behind on fabrics, providing long-lasting cleanliness. 

Its exceptional qualities make it perfect for maintaining delightful-smelling clothes throughout the day!

• Eliminates tough odors and stains
• Safe for colors and whites
• Easy to use, just add to water or detergent
• Some may find the scent overpowering
• Requires time and effort to mix and apply

5. Best for Swimwear: Fashion Care Splash Swimsuit wash

• Unit Count:  9.46 Fl Oz
• Item Volume:  60 Milliliters

The Fashion Care Splash Swimsuit wash is the ultimate savior for your beloved swimwear. It is your must-have companion for all your beach-bound adventures.

Say goodbye to faded colors and saggy elastic with this specially formulated cleaner. This powerful detergent effortlessly neutralizes and eradicates the harmful effects of chlorine, salt, and those pesky suntan lotions and oils that threaten to ruin your swimwear’s pristine beauty.

Diving deeper into its magic, our Splash Swimsuit wash acts as a shield against the dangers lurking in chlorinated waters. By sabotaging chlorine’s deteriorating powers, this detergent effectively prolongs the life of your swimwear, ensuring it stays as vibrant and fitting as the day you first wore it.

• Convenient and easy to use
• Suitable for all types of swimwear fabrics
• Effectively cleans swimsuits without damaging the fabric
• Not be sufficient for frequent or larger loads of swimsuits

6. Best for Delicates: Cashmere, Wool & Delicates Shampoo Detergent 

• Unit Count:  16.0 Fl Oz

Whether on the go or at home, this versatile detergent is suitable for hand washing and machine use, providing convenience and flexibility wherever you are. No matter the washing method, you can trust that your delicate fabrics will be treated with the utmost care, preserving their softness and longevity.

This detergent is made with a non-toxic and biodegradable formula. Not only is it gentle on your clothes but also on the environment. It contains no harsh chemicals or allergens, making it suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

A little goes a long way; this detergent has a highly concentrated formula, allowing you to use small amounts and still achieve exceptional results. Each bottle provides an impressive 42 loads, ensuring long-lasting usage and excellent value for your money.

• It lasts for multiple washes
• Maintain the softness, shape, and color of delicate fabrics
• Formulated with gentle ingredients that minimize the risk of damage or shrinking
• Pricier compared to regular detergents

Laundry Detergents for Travel-Buyer’s Guide

When selecting a laundry detergent for travel, you must consider several important things.

These factors can ensure that you choose a detergent that meets your specific needs while traveling.

Here are some things to consider when buying a laundry detergent for travel:

Portability and Packaging

One of the most crucial factors to consider when selecting a laundry detergent for travel is its portability and packaging.

Look for a detergent that comes in compact and lightweight packaging, ideally in a small bottle or individual packets.

This will make it easier to pack and carry in your luggage without taking up too much space or adding unnecessary weight.

Concentration and Efficiency

Travel often involves limited access to laundry facilities, so choosing a highly concentrated and efficient detergent is essential.

Concentrated detergents require a smaller amount per load, allowing you to carry a smaller quantity while achieving effective cleaning results.

Additionally, efficient detergents are formulated to work well in various water conditions, including hard water, which is common in many travel destinations.

Let’s find out

• Do Hotels Have Washers and Dryers?

Versatility and Suitability

Consider the versatility and suitability of the laundry detergent for different types of fabrics and garments.

A good travel detergent should be suitable for handwashing and machine washing, providing flexibility depending on the available facilities.

Furthermore, it should be gentle enough to use on various clothing materials, including delicates and synthetic fabrics, to prevent damage or fading.

Environmental Considerations

As responsible travelers, it’s essential to consider the environmental impact of the laundry detergent you choose.

Look for biodegradable and phosphate-free detergents, as these are less harmful to the environment.

Plus, some brands offer eco-friendly options that use natural ingredients and sustainable packaging, which can be preferable for environmentally conscious travelers.

Take a look

• 4 Best Portable Travel Bidets

Scent and Allergies

Consider your personal preferences and any potential allergies when selecting a laundry detergent for travel.

Some detergents have fragrances that can leave a pleasant scent on your clothes, while others are fragrance-free.

If you have sensitive skin or allergies, opt for a hypoallergenic detergent free from dyes and perfumes to minimize the risk of skin irritation or allergic reactions.

Final Thoughts

Finding the best laundry detergent for travel is essential for maintaining clean and fresh clothes while on the go. We have explored six top-rated options and compared their features, effectiveness, and convenience. Each detergent has unique advantages, catering to different travel needs and preferences.

Remember to refer to our comprehensive buyer’s guide, which provides valuable insights and tips for selecting the ideal laundry detergent for your travel needs.

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Home > Guide To The Best Travel Products > Best Travel Laundry Detergent For Your Next Trip

Best Travel Laundry Detergent For Your Next Trip

Not all detergents work well for handwashing; in that case, you need to find one that doesn’t leave a residue, smells delicious, and is easy to travel with.

Handily, we’ve reviewed some of the best for you. By knowing what to buy beforehand, you won’t have the hassle of looking around in your location and trying to find where to purchase travel laundry detergent!

Skip Ahead To My Advice Here!

Best Travel Laundry Detergent Reviews

Travel Laundry Detergent Packets . Find several brands of small packets and try which one suits you here.

1. Breezeo Laundry Detergent Strips

If you want to save space in your suitcase, detergent strips and an excellent sink laundry detergent option are a great way to go. Breezeo strips are high quality and great for anyone on a budget. This pack has enough for 48 loads of washing, which is undoubtedly more than enough for a regular trip, with just one strip required for one lot of laundry.

The steps contain a concentrated detergent that dissolves when added to either hot or cold water. The detergent also dissolves completely, so you don’t have to worry about granite bits of undissolved detergent sticking to your clothing – there’s nothing worse! You can either use them in a bowl, e.g., handwashing, or you can use them in a machine.

2. FINZY Laundry Detergent Sheets

This detergent product comes in a pack of either one sheet, five, or ten; however, the price is not as budget-worthy as the first product we discussed. Despite that, this is a high-quality option and one of the best travel wash detergent choices that will certainly clean your clothes thoroughly and leave them smelling fresh.

These sheets are dissolvable in either hot or cold water, and you literally just put them into the bowl or the machine with your washing, and they will clean your clothes without any residue left over. They will also leave a rather pleasant scent, which some detergents don’t do! The sheets come in a pack that needs to be cut open, so you can be sure that they’re ultra-fresh at the time of use. This is, therefore, one of the best travel detergents for handwashing products.

3. WashEZE Laundry Sheets

This particular travel laundry detergent comes in a box of either 30 or 40 sheets, which will certainly last you for a long time during your travels . These sheets are also a 3-in-1 product, so they clean your clothes and soften and act as a stain remover.

One sheet is enough for one lot of laundry, whether washing in a machine or a bowl, and they dissolve entirely with hot or cold water, although they do work better with hot water overall. You can also use these sheets in a dryer to ensure that your clothes remain soft and not like cardboard!

4. Tide Sport Travel Sink Packets

This travel washing powder detergent is a packet that you add to your washing, either hot or cold, and the liquid will wash your clothes and ensure that it remains fresh and soft. The detergent includes Febreze to help keep odors away, allowing your clothes to be wearable.

This detergent is also ideal for removing stains, giving you a long-lasting wardrobe while traveling. The only downside is that this particular option isn’t as compact as sheets or strips, but that may not be a problem if you want the added freshness and stain removal option.

5. LG Laundry Detergent Sheets – Lucky Fiji Power Sheet

Brands we use and trust.

This LG product contains a box of 45 travel laundry detergent sheets, so you will have enough detergent to see you through at least a few weeks of travel . You also get the added extra of the big named brand, as LG makes high-quality washing machines and other electrical equipment.

You pop a sheet into your machine or your bowl of hot water and allow the detergent to do its magic. These sheets are the equivalent of 100 ounces of detergent in a regular liquid form, so you can be sure that your clothes will be clean. The sheets are also infused with lemon and lavender, keeping your clothes smelling delicious. You also don’t have to worry about stains, as the detergent contains a plant-based stain remover.

6. Sea to Summit Trek And Travel Liquid Soap

This isn’t a detergent per se, but a travel laundry soap, which could easily be used to quickly wash your clothes while on the go. The product is small enough to be taken as cabin luggage and is also biodegradable and free of added nasties. The bottle is strong, and the lid isn’t going to leak while in your bag.

This particular soap has a green tea fragrance that is light and isn’t overpowering. Of course, you can also use this like a bar of regular soap, so you get two products in one.

7. BerryPLUS Soap Berry Eco-Friendly Natural Laundry Detergent

This is an excellent option for anyone who is eco-aware, as we all should be, as a biodegradable travel clothes wash. Not only does it clean your clothes well, but it’s also eco-friendly and doesn’t contain any added chemicals or other extras.

This natural travel laundry detergent is a packet you do your laundry, made from soapberries. That means your clothes are super-clean and smell delicious at the same time. This detergent is OK to be used with regular washing machines; however, it could also be used in a bowl with hot water for soaking and hand washing.

8. Scrubba Wash Bag

This isn’t a detergent but an entire laundry system, giving your clothes a cleaning experience that will eradicate dirt and stains. Because of the product’s space-saving and effectiveness, it is one of the best travel laundry kit products you can buy .

This is a portable washing machine in a bag, so you add your clothes and the detergent and squash it all together. It’s like the old-fashioned mangle or scrub board, getting rid of dirt easily.

