Smart Travel Hacks for Managing Laundry on the Go
Dirty laundry can be a hassle when travelling – taking up space and adding unwanted odour to your suitcase. These simple tips will help you stay fresh and pack lighter, whether you’re hand-washing in a hotel sink or simply trying to avoid overpacking in the first place.
Chances are you’ve had to hand wash your clothes at some point on your holidays. Most people do, as it’s easier to pack less and wash your clothes while you’re away, rather than stuffing your bags full of different outfits, and for many there may be no affordable laundry service close by.
So let us give you a few handy laundry hacks for your next trip.
Wash in the sink
It’s one of the easiest and simplest ways for holiday-makers to wash their clothes. All you have to do is plug the drain of a sink, add soap, fill with hot water and hand wash your clothes. Remember to pack a universal sink plug so you can easily wash your clothing anywhere, though a rolled up sock or washcloth works too in a pinch.
Use a ziplock bag as a washing machine
A ziplock bag of washing powder and hot water is another great way to clean your clothes. First add a pinch of detergent, then fill with hot water, add your dirty laundry and mix everything up for five minutes with your hand. Then zip up the bag and allow your clothing to soak in the soapy water for another 10 minutes before thoroughly rinsing in the shower.
Pack travel laundry detergent sheets
If powder or liquid detergent feels like one more thing to pack, travel laundry sheets have become a genuine game-changer. These thin, pre-measured sheets dissolve completely in water, take up almost no space in your luggage, and won’t spill or leak the way a bottle of liquid detergent can. They’re widely available at supermarkets and pharmacies, and a small packet can easily last an entire trip. They work perfectly with both the sink and ziplock bag methods above.
Use a towel
You can dry your clothes quickly and easily with this electricity-free travel hack. All you have to do is find two towels in your hotel room – or if one or both are wet, you can improvise with a bathrobe, face towel or hand towel – and lay the first towel flat on the bed. Lay out your wet clothes in a single layer on top of it and roll up the towel tightly. Lay the second towel on the bed and roll the first towel in the second towel. This will put a lot of pressure on the clothes, expelling as much moisture as possible.
Break out the hairdryer
Your hairdryer isn’t just for drying and styling your hair. If you have access to one, you can use it to quickly dry your clothing too. After washing your garment, wring it out properly to get rid of excess water. Place it on a flat surface and start drying. Once you’ve removed most of the moisture from your clothing, hang it up to dry – don’t use wooden hangers, as they can stain your damp clothes. Instead, an ironing board or shower curtain rod work pretty well.
Pack a drying line
Save yourself having to hang wet clothes all around the room and pack some string that you can rig up a clothesline with. Alternatively, you can purchase cheap travel clotheslines with suction caps on either end – great for drying items in your hotel bathroom – online or from a travel goods store.
Bring a small wet bag for damp laundry
If you’re not able to dry something before you need to pack up and move on, a dedicated waterproof wet bag (the same kind used for swimwear) is worth the small amount of space it takes up. It keeps damp or worn clothing separate from the rest of your luggage, preventing musty odours or dampness from spreading to clean clothes, and can simply be emptied and washed at your next stop.
Consider quick-dry or merino travel clothing
If you know you’ll be doing a lot of hand-washing on a trip, it’s worth thinking about what you pack in the first place. Merino wool and quick-dry synthetic travel fabrics resist odour far better than regular cotton, and typically dry in a fraction of the time – some items are wearable again within a few hours of washing. Packing even a couple of these pieces can make the whole hand-washing routine considerably less stressful.
Pack eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil is great for removing stains and spots on clothing. Add a few drops to your regular laundry powder or washing detergent and rub into the fabric. Let it soak into the fabric for 10 minutes before thoroughly rinsing. The great thing is it will also add a fresh scent to your laundry.
A quick word of caution
Before you set up a drying line or start hand-washing in your room, it’s worth checking your hotel’s policy first. Many hotels explicitly ask guests not to hang wet washing or line-dry clothing in rooms, as dripping water can damage carpets, furniture or timber floors, and some will charge a cleaning fee if they find evidence of it. A hand towel underneath anything drying, and keeping items well away from carpeted areas, will help avoid any issues – or simply ask reception if in-room drying is fine before you get started.
The bottom line
You don’t need a portable washing machine or a bag full of spare outfits to stay fresh on the road. A few smart, lightweight essentials – a sink plug, some detergent sheets, and a plan for drying – can make managing laundry on the go genuinely simple, wherever your travels take you.
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Don't take new clothes that have never been washed in case the colour runs. Take a few plastic pegs to hang clothes on the travel line - helps them dry faster, Take 2 small magnetic hooks and cheap thin plastic clothes hangers to hang shirts or tshirts. Take some of your 'op shop' clothing to wear and leave behind so there's space for some new tshirts to show where you have been! Keep colours simple and never take white especially if on a trip to outback Australia or remote Asian countries. Navy and black are my favourites - don't show marks. Hang clothes when you take them off - just airing can stop them smelling. Life's short, travel light and enjoy the trip.
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