How to do laundry while traveling: sink wash to laundromat

Laundry on the road is what lets you pack five days of clothes for a ten-day trip. It takes ten minutes, and it works best on small, thin items.

Method 1: the sink wash (10 minutes)

1. Fill the basin with warm water. Use a stopper, or a zip bag as a plug.
2. Add a little soap or a detergent sheet. Too much soap is hard to rinse.
3. Wash underwear, socks and tops. Rub and squeeze, do not twist.
4. Rinse until the water is clear.
5. Press out water. Lay the item on a towel, roll the towel up and press. This removes much more water than wringing.
6. Hang