After washing, the bag doubles as a drying bag, making it the ideal option for travel and camping breaks. It weighs just 5oz, so it’s not going to take up space or weight in your case, and you don’t have to think about finding a bowl or a plug for the sink to wash your clothes.

Laundry Travel Tips

Now you know which detergents are best to use, what else do you need to know about washing your clothes on the go? Washing your clothes certainly saves on space because you don’t have to worry about taking a million and one outfits , but it can be a drag on your time if you don’t know how to do it correctly.

Here are a few tips you can bear in mind:

• Try and use free laundry services wherever possible; sometimes, these come at an added cost, so this is something to bear in mind in your planning.
• Search for local laundrettes or laundromats. Again, you’ll pay for these, but they’ll typically be cheaper than hotel laundry services. Make sure you have some change for using these types of laundrette services.
• Try and pack as many synthetic fabrics as possible, as these ordinarily dry faster than natural fabrics, saving you time on drying.
• It’s best to do your washing in the bathtub if your hotel has one, but the sink is just as valuable.
• Pack a travel sink stopper (plug), as many hotels don’t have these!
• Also, pack a travel washing line you can tie up in the bathroom or on the balcony and a few pegs in a small bag.
• A dedicated laundry bag is a good idea, as this will keep your dirty clothes, which need washing, away from your clean clothes while traveling around before you can get to do your laundry.
• When washing, only use a small amount of detergent, as hand washing can mean small pieces of residue stick to your clothes if you use too much.
• Make sure you give your clothes a proper wash by ensuring they’re thoroughly wet first, adding the detergent, allowing it to sud up well, and then kneading it with your hands to ensure everything is clean.
• When rinsing, don’t stop until all soap suds have gone; otherwise, you’ll end up with that residue, and they’ll take forever to dry.
• Wring out all excess water as much as possible before you hang your clothes to dry
• Make use of radiators for drying if your hotel room has one.

We also have a lot of packing and travel product tips, including the following.

• Best Travel Hair Dryer
• Best Compression Socks For Flying
• Travel Cross Body Bag: The Best Cross Body Bags For Travel
• Best Travel Umbrellas To Keep You Dry
• Best Toddler Travel Bed Reviews (aka Travel Crib)
• Best Baby Carrier For Travel Review
• The Best Travel Flat Iron Reviews
• Best Travel Pants For Women
• Best Travel Pants For Men
• The Best Travel Bras
• Best Shoes For Travel
• Ultimate Guide to Buying The Best Travel Wallet
• Ultimate Guide to Buying Packing Cubes
• What to Wear on a Long Haul Flight
• Best Hanging Toiletry Bags
• Best Travel Jewelry Organizers
• Guide To The Best Safari Hats

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Laundry packing list and laundry tips while travelling

by Anne Betts | Oct 23, 2023 | Luggage and Packing | 7 comments

Updated October 23, 2023

One of the strategies, and challenges, of packing light is to manage if, how, and when to do laundry. The clothes you aren’t wearing are the clothes you need to schlep around from place to place. An essential key to packing light is to pack fewer clothes in fabrics and colours that don’t need to be washed as often, have a plan to keep them clean, and have a laundry packing list to make the task as convenient as possible.

Table of Contents

1. Assemble a travel wardrobe with laundering in mind

2. familiarize yourself with care labels, 3. adopt odour-reducing strategies, 4. plan when to do laundry by the load, 5. handwash regularly   , 6. suss out drying options in your accommodation, 7. fast track drying, 8. conduct a handwashing test, 9. book accommodation with washing facilities, 1. detergent, 2. stain removal, 3. odour removal, 4. dry-bag ‘washing machine’, 5. sink stopper, 6. travel clothesline, 7. travel hangers and clothes pins, 8. laundry bag, packing tips for doing laundry while travelling.

Consider how easy, and how often, something needs to be washed. For example, travel pants and leggings in darker, neutral colours can be worn for several days without washing. Chances are anything in white or light colours will need to be laundered more often and washed separately from darker colours.

Panties don’t take up much space but when washed daily, three or four pairs can suffice. Reusable panty liners worn on long travel days can help underwear (and trousers or leggings) remain fresher. To help tops remain fresher, underarm sweat vests work for some people.

For travel clothing, choose lightweight, quick-drying fabrics. Anything in merino is a good choice. Not only is it lightweight and perfect for layering, but its odour-resistant properties are legendary. For socks, the same pair of merino socks can be worn for several days, so there’s never a need to pack more than two pairs (in addition to compression socks for long flights). The same holds for base layer shirts that can be worn several times without washing. Merino can be pricey, but laundering less means it lasts longer.

Speaking of merino, let’s talk about shoes. If there are more comfortable walking shoes than AllBirds Wool Runners , I’m yet to find them. My Wool Runners are lightweight, eco-friendly, washable, and in the right colour, blend well with a capsule wardrobe. For sandals, I love my Teva Tirra . They’re also washable and spruce up nicely after time on a sandy beach or dusty trail. Havaianas Slim flip flops are lightweight and durable, and work well as shower shoes, indoor wear, or around water.

Become familiar with the care labels of your clothing. Know which pieces must be washed in cold water or laid flat to dry. Anything that can’t be washed (except for outerwear) or dry-cleaned deserves to be left at home.

As previously mentioned, reusable panty liners and underarm sweat vests help reduce odours and extend the time between washing.

Another strategy comes from the performing arts community where costumes need to be worn multiple times. Vodka is a perfect odour remover. It’s odourless, colourless, and has a sanitizing effect. Spritz the offending area with vodka and as it evaporates, the offending odours are removed.

Visiting a self-serve laundromat can be a cultural experience by chatting with locals and learning more about the neighbourhood. However, it consumes valuable travel time that could be invested elsewhere. It also involves figuring out machines and having coins and detergent to operate them.

Another approach is to have a laundry service wash, dry, and fold your clothes, but this requires trust that their products and methods won’t be detrimental to you or your clothes. And charges for services offered by hotels can be excessive.

When staying in holiday accommodation, doing laundry by the load means you’re in charge of detergents and drying methods. It also allows you to do other things while a machine is doing its thing. If there’s no dryer (or air drying is preferred), there will probably be a drying rack and plenty of other places to hang damp clothes and string your travel clothesline.

Handwashing takes a few minutes each evening, and for lightweight and quick-dry fabrics, they’re usually good to go the next day. Unless you’re accumulating laundry to wash by machine at a future stop, washing one or two items daily feels less overwhelming and requires less drying space.

If you like to soak and wash things in a sink, you may have to plan for sinks without plugs, or plugs that don’t work. Also, it’s a good idea to give a sink a good scrub to remove dirt or residue from cleaning products that can stain or discolour clothing.

For areas needing extra attention, such as collars, armpits, and crotch, work on those first. Spend extra time on stained or soiled areas. Then, swirl, swish, and knead the clothing in soapy water for about two minutes.

Another approach is to take dirty items into the shower with you, especially if the sink is lacking in some way. Lather them up, and rinse them off while showering. If the accommodation has a ‘shower bath,’ (bath and shower combo), start by adding a little water and preferred detergent to the tub. While showering, trample, squish, and agitate the clothing with your feet. This works well with larger pieces. 

Hostels, hotel rooms, and holiday apartments offer a variety of places to hang laundry to dry. When staying in a women’s dorm in a hostel, my travel clothesline finds attachment points on the bunk frame. Wooden hangers in hotel rooms and holiday apartments that can be removed from a closet can be hung on a door frame, curtain rod, ironing board, table edge, towel bar, or shower head. Some hangers have clips from which to hang socks or panties. A travel clothesline can be stretched between two stationary objects such as a bed frame, door knob, luggage rack, wall lamp, balcony rail, faucet, towel bar, bathroom hook, dresser handles, or chair. 

To expedite the drying process, squish or wring pieces out to remove as much water as possible. Smooth out any twists so clothes dry faster, keep their shape, and have fewer wrinkles. Take a towel, lay it on a flat surface, and place your pieces of wet clothing flat on top of it, separating each item. Then tightly roll the towel with the clothing inside. Once rolled, apply pressure, or step or kneel on the towel to help it absorb more moisture. Unroll the towel to remove your clothes and hang them to finish drying.

If your accommodation has an iron and ironing board, iron those pieces that could benefit from having additional moisture removed. Or use a  hairdryer for a similar purpose.

Hanging clothes outdoors in fine weather or near a fan, window, or heat source will help them dry faster. Keep in mind that clothes dry more slowly in humid climates.

On a recent trip to Poland in September, I packed two bottoms: lightweight travel pants and Lululemon leggings. I was surprised to discover that the leggings needed more than an overnight to dry. Fortunately, I was staying several days in that location, but had I washed them before a travel day, this would have been handy to know. Taking a handwashing test at home might have given me the intel I needed to choose the best time to launder different pieces of clothing.

Another consideration concerns new purchases and how they react to laundering. If they bleed, it’s better to know this before mixing them with other pieces of clothing.

If daily hand washing isn’t your thing, mix up your accommodation bookings to ensure you have access to a washing machine on a schedule that works for you. When I travel with a group of friends, we book accommodation that invariably has washing facilities. We’ll choose a ‘wash day,’ get ourselves organized, and pool our laundry into loads of lights and coloureds.

Laundry packing list

Many travellers take advantage of what’s available at their accommodation: body wash, shampoo, or bar soap. 

If you have a favourite liquid detergent, decant some into travel-sized bottles no larger than 100 ml for carry-on travel. Or purchase packets of travel-sized laundry detergent before leaving home. One advantage, especially for those with skin conditions, is that you can have confidence in a tried-and-true product.

I’m a fan of an all-purpose bar soap. My favourite is Dr Bronner’s 18-in-One Pure Castile Soap. However, the more I use it for laundry, the less I have left as bath soap. It fits perfectly in a Matador Flatpak Soap Bar Case where the bar dries while it remains sealed away. Dr Bronner’s offers the same product as a concentrated liquid in a travel size.

Better still, laundry eco-strips are a carry-on traveller’s dream. They’re ultra-concentrated, biodegradable sheets of ‘liquidless’ laundry detergent that dissolve in water. Use one for a load, two for heavily soiled laundry, or cut them in halves or quarters for laundry in a sink, shower, or a DIY dry-bag ‘washing machine.’ I’ve used Tru Earth with success, but there are many choices on the market, including Earth Breeze that gets excellent reviews and is on my list to try. Laundry sheets are lightweight, earth friendly, take up very little space, don’t leak, and a small piece goes a long way to meeting handwashing needs.

For stain removal, a Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover Pen does a decent job. It’s cheap, easy to carry, and perfect for removing stains as they appear.

Or, use hand sanitizer. In an interview with the New York Times, cleaning expert Jolie Kerr stated, “If I had to tell people to carry  just one thing  with them to handle stains on the fly, it would be hand sanitizer. It has a high concentration of alcohol in it, which is a very good stain remover and will work on everything from pen to food spills to blood.”

As soon as possible, use warm water and regular soap if you don’t have other options at your disposal. Be gentle. You’re trying to tease the stain out of the fabric, not push it deeper. Make short, quick motions as if you’re tugging the offending stain out. It’s not the time for elbow grease.

Decant a couple of shots of vodka into a travel-sized spray bottle. Or carry an empty bottle and pick up a miniature bottle of vodka during your travels. 

A dry bag is a versatile multipurpose item that can serve as a DIY washing machine. It’s especially useful when camping, and a hygienic choice when staying in facilities with communal sinks. Add laundry, water, and detergent, roll out as much air as possible, then shake, toss, tumble, agitate, and massage the bag to replicate the action of a washing machine. Repeat with a rinse cycle.

A dry bag is a more durable and earth-friendly alternative to a plastic zip-top or garbage bag. For a commercial option, some travellers choose the ‘Scrubba,’ a bag with a handy built-in washboard, air valve, and see-through window. If you’re likely to get enough use of a Scrubba to justify the space, weight, and price, here’s an excellent review from Pack Hacker that explains how to use it. The Scrubba Mini is a smaller, lighter version.

Also, a dry bag is handy when freshly washed laundry isn’t quite dry on a travel day. Packing almost-dry laundry in a dry bag is better than hanging individual pieces from a travel bag. On arrival at your new digs, remove items from the dry bag to finish the drying process.

Not all sinks have a plug, and a rubber universal sink stopper doesn’t work in all sinks. I’ve used duct tape and cling wrap with some success, and Blu Tack works well as a reusable plug. I pack a small amount, about the size of a golf ball, stored in a lightweight sealable container. At 0.8 oz / 24 g, it’s one gram lighter than my universal sink plug and much more versatile.

A retractable clothesline might be available in some types of accommodation. However, a travel clothesline takes up so little space in a travel bag that mine is packed for every trip. It’s lightweight (0.8 oz / 23 g) and doesn’t require clothespins. The hooks at both ends are more serviceable than suction cups. They loop back into the braid, expanding options for setting up the line. My favourite is the Go Travel Pegless Washing Line , with the suction cups left at home. When I stay in hostels, my travel clothesline doubles as a washing line and privacy curtain rod.

Hangers that can’t be removed from a closet rod reduce drying options. For this reason, travelling with your own offers a tried-and-true approach to hanging laundry. My experience with inflatable hangers didn’t end well when the set of two both developed leaks and were useless. However, they are lightweight and improve airflow by separating layers of clothing from each other.  Folding hangers are more reliable. There are a host of possibilities with variations in sturdiness, size, and weight. If hanging clothespins are more your style, these can be hung from a shower rod, towel rack, or back of a chair.  

Separating dirty clothes from clean ones makes it easy when it’s time to do a wash. Choose a bag that’s a good fit for you. I wash daily, so a small, lightweight handmade item made by a friend is all I need to stow one or two pairs of panties, a reusable panty liner, a couple of socks, and a merino base layer. An added advantage is that I think of my friend, Rose (who made the gift), whenever I use it.

When my handmade laundry bag can’t accommodate damp or dirty items, a dry bag is a useful backup.  Might you be interested in this related post?

• 10 Reasons to travel with dry bags

If you found this post helpful, please share it by selecting one or more social media buttons. What are your strategies and packing tips for planning to do laundry when you travel? Please share your thoughts in the comments. Thank you.    

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I bring a small vial of concentrated liquid laundry soap and am mindful of bringing only clothes that are fast drying (NO all cotton anything…ever). Most of the time I’ll do a few pieces in the sink and hang/drip dry (if I even end up doing any laundry at all 😉 As for MUST HAVES on my packing list, one thing I use daily is PortaPocket. It’s a multi-functional wearable that keeps my vital items safe, secure & discreet… it’s easy to use, lightweight & versatile, plus works w/almost any outfit at all, from casual to fancy. Happy new year and Cheers to you, from Chicago!

I love how you’ve broken down the list into categories and provided helpful tips for keeping laundry organized and manageable while traveling. The idea of using dry bags for packing clothes is so clever and I’ll definitely be using that for my next trip. I also appreciate the tips for machine washing clothes and how to quickly dry them. This post will be a great resource for anyone planning a trip and looking for tips on how to stay organized with laundry. Thanks for sharing your expertise!

This is a great post. I especially found the tip about using sanitizer as a stain removal helpful. Something I will be putting into practice right away as my go to has been to use dish-soap but that doesn’t seem to be working this trip.

I love the pictures that accompany this post.

Hey Anne, You know with every article you have so many tips to share that it intrigues me every time. These laundry techniques during traveling are spot-on. It is crazy that some people do not wash their clothes at all during traveling and pack so many things that it becomes hectic to move to places.

The realistic pictures that you shared also help.

This comprehensive guide to doing laundry while traveling is a treasure trove of practical advice and ingenious tips. The insights about assembling a travel wardrobe, using care labels effectively, and optimizing drying methods are invaluable. The packing list for laundry essentials is a must-read for any traveler aiming to stay fresh on the road.

I take a Ziploc bag with a couple of laundry pods. Each time I use one my luggage gets lighter.

Love this comprehensive guide on managing laundry while traveling. These tips are so useful! It is also worth considering packing a small mesh laundry bag to keep your clean and dirty clothes separate in your luggage – it’s been a lifesaver for me! Thanks for sharing these insights!

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Everything You Need to Do Laundry While Traveling, According to Globe-trotters

Expert travelers know that one way to avoid overpacking , especially on longer trips, is washing your clothes while you’re away. Doing laundry mid-trip lets you get more wear out of your outfits, while still packing light. And “a lighter suitcase helps you avoid extra airline fees — and leaves more room for souvenirs during your trip,” according to Judy Perl, president of the Judy Perl Worldwide Travel agency.

Hotel laundry services, however, can be prohibitively expensive, and likely won’t even be an option if you’re camping , backpacking , or staying in hostels or Airbnbs. But with the help of a few handy items, Perl and the three other frequent travelers we spoke with say that it can be just as easy to wash your clothes on your own, allowing you to pack light and save money. As Stephanie Flor, the founder of Around the World Beauty , says, “When you do your own laundry, you’re in control.” Below, our experts recommend their favorite detergents , garment steamers , laundry bags , and more to stash in your carry-on so you can do a load (or two) on your next trip.

An odor-fighting detergent

Flor told us, “When doing my own laundry, I always bring my own detergent because the last thing I want to do is run around looking for a laundry place at midnight.” Most of our experts agreed, offering up a number of different options depending on what you may need to wash. No matter the detergent you choose, Perl notes that “small travel packets of detergent are wonderful because you can stash them in your suitcase without taking up too much space, and you can easily wash your smaller items in the hotel sink [or] bathtub .” For something that cleans well and can tackle odors on any garment, Flor loves these travel-size pouches of Defunkify powder, a detergent specifically designed for laundering sweaty activewear . She adds that Defunkify is made from plant-based, ecofriendly ingredients that won’t pollute local water systems. “In many parts of the world you have to take into consideration what you’re putting into the water-filter system,” she explains. “It’s all about traveling consciously.”

A detergent for delicates

For hand-washing delicates like underwear or bathing suits that need extra attention, travel writer Beth Sandland uses Soak detergent in convenient single-use packets. There’s no need to rinse or scrub, she says, so you won’t risk tearing or pulling your garments. “Just put a teaspoonful in a sink of water and soak,” Sandland explains.

A mess-free detergent

While the above liquid and powder detergents are fairly spill-proof, if you’re very wary of messes, try these soap sheets recommended by Perl. The solid sheets dissolve in water so, as she says, there’s “no risk of them spilling in your bag on trips where your bag is getting tossed or jostled around more frequently.” Plus, the tiny pack of 50 biodegradable sheets will take up minimal room in your luggage . Whichever detergent you use, Perl stresses the importance of bringing a sink stopper in case your hotel’s or other home-away-from-home’s bathroom doesn’t have one (or it isn’t working).

A detergent dupe

Although it’s meant for hair, Sandland calls this shampoo bar her “secret weapon” for washing clothes away from home. “I used it to wash a hand-wash-only dress in the shower in Indonesia, and discovered it works really well for freshening up clothes,” she says. “It only takes a few minutes, smells lovely, and is totally plastic-free.”

A washing add-in

Even if you’re fastidious about separating your dark- and light-colored clothes at home, it’s not always feasible to wash two separate loads while traveling. If you’re planning to do laundry while on the road and don’t want to restrict yourself to a monochrome wardrobe, Perl says these dye-trapping sheets are a “must” because they “prevent dyes from bleeding so you can still wash light and dark colors together.” Simply toss one in the sink or bathtub while you’re washing your clothes to avoid staining whites and other light-colored fabrics.

A mini-steamer

Nail artist and frequent traveler Julie Kandalec , the creator of blog Julie Off Duty , told us she always packs this mini-steamer to give clothes a quick refresh after unpacking. Traveling with the steamer allows her to “bring thinner fabrics that would normally wrinkle like crazy,” she adds. Kandalec says that this one is “compact and super simple to use,” and that it “heats up in 30 seconds and is very, very efficient — even on hard-to-steam fabrics like linen.” Flor also brings a steamer with her on work-related trips when she can’t look rumpled, and Perl says that, in a pinch, you can use your “shower time as an opportunity to de-wrinkle your clothes” by simply hanging wrinkled garments in the bathroom while you shower and letting the hot steam do its work.

An all-in-one washing bag

When she doesn’t have access to a sink or tub, Sandland relies on this innovative washing bag that’s perfect for camping, backpacking, or van-living . Just add water, detergent, and clothing, then give the bag a vigorous rub against a flat surface so that the hundreds of mini nodes inside can scrub away at your dirty gear. When it’s not in use, the washing bag folds down small enough to slip into any pocket of your luggage.

A washing bag for delicates

We’ve previously written about using these mesh bags to protect underwear in the washing machine, and Flor says the same idea applies when you’re hand-washing delicates on the road. To save space, she’ll also pack her undergarments in these bags before putting them in her suitcase.

A laundry bag for dirty clothes

For separating your dirty clothes from clean stuff until you have a chance to wash them, Perl recommends this strong and durable laundry bag from the German brand Reisenthel. She says that the packable mesh sack “fits nicely in a suitcase and is extra functional, with a zipper and a loop to hang it when needed.” Even if you don’t plan on doing laundry during your trip, a bag like this is useful for keeping dirty clothes together so they’re ready to wash once you get home.

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Forget lugging around a bag weighed down with excess clothes. There’s a secret to slashing the size of your suitcase — doing laundry on the road.

And a few small additions to your packing list can save you time, hassle and expense when dealing with laundry while travelling.

From a simple plastic bag to good old fashioned velvet soap, Escape readers have shared the laundry-beating secrets in their luggage.

Here are their top laundry items you’ll want to consider popping on your packing list.

Pegless clothes line

Amazon has pegless clothes lines that have suction caps or hooks on the end. They're great for drying your clothes in the hotel bathroom. Just remember to run the fan while drying to speed up the process. And it's less than $10.

Inflatable coat hangers

I always pack a few blow-up coat hangers as they keep blouses and shirts front and back a distance away from one another and makes drying much quicker especially with T-shirts. - Sue Morris

The right clothes

When travelling to hot humid climates, pack moisture wicking clothing as it draws the sweat away from your body, so clothing doesn’t look wet and heavy. Also pack a foldable plastic bucket and small plastic clothes hanger with pegs attached, so you can wash clothing each night. This fabric dries quickly in the shower overnight. - Shan Scott

Eucalyptus oil 

Pack a bottle of eucalyptus oil. Half a teaspoon added to a basin of water and a white bar soap is good for stain removal and leaves clothes smelling fresh. It’s also handy for insect bites and a few drops added to hot water for steam inhalation when suffering a cold. - Miriam Watters

Stain remover

Before I go on a holiday, I always fill up a small 50ml plastic bottle of liquid stain remover (like Vanish), and pack it in my shower bag. I find a little goes a long way and has let me wear the article again, without the stain. I would not go on holidays without it. - Janet Kendrigan

Shampoo and conditioner

Sachets of shampoo and conditioner make excellent laundry liquid and, obviously, take up no room whatsoever. For clothes that cannot be washed while travelling, I have found that it is a good idea to turn them inside out so that when unpacking, it is easy to see what needs to be washed. - Bev Rodrigues

A plastic bag

Rather than worrying about dodgy sink plugs or bringing my own, I simply use a strong plastic bag, placing it into the sink for hand washing. If you leave something soaking and need to use the sink you can hang it on the taps for a while. The bigger and stronger the bag used the easier it is for washing. - Julie Lawson

Old school soap 

Good old fashioned Velvet soap. It beats tiny little soaps and it’s the best for washing laundry. - Jan Gould

Laundry tub

When cruising we always pack a lightweight silicone collapsible tub to wash larger items like jeans that can’t be washed in a hand basin. It can be placed in the shower recess to keep overflowing water contained. - L. Lee

My best holiday laundry tip is to pack a large chamois so that when you rinse your clothes you can roll them in the chamois to remove excess. - Val Ainge

I always pack a small 100ml bottle of Eucalyptus Woolmix laundry liquid to wash my knickers in hotel bathroom. You only need a small squirt and little rinsing as it doesn’t suds up like others.- Ros King

The Scrubba 

We have been on eight cruises in the past few years and always found laundering a problem. A couple of years ago, I did some researching and discovered the Scrubba — a small scrubbing bag with an old fashioned wash board mechanism built in to it. It takes up no space at all and is extremely light. You can’t do a big wash at a time but if you do it every day (takes 3-5 minutes), it is great. We can do three singlets, three underwear and three pairs of socks or three casual shirts at a time. All it takes four or five small drops of detergent. If you also take a travel clothes line and some small light pegs, you can string them out on the balcony (when at sea) and they will dry in no time. - Ken Seib

Soap in an onion bag

When we are travelling we always pack two cakes of laundry soap, each inside an onion bag. This can be used for hand washing in the shower or handbasin any time. - Marie Hobson

Didn't pack anything special? Try these laundry hacks 

Do it in the shower.

If you are staying somewhere without a laundry, do your washing by hand every night when you have a shower. Put the clothes in after you have rinsed and then you can stomp on them which is just like a machine. Beats kneeling over a tub or shower base for a long time and getting a sore back. - Colleen Webber

Sleep on it

On a tour in Africa I found that it was very humid in my safari lodge. I’d washed my cargo pants and a few other things in the shower and partially dried them with the hair-dryer before dinner. When I got back to the room that night, however, my laundry was very damp. I didn’t want to have it still wet in my bag all next day. Thinking a bit, I had a brainwave. I put the laundry in the game lodge dressing gown, and put the lot in bed. Then I slept on the dressing gown. Presto; the clothes were dry by morning and the dressing gown kept the sheets and me dry! - Jeanette McInnes

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How to do Laundry while Traveling – 3 Options!

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If you’re traveling for more than one or two weeks, it’s inevitable that you’ll have to do laundry on the road, especially if you want to pack light.

Whether you’re going on a one week trekking adventure, two week beach vacation, or 12 month round the world journey there’s usually easy access to clean clothes just around the corner. Find out how to do laundry while traveling with three easy options.

3 Ways To Do Laundry While Traveling

For long trips, you don’t want to have to pack more than you need, but you also don’t want to wear dirty clothing. The best middle ground is to wash your clothing while traveling. You can pack carryon only while still feeling clean and comfy. There are three main options for laundry when traveling.

Laundry Services

As a long term traveler, I count on the widely available services to do my laundry while traveling. You’d be surprised how readily available and cost effective laundry washing services are around the world.

From busy tourist towns like Cusco, Peru to small camps in Tanzania and backpacker cities like Bangkok ; it’s possible to find places that will wash your dirty laundry starting at rates for as low as $1 a kilo.

How your clothing is washed varies from place to place. Many will hand wash your clothes and some use machines. For the most part, your clothing is hung to dry so you can expect about a 24 hour turnaround time.

Inquire about rates and carefully note down what you gave them to avoid problems with missing items. If there’s a special item with specific instructions, let them know or hand wash it yourself.

Use a capsule wardrobe to pack light but create many outfits. Learn more in my guide !

Travel Laundry Liquid Soap |  Travel Laundry Clothesline Kit

Washing Machines

Many hostels and hotels have laundry room with coin operates machines making it a breeze to do laundry while traveling.

When traveling the USA, I choose hotels like Holiday Inn Express that have convenient laundry rooms for travelers. In Europe, Australia, and New Zealand the majority if hostels where I’ve stayed also offer basic washing and drying machines for backpackers. You should research your accommodation’s amenities before booking. For hostels, I use HostelWorld.com.

These accommodation options also tend to sell individual packs of laundry detergent and softener so that you don’t have to add extra weight to your bag.

If you’re on a short trip, pack a couple of single use detergent packs like these  Sinksuds packs  to get you through your travels. For longer travels, always buy as you go.

this is a step by step guide for  how to hand wash clothing when traveling

Hand Washing

A popular choice for budget travelers is hand washing and can be done no matter where you’re staying. This is where the fabrics you choose plays an important role as synthetics dry much quicker than comfortable cotton.

A universal sink plug such as the one from Muzitao  is essential so you can wash in any sink around the world.

To hang your clothes, pack a travel clothes line or a simple string can be used to dry your clothing indoors or outdoors. You can either pack your own  best travel laundry soap  or buy detergent locally. Otherwise shampoo, a bar of soap, or body wash does the job too.

Read about  How to Choose the Best Fabrics for Travel .

Scrubba Wash Bag

Perhaps the most popular hand washing option is the  Scrubba Wash Bag . It saves you money by allowing you to efficiently and effectively wash your clothes anytime, anywhere. This works especially well for adventurers getting off the beaten path with limited access to laundry facilities or those that would prefer the convenience of doing it themselves.

One reader says, “I have found it extremely useful and always take it with me. You can also use it for wet stuff like swimwear. It has little scrubby things and the best part is you don’t have to get your hands wet. If I am washing white stuff I let it soak in the bag in the sink for a couple of hours. It was such a good investment. I never use laundromats or laundry anywhere after having clothes ruined and lost.”

Another reader adds, “I have it and love it. I use it traveling and camping with my family. It gets my kids’ clothes clean, which says something. Use a strong, concentrated detergent (I prefer Allen’s Naturally liquid detergent). And bring a travel clothesline. I find it SOOO much easier and quicker than washing in the sink or bathtub.”

Just make sure you have the newest version. One reader warns, “I have the old model with the weaker plugs and it finally gave out and leaked after three years. The new one is much improved. I loved mine. It gets the clothes cleaner than I can in a sink and is so much more convenient. I just throw all of my dirty clothes in it to keep them separate and wash them as needed. It’s a great dry bag. It’s good for delicates at home too.”

Allurette Scrubba Wash Bag

For travelers with delicate clothing, try the Allurette Scrubba Wash Bag . While the original Scrubba Wash Bag works wonders for regular and technical clothing that needs a serious scrub down to get it clean, the Allurette is better suited for fabrics that require a soft hand wash.

When it comes to doing laundry while traveling, you can get creative when you’re on the road. Some wash their clothes in plastic bags, others in locally purchased buckets, and I personally like washing some items like travel underwear in my dive mask’s plastic case. You’d be surprised how long you can make your clothes last between washes when you’re on the road for a while. You really get to know yourself in a whole new light.

Bring an extra packing cube and dedicate it to your dirty laundry.

What are you tips on how to do laundry while traveling?

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• Top 5 Travel Bags for Women

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28 comments.

Double duty: I use giant two gallon zipper bags as packing cubes. Pack an extra zipper bag which can be used for washing clothes. Bonus: squeeze the air out of the zipper bag to create space in luggage. I sit on the bag to get all the air out. 🙂

Great packing hack Meg!

I take my clothing item (s) that needs to be washed in the shower with me: wash, rinse and roll in the towel I used to dry myself off.

Thanks for sharing how you manage to do laundry while you travel Edie! Happy travels!

This is what I do. The last time I went to Italy I brought the Scubba Wash Bag. I ended up leaving it behind because it was so bulky and cumbersome.

These ideas are very helpful! It’s not hard to do laundry along the way, but it can be a challenge to wrap your head around the task when there are already so many moving parts to trip planning. Having the methods laid out like this makes it easier to commit to packing fewer pieces of clothing with confidence! Thank you.

If laundering in my room, I ask for extra towels before doing laundry. When something is a little heavier, like pants or a sweater, I roll the washed item in a clean towel and gently squish it along the roll to get out more water. I then hang the item or use another clean towel on the luggage rack to dry flat. I find this extra step greatly improves drying time.

I will be traveling for 21 days to Venice, Barga, Rome then Greek Isles cruise. I have not been successful with the carryon tips however I am bringing tide travel size laundry detergent to freshen up the clothes once onboard the ship.

I use wool wash soap. It works great on fabrics besides wool and doesn’t require rinsing. The brand Euclan even comes with small single use packets. Another tip to speed up drying after wringing out clothes, wrap them in a towel and stand on the towel to push the water from the clothes into the towel.

Thanks for sharing your travel hack with us Bernie! 🙂

Try a Cetaphil gentle cleanser bar! Best stain remover I’ve ever used, but also does a great job on your face and skin as well. All purpose for certain! Connie

I time my hotels around laundry needs; ensure they offer coin op machines. I bring detergent sheets that are light and versatile. (e.g. Dizolve) that can be used for hand washing or machines. The hotel shampoos also work well for hand washing.

I use laundry bags as packing cubes so when it comes time to do laundry, I throw my delicates in them.

I love the coloured clothes pegs from the dollar store. When not used to dry clothes, I use them to mark & differentiate each family members’ towels.

Keep in mind that washing machines & dryers in some countries are significantly smaller than ones in North America. And drying times may take 3x to 5x in humid countries.

Some countries are accustomed to hanging clothes outdoors. Your clothes may end up smelling musty, like cigarette smoke, or pollution.

Hi Jessica, thank you for sharing how you like to laundry when you travel and all your great travel tips with us! Happy travels! ?

We tried hand-washing in Costa Rica and the humidity was so high the clothes never dried. Any suggestions?

Yes, humidity can be a huge issue. If there are fans available, try pointing them on your clothing. Otherwise, you may need to splurge for drying. Happy travels!

2 in 1 shampoos (shampoo + conditioner) are AMAZING for washing by hand: it leaves garments really soft and it’s extra gentle on delicates 🙂 get a cheap option and you’re sorted! 😉

OOOH GREAT TIP!!!!

Great tip- never considered this option!🤗

Shampoo is brilliant for getting marks off the inside of shirt/blouse collars.

we bring along travel packets of woolite to do laundry. You can get them on Amazon. And it’s gentle on fabric. Makes me happy to do laundry on our vacation. =)

Good idea! I’m sure the clothing feels and smells more like it’s had a proper laundry bath too 😉

I usually hand wash (mostly because of time constraints + laziness)…and then when I do “splurge” on a washing machine or laundry service, it feels soo luxurious 😉

Yes it’s nice to have a good balance and a “splurge” is always a good idea 🙂

I always wash by hand with a bar of soap. You know, if you place your wet clothes on a towel and then roll the towel up, once you unroll it, the clothes will be almost perfectly dry!

Do you use soap because you find it easier? I find using soap really helps target dirtier areas and makes it easier for me.

I use soap for both your reasons. I bought a bar of Fels brown laundry soap on Amazon and cut off a piece to fit a travel size soapdish. Another option (more expensive) is the washing bar from The Laundress. An added benefit is that the soap works really well to clean make-up brushes and sponges.

We find that doing laundry can be a fun activity on a trip. If you use a local coin-operated place, you get to meet locals. My husband still talks about the fun he had at a laundromat in Ushuia, Argentina.

Love laundry soap, it should be more popular 🙂 Love that regular activities can be extra fun while traveling!

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Doing Laundry While Traveling: Essential Step by Step Guide

Doing laundry while traveling is one of the fabulous parts of traveling but it is part of everyday life on the road.

It does not matter if you’re staying at a five-star resort on a two-week vacation or a budget option accommodation during a long-term trip, dealing with laundry while traveling is something you will have to address.

Living out of a bag while traveling is hard. In my backpack, I travel with 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of swimming trunks, 2 t-shirts, 3 collared shirts, 1 sweater, 4 pairs of underwear and 3 pairs of socks.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have to be clean and this goes for my clothing while traveling. I’m not that stinky backpacker and I refuse to be.

While it took Lina and I a while to get into a groove and figure out what kind of laundry options would work best for us, we’ve certainly tried everything and can speak from experience.

Doing laundry while traveling has now come second nature to us and is not something we worry about anymore.

How To Wash Laundry While Traveling

Table of Contents

Below are different ways to wash your laundry while traveling. We have used all the listed methods while living full time on the road and living out of backpacks.

Heck, we even implement some of these methods on shorter trips so we don’t have to carry as much clothing with us.

Each method has it advantages and disadvantages, which I will highlight below. It’s actually surprisingly easy to keep your clothing nice and clean while you are traveling.

There’s no need to be a stinky traveler or that person on the bus no one wants to sit next to.

Sink Wash: Washing Your Clothes in a Sink

The sink wash method has worked for years and is one of our top picks. Plug the drain of the sink, add soap, fill up with hot water and hand wash your clothing.

Let everything soak for a while before using your hands to massage and work the material.

When you’re done washing, rinse your clothing with clean water. This is the most popular way to clean clothing for travelers. I will admit, it can take forever if you have put off your laundry and have a lot to do, but it still works great.

Wash Time: 10-20 minutes including the soak Cost: Free

Soak Bag: Washing Your Clothes in a Bag

This method uses a plastic, waterproof bag to act as your own personal washing machine.

There are official products available, such as the Scrubba Bag , that have been designed specifically for washing your clothes while traveling.

However, we have also found that any decent waterproof bag will work just as good. You can purchase a variety of bag sizes and I would recommend something that can fit at least half of the clothing you plan to carry with you when traveling.

Throw your clothing into the bag, add a pinch of laundry detergent, fill with hot water and seal the bag.

Shake or mix everything up for a few minutes and then let soak. Once cleaned dump the clothing into the sink and rinse in the bag or in the sink.

Wash Time: up to 30 minutes with a soak. Cost: Free

Shower Wash: Washing Your Clothes in the Shower

This method is your practice for when you’re going to be crushing grapes in France. Plug your shower drain, run hot water, strip off your clothing or place your clothing into the shower.

Then move your feet over the clothing like your crushing grapes and rinse each garment under the showerhead until the water runs clear. This works well if you do it daily or even if you have a large amount of clothing to wash. I use this method all the time.

Wash Time: Takes a few minutes Cost: Free

Things you need to Shower Wash while traveling: universal drain stopper

Wash Bin: Washing Your Clothes in a Bucket

For this method, you will need one or two wash bins or even trash cans will work, anything that will hold water. Fill up the bin with soap and hot water, use your hands to wash the clothing by squeezing and ringing them like a washing machine.

If you have two bins fill the other bin up as your rinse bin and rinse your clothing until the water runs clear.

This method is very similar to the sink method except it allows you to choose a bigger bin for washing. We used this method weekly while traveling through Africa .

Wash Time: 10-15 minutes Cost: Free

Visit a Local Laundromat

Coin-operated laundromats can be found all around the world, even in the smallest of towns. Many hostels and hotels will also have coin-operated machines to use.

This is a great option if you have something nasty that needs a good deep clean or you just don’t feel up to washing them yourself.

Many are safe to use and to leave your clothing until they are done without fear of your items being stolen. If you’re lucky, some even offer WiFi.

Wash Time: Takes about half a day. Good for a rainy day. Cost: $1-$8

Send It Out: When You Have Money to Spare

Have a pile of laundry to deal with but having a bad day? No worries, send it out and stop worrying about it. Regardless of the accommodation class you choose, there is always an option to send your laundry out.

In some countries, this can be an affordable option but no matter where you are, this is the most expensive way of dealing with your laundry while traveling.

It always takes 24 hours and most places will charge you per item or based on your weight of clothing. It is important to clarify how they will be washing your clothes for you.

While many times you will have a standard option of machine washing and drying, don’t assume this.

In many parts of the world, sending out the laundry will still result in hand washing and line drying. Just something to keep in mind.

Wash Time: 24 Hours but is quick and easy for you to deal with. Cost: $4-$20, varies on items and weight, also which country you are in

Wear Them Till They Walk: If You Can Stand It!

Honestly, I’ve never met a traveler that doesn’t do this and we are certainly guilty of it as well. Wear your clothes multiple times until they become dirty or start to smell. 

This method helps reduce the amount of laundry you will do while traveling and also save wear on your clothes. This might sound odd, but washing your clothes can be hard on the fabrics and it can be better to wash them less.

How does it work? Re-wear everything until they start to get a smell. It’s that easy. Some times you can make the same shirt last 2 to 3 years and sometimes you only can get 1 wear out of them before they need to be washed.

This depends on what you are doing and where you are in the world. Astronauts use this method while up in space as there’s no way to wash their clothing.

They wear there clothing until it falls apart. Just think of what that smells like. Puts the smelly backpacker to shame.

FAQ: Laundry While Traveling

Is hot water an issue while traveling.

It never fails that when it’s laundry day on the road, we do not have access to hot water .

There have been many times we’ve been stuck cold washing our clothes and while it is better than nothing, it is not ideal when you’re in hot climates and need to kill the bacteria on your clothing.

You will find at times you need to improvise and can use a kettle or pot of water on a stove or over a fire to get hot water.

The plugin water kettles also work well if you can’t get hot water from the tap. Something to note, if you are having trouble getting hot water to wash, sending it out won’t guarantee that you will get a hot wash.

So make sure you tell them you want hot water used.

How To Dry Your Clothes While Traveling?

Drying your clothes on the road can be tricky. There have been times I’ve had to pack up my freshly washed clothing after it’s been sitting out for days because we have to move and they are still not dry.

To be honest, it is very rare that you will come across dryer machines while traveling and will find yourself in a line dry situation.

There are a couple of things to take into consideration on laundry day before you commit to washing all your available clothing.

• Weather: What is the weather doing? Is the day humid, overcast, sunny or dry? Do you have only a fan in your room or an A/C unit? All of this plays a factor in the success of laundry day. You don’t need to be a meteorologist, but you do need to pay attention. If the day is humid and you don’t have an A/C unit, your clothes are going to take days to dry, this is not ideal. Even a fan on a humid day does not dry items quickly.
• Indoor Drying:   Sometimes drying clothes indoors works faster than outside. If you have an A/C unit or fan that will also help the process of drying clothes indoors. We have hung up many clothing lines indoor before and it’s method always works for us. No matter what the weather is doing outside, an A/C unit will always get the job done. Fans, on the other hand, pay attention to the humidity outside.
• Outdoor Drying: Drying your clothes outside while traveling can be hard, you need a nice sunny day and a great place to hang your clothes outside. At most guesthouses or hostels the best spot can be found on the roof. While traveling in Africa the best spot for us was from the tent to the tree. You just have to make sure you hang them up in a sunny spot without shade. Keep in mind too that you shouldn’t leave clothes out drying if you are not around. Clothesline theft happens and you’d hate to lose your favorite shirt, especially if you’re only carrying one or two. Another consideration is animals, it is not unheard of for monkeys to steal clothing. Just saying.
• Pre-Dry with Towel: To speed up the drying process, use a dry towel, lay it out, place the clothing on the towel, and roll it up as tight as you can get it. The dry towel will pull much of the excess water from washing out of the clothing, allowing your clothes to dry faster for outside or inside drying.

What Laundry Soaps to Use While Traveling?

Make sure you buy laundry soap that does not require hot water. Hot water can be hard to get. You can buy laundry soap all around the world and it varies in price and quality.

This may sound strange, but we like to carry our own soap from the states when we travel. When we run out, we replace with whatever we can find locally, but we’ve found that having good laundry soap goes a long way towards clean clothing.

• Powder laundry soap: Carrying a bag of laundry powder has worked the best for us. Yes, it looks funny flying with a bag filled with white power but we’ve never had issues or even had it looked at. This does mean space and weight commitment, but for us, it is worth it.
• Laundry powder sheets: It is good and bad with laundry powder sheets. They are lightweight but you do not get as many washings out of them as you would with other forms of soap. This is a great option for shorter trips or if you are concerned about weight and space.
• Laundry pods: Laundry pods work well but they take up lots of room, for us we need the room for other gear but the pods can be a great option for shorter trips.
• Liquid laundry soap: Liquid laundry soap is the best for washing clothing, that’s why if you go to a store that’s all you will find. It’s not economic to travel with though. You can easily fill a small bottle with liquid laundry soap for those shorter trips but this is not a great option for long term travel.

Make sure while traveling with any type of soap that you keep it away from other items in your bags, such as food or plastics. Pack it as far away from other items as you can.

I ruined a new Camelbak hydration bag because I had it stored in the lip of my backpack with our laundry soap. The Camelbak now tastes like laundry soap and we can’t get the taste out.

We pack our laundry soap in a plastic Ziploc bag, then that bag goes into a drawstring laundry bag for extra protection.

This doesn’t stop the smells from coming out, but it does stop it from leaking on other things.  We also carry a small plastic SOS pad to scrub hard to get out stains.

Keeping Clean Clothes Fresh While Traveling

All of our washed clothing goes back into our packing cubes . To keep our clothing fresh, we like to fill small plastic bags with potent smelling dryer sheets and then pack them between the clothing.

This helps absorb any smells off of clothes you are wearing more than once, keeps any strange smells you may encounter with your bags while traveling off and also keep you freshly laundered clothing fresh longer.

This is a great trick to keeping your clothes and bags smelling good and we recommend it for every traveler.

Every few weeks we open and remove the dryer sheets on the top and bottom to release the new scent and it works really well.

Items We Can’t Live Without for Doing Laundry While Traveling

Since we are professionals when it comes to on the road laundry, there are certain items we have learned we can’t live without.

They make laundry days easier and faster and every single one of these items is carried with us when we travel.

• Universal Drain Stopper – Makes it possible to plug a wide variety of drain sizes
• Travel Clothes Line – Packs away to almost nothing and makes it possible to hang clothes anywhere
• Fabric Bungy with Hooks – We’ve used these a lot to create fast clothes lines indoors and outdoors
• Quick Dry Towel – comes in handy for pre-drying on laundry day
• Waterproof Bag – To soak those really nasty clothes
• SOS No-Scratch Pads – For aggressive stains and for cleaning shoes
• Tide Stain Pen – We don’t use it often, but when we do, we need it.

So there you have it, all the wisdom we have from spending years on the road and dealing with laundry.

Hopefully, all of our tips, hints, and tricks will serve you well the next time you find yourself dealing with laundry on the road.

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I have always been an outdoorsman so becoming an adventure traveler was just the next natural step. I love nature, I love to get off the beaten path and I like to explore. I enjoy scuba diving and cars. And yes, Lina and I have a naked dog.

9 thoughts on “Doing Laundry While Traveling: Essential Step by Step Guide”

Half a day to do laundry at a laundromat? I go to a laundromat once a week or a little more on trips and it doesn’t take half a day. I am strategic though about it where the laundromat is either right next to the hotel or next to a place I want to see. It takes less than 2 hours to wash and dry clothing. I just wake up early one morning to it, eat breakfast next to it, read, and plan my day. If it’s not in the morning, I will do it at the end of the day. If I’m somewhere remote where laundromats are scarce, I just put up with the sink laundry. That said, if you are on the go as far as hotels, it’s a pain in terms of drying.

Yea, it can take up to a half day with getting to/from the laundromat. There are also 2 of us, so twice the clothing.

My mother would put “ready to toss” underwear in her suitcase. Then, she would have disposable underwear for her next trip. It sounds werd, but I did this on my last 13 day trip in Italy and it worked perfectly! Plus, it leaves a bit of room in your bag for souvenirs.

That’s awesome! Gets a little complicated if you travel for more than a couple weeks though… always good to have a solution for washing things. 🙂

Nice article! I picked up some new ideas. I’d like to share another way to practice the shower method – wear your clothes into the shower, soap up, scrub, rinse, then strip and hang clothes to dry. I use this method on bike trips when I rinse out my riding clothes each day but I’ve also used it for regular outfits too. It is so much easier to scrub and rinse with some structure under the clothes. Also, if you have access to a mini fridge/freezer here’s a tip that works well for blue jeans (which can take forever to dry): If the jeans are basically clean but just need some odor reduction pop them into a Ziploc baggie and leave in the fridge (freezer is more ideal) overnight. Hopefully, the cold temperature will kill any stinky bacteria. Happy and safe travels!

Thanks for adding some more tips!

But DO remember to fetch them out of the fridge before you leave or check out… Out of sight, out of mind? Don’t ask me how I learned this… hint: the hard way!

This is excellent. Thank you for sharing. We are retireing in a couple of years and planning on hitting the road till we drop. Or get homesick. Only to go back again. I will definitely be getting the laundry essentials. I was thinking about taking some of those laundry bars of soap as well. Small and compact. Love the clothes line idea.

This sounds great! We’ve never carried the bars but we typically start with liquid and when that runs out buy powder locally. Yes, love our clotheslines and fabric bungees!

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How to do Laundry when traveling

P lanning to do laundry while traveling makes packing light possible. If you bring separate outfits for each of your travel days you will soon find yourself lugging a heavy load on longer trips. Washing clothes while on the “road” enables us to pack light.

You have 3 options when doing laundry while traveling. The first option is to do your laundry at a laundromat. Doing laundry at a laundromat makes sense on longer trips where you have more clothes and an extra afternoon to spend doing laundry.

Your second option is to use a laundry service. In some places it’s inexpensive to have your laundry done for you and you pay by the kilogram. If this is an option – go for it.  It’s convenient and easy. However, in bigger cities expect to pay top dollar for laundry service. Nicer hotels offer this option as well but it’s also quite expensive. Research your options before departing on your trip.

Your third option involves doing some of your laundry in whatever sink you have access to.  Even if you do some combination of using a laundry service or laundromats chances are you’ll have to do a little sink laundry at some point. If you’ve packed light, at the very least expect to wash out your skivvies and other essentials.

Laundry in Hotel Sinks 101 Doing a little laundry at night doesn’t have to be too difficult even if you’ve enjoyed a little too much vino with dinner. Washing clothes in your hotel room is a quicker solution than going to a Laundromat, which can eat up precious time, especially if you are on a short trip. You only need the following for sink laundry: a travel clothesline, a sink stopper, and small packets of laundry detergent. The travel clothesline ought to be braided so you can just tuck your clothes in between the braids instead of using clips. The travel clothesline will also have clips or suction cups on either end.

You can bring small travel size packets of Woolite or Tide. Campsuds, an all purpose biodegradable soap, also works well (hardcore folks can use it as shampoo/body wash as well). I’ve recently been using very small “sheets” of laundry detergent that dissolve in the water. I like these because they have a very small profile and aren’t liquid. As part of your travel laundry kit it doesn’t hurt to include a small spot remover to carry around to handle any accidents.

The easy part of doing laundry on the road is finding a sink, putting your stopper and soap in and swishing your clothes around in it. The challenge lies in trying to find a spot to hang your clothes. Most hotels discourage doing laundry in the rooms. Careful and considerate behavior ensures that your hotel be none the wiser.

Using a packtowel helps you dry your clothes faster. A packtowel is a small towel made up of a chamois or microfiber material. The packtowels ability to absorb up to 7 times its weight and quickly dry makes it quite useful for the traveler. After wringing out wet clothes wrap them inside the packtowel and wring them some more to soak up excess water.

Finding a space to attach your travel clothesline involves creativity and sometimes straining the laws of physics. Hotels don’t usually like clothes hanging from their windows so don’t take advantage of this option. If you have a room with a bathroom, hanging clothes in there is ideal. Otherwise be careful that drips don’t ruin furniture or carpet.

Despite your best efforts sometimes your clothes will remain damp in the morning. In this case, well there’s nothing warmer than your body, you’ll be surprised how quickly clothes dry once you put them on. If you’re moving around alot in your travels pack your wet clothes in a plastic bag and dry them at your next destination.

Determining when your clothes need washing is a personal decision. For socks and underwear it goes without saying that these should be washed after wearing (sink laundry). Each time you repack your bag if you slip in a few dryer sheets these will help keep your clothes fresh smelling.

Unless you stain an item of clothing I think that most clothes can be worn several times without washing. Sometimes just airing out clothing helps. Basic hygiene protects your clothes from getting too stinky. For trips longer than 7 days budget some time or money to take your clothes to a laundromat or use a laundry service.

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The fastest way to dry damp clothes on the road is to give them a quick ironing! Esp. In the US where everyplace will have an iron & ironing board.

I love to take advantage of towel warmers in bathrooms that have them. You can wash most anything, hang them on the towel warmer and in a few hours everything is dry!

My experience is that one towel works for one garment (except for very small things like panties) unless you are in a relatively hot, dry place. How do you get something larger like a shirt or pants to dry without bringing so many towels (i could just pack extra clothes )

I am not going to be at a hotel, but a series of B & B’s and not for longer than 2-3 days each. This is in the fall and winter in places that are typically very wet and cold (Ireland England Sweeden Denmark etc).

nice info! I have another tips, if you are in house laundry (laundromat), just use the drying machine twice (about 20 minutes), you don’t have to make it very dry. Usually you have to use the machine 3x or 4x to make them dry. Hung the semi-dry clothes inside the bathroom, and iron them after 4 hours. it can save you a lot. 🙂

A fourth option is to rent an apartment while traveling that has a washer and dryer. Easiest solution of all! More spacious and often lest expensive than renting a hotel room. Plus the benefit of being in neighborhoods that aren’t necessarily as touristy as those where hotels are found.

What is the average cost if one chose to go with first 2 options?

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[…] Travelista.com: How to Do Laundry When Traveling […]

janna davidson

I use Washeze Laundry Sheets when I travel. They do not take up any room in the suit case at all and I never have to worry about spills or mess. If I have a hand sink washing to do I just cut one into smaller squares and it works perfectly!

On a recent trip to Berlin and Poland, I brought half the clothes I would need on an eleven day trip I washed sweaters, slacks and underwear. Even though I did hang my clothes in both the room and over a balcony they did not dry for two days! The weather was overcast and damp. I was starting to get worried. Next time I will bring one of those camping towels that absorb water.

Instead of woolite packets, I am going to fill a small container with laundry soap from home. I did travel light, 12 lbs all together! It was easy to get on trains, up stairs and on smaller flights.

clownfish-travel.com

Very good info. Lucky me I found your website by chance (stumbleupon). I’ve book marked it for later!

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Josie, you’ve added some great tips thanks!

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Laundry on the Go: How to Easily Wash Your Clothes While Traveling

I love traveling with just my carry-on . The clothes inside have been carefully selected , I’m left with a free hand to navigate directions on my phone or eat ice cream (this scenario is the most likely), and I can hoist my own bag into the overhead bin, thank you very much .

I don’t think I’ll ever go back to traveling with anything larger.

The one downside to traveling so light? Laundry is inevitable on a trip lasting more than a week.

That being said, washing your clothes doesn’t have to be a difficult undertaking or interrupt your trip so inconveniently. Here are five tips to help make the chore of laundry a breeze on your next trip:

FIVE TIPS FOR TACKLING LAUNDRY WHILE TRAVELING

1. book smart.

No matter your choice of lodging, make sure you have access to laundry-washing facilities at least every seven to ten days. Booking an Airbnb? Check the box that says “washer” when you’re searching for a place to stay. A dryer is a nice benefit, but you’ll find that many homes do not have them (our own included), so don’t let that limit your selection.

Most hosts will provide the correct laundry detergent for their model of washing machine, but you may want to message your host to confirm. Once you arrive at a rental, ask your host for a tutorial on how to use their washing machine, and if there is a line or drying rack available.

2. Take preventative measures when packing

Particularly when visiting warm destinations, I always pack several camisoles and under-shirts from Uniqlo’s Airism line . Not only do they aid in keeping me cool, but they also protect my outer garments from my skin’s sweat and oil which stretches out the time between washings.

Obviously once worn and sweaty the under-shirts need washing, but you’ll find that tech garments air-dry quickly even when hand-washed. Try to avoid packing items that need dry-cleaning while away; everything you bring should be easily hand- or machine-washed and combined in one load.

3. Wash strategically

If your rental has one of those washer/dryer combos be warned – loads can take up to five hours to complete. Check with your host and see if they are comfortable with you running the machine overnight, and throw your load of clothes in before hitting the hay. Even with separate units, some machines take much longer than others; utilize the “express” setting, if possible, as your clothes aren’t likely too soiled.

No dryer around? No worries. Just wash clothes at least two nights before you plan to leave to allow time to hang dry. Denim, towels, or other heavy items may need more time, so plan accordingly (thankfully jeans don’t need to be washed often; double check that you really need to wash them before tossing them in!).

No matter what method you use to clean your clothes, don’t do it at a time when you could be out exploring your destination. Use your limited, valuable travel time strategically. Does one person take longer than another to get ready for the day or to go out to dinner? Assign the faster person to laundry duty. We like to throw in a load of laundry as we are winding down for the night; after snacks and showers and teeth-brushing, the load is usually done and ready to hang to dry.

4. Efficiently hang your clothes to dry

I’ve learned a lot in my time spent living without a dryer. Clothes can dry on an outdoor line on a warm, sunny day in just a matter of hours. And if you’re around to do so, flip the garment over after an hour to speed up drying time even more.

When hanging clothes indoors, don’t cramp them all together—be sure to leave a bit of space between each item for airflow. The additional space allows air to circulate and they will dry faster.

Need more space? Think outside of the box—shower curtain rails and towel bars can be great clothes-drying spaces. You can also place tight-woven garments on hangers to dry (bear in mind that knits or loosely woven garments may stretch if not hung properly) to maximize space.

Bras, underwear, socks, and camisoles can be draped over doorknobs and shower heads to dry. No matter what you’re washing, make sure it is hung in a way where it won’t warp or damage items in your host’s home.

5. No washing machine?  No problem.

I hand wash a good portion of my wardrobe at home (in the tiniest sink!) and it’s easy to do while traveling as well. I always bring a small amount of laundry detergent such as  Tide Sink Packets , laundry sheets , or a bottle of castile soap (this last one is super versatile!). If you plan to be gone a longer amount of time and will need to wash several loads, you may consider simply planning on swinging by a shop to pick up a bottle of detergent at your destination.

To hand wash your clothing, simply fill a sink or basin with cold water, add a small amount of detergent, agitate with your hands to disperse the soap, and insert the garment(s) to soak for about thirty minutes. Be sure to only place as many items in the basin as will comfortably fit.

After soaking, scrub any grimy or smelly spots with the smallest drop of soap if needed. Empty the basin, then fill it with clean, cold water and let soak another five minutes, swishing the garment to rid of the soap. Empty and refill once or twice more to ensure the garment is rinsed clean.

For faster drying or to ensure your knitted garments don’t stretch, lay your item flat on top of a towel, and roll like a burrito, squeezing the water out as you roll. Hang the garment or lay it flat to dry. Voila! You’ve just hand-washed your clothes, and it wasn’t difficult at all, was it?

FINAL THOUGHTS ON WASHING CLOTHES ON THE GO

Laundry doesn’t have to feel like a chore when traveling—in fact, I kind of relish the opportunity to have a new cultural experience when traveling, even if it seems mundane. By packing smart and choosing the right moment to wash your clothes, it doesn’t even have to soak up much of your travel time at all.

Of course, if you’re in a really big pinch, you can always locate a full-service launderette/laundromat nearby or utilize your hotel’s laundry service. In my opinion, it’s preferable to pay a little extra to have your clothes washed, dried, and folded than to spend a few precious travel hours waiting in a laundromat (unless that laundromat is a cool laundromat cafe, like Cafe Laundromat in Oslo).

In either case, a few moments out of your travel day are nothing compared to the stress of hauling around multiple large suitcases. I promise that once you give traveling light a chance, you’ll never look back.

Questions for you

What are your biggest laundry challenges while traveling?

Do you have any other tips to add? I’m all ears!

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One Comment on “ Laundry on the Go: How to Easily Wash Your Clothes While Traveling ”

Thanks for your advice on laundry while traveling. My husband and I are going on a trip next week. We’ll start looking for a laundromat.

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What’s More Italian Than Making Pasta With Grandma?

In a small town near Rome, real nonnas teach the dying art of making farfalle, ravioli and other forms with a rolling pin, some flour and eggs.

By John Henderson

Growing up in rural Italy in the 1990s, Chiara Leone remembers spending Sundays at her grandmother’s. Big sheets of handmade pasta dried on cotton sheets in the bedroom. The aroma of ragu filled the air. Her grandmother hugged her in an apron, a flour-covered rolling pin in hand.

“Handmade pasta is the symbol of a Sunday lunch with the family,” Ms. Leone said. “Now people go to restaurants.”

Ms. Leone and her childhood friend Chiara Nicolanti, both 37, and nine grandmothers in the small town of Palombara Sabina are trying to change that. Their company, NonnaLive , has the grandmothers teaching guests the dying art of making pasta by hand up to five times a day, seven days a week.

“I have three grandkids,” said Angela De Paolis, 68, one of the grandmothers, who goes by the nickname Lalla. “One thing I love is instead of putting my grandkids in front of the TV or video game, I make them make pasta with me. I start crying when I see my grandchildren make pasta, and I remember when my grandmother taught me how to make pasta.”

The company began seven years ago after Ms. Nicolanti became pregnant. She spent more time with her grandmother Nerina, who often made pasta in front of her. One day Ms. Nicolanti took a picture and put it on Facebook with the cheeky caption, “Hey, who wants to cook with Grandma today?”

“The post kind of went viral,” Ms. Nicolanti said. “Suddenly everyone was asking me about coming to make pasta with Grandma .”

Some of their first customers were curious chefs whose pasta machines made handmade pasta irrelevant. Then guests came who had learned to make pasta as a child but hadn’t continued. Later they had tourists from around the world. With more and more travelers saying they want authentic experiences on their trips, what could be more Italian than learning to make pasta with actual grandmothers?

These days the women teach about 5,000 guests a year in their homes in Palombara Sabina, a hilltop town not far from Rome. They are a top experience on Airbnb for Rome ($104 per adult). They have expanded to Paris and to other cities in Italy upon request. After every cooking class they receive ovations.

A lost generation

Pasta in Italy can be traced back to the 4th century B.C. But it wasn’t until the 17th century when mechanical presses arrived that pasta became part of Italians’ common diet. Much of that pasta was made at home by women using rolling pins. But as Italian society has changed and women gained options outside the home, the practice of making pasta by hand has dwindled.

Today Italians eat an average of 60 pounds of pasta per person per year, the most in the world. But very little of that is homemade: Pasta sales in Italy last year totaled more than $5.3 billion.

Ms. Leone said her mother stopped making pasta in the 1960s. “They missed one generation — our parents’ generation,” in passing down the knowledge, she said.

At the start of a recent class, Ms. Leone gave nine tourists from around the U.S. and Spain a quick tour of Palombara Sabina (pop. 13,000), a collection of narrow, windy cobblestone streets sitting high atop a foothill of the Apennine Mountains 25 miles north of Rome. Hovering over the town is the 11th-century Castello Savelli , now popular for weddings and with, on a clear day, a killer view all the way to Rome from its watchtower.

After the tour, the group gathered around a long table in Ms. Curci’s spacious home. Each spot had a rolling board, a special long, thin rolling pin, a dough cutter and ingredients — flour and eggs. Using Ms. Leone as a translator, Ms. Curci explained that they would make farfalle — bow-tie pasta — and ravioli, then use leftover dough to make fettuccine with fresh tomato sauce.

“One hundred grams of flour per egg,” Ms. Curci said. “That’s the portion for one person. If you have eight people for dinner you use 800 grams of flour and eight eggs.”

The process is labor intensive. The grandmothers use the ancient technique of folding the pasta around the rolling pin, allowing the dough to have a different thickness and consistency. Ms. Curci had the students all mix an egg with the flour, knead it into a ball, roll it, smooth it, wrap it around a rolling pin and roll it some more. They then cut the dough into squares and pinched each piece with their thumb and middle finger to form the bow-tie shape. These would be topped with a sauce of olive oil, almonds and crushed garlic.

For the ravioli, dollops of pre-mixed ricotta and spinach were placed onto long strips of dough. The students then folded the dough over the fillings, sealed the edges and cut the strip into squares.

Some guests did all this naturally. “It was a lot simpler and less intimidating than I thought it would be,” said Eric Lawhorn, 33, a police officer visiting from Houston.

Others had more dough on their hands than the rolling board.

“Mamma mia!” said Ms. Curci, rescuing the batch from one struggling guest. “Watch me.”

It took about two hours to make enough pasta for the group. Ms. Curci said it would take her much less time when she doesn’t have to teach.

Catherine Tan, 37, a sociology professor at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., said that during the pandemic, her family would bake together over Zoom. “That was a really nice experience, and this is sort of the next step.”

Whether handmade pasta becomes the norm in Italy again may depend more on changing lifestyles than NonnaLive. But they have made an impact, at least aesthetically.

“I love it,” said Andy Luotto, a noted Italian TV cooking show host who moved from New York to Rome in 1974 and also teaches pasta-making classes. “When I find out a grandmother is doing a demonstration, I’ll go watch her. Maybe I’ll pick up a technique. As long as that exists, there is hope for Italy.”

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Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

San Diego:  Dripping with flowers, adorned in murals and fronted by gorgeous beaches, the city is almost too pretty to be taken seriously. It excels at being underrated and overlooked .

Switzerland:  Nostalgic for a time before ubiquitous connectivity, a writer ditched his phone and relied instead on serendipity — and hand-drawn maps made by people he met along the way .

Paris:  These six Parisian boulangeries will satisfy your cravings  for the crustiest baguettes, the airiest brioches and the flakiest viennoiseries.

Athens and Crete:  On a family tour of Greece, a writer followed the small footsteps  of some of ancient mythology’s biggest fans.

Izmir, Turkey:  The vibrant, 8,500-year-old “Pearl of the Aegean” has again redefined itself as a hub for international explorers , with a 2,400-year-old bazaar and the ancient Agora as chief attractions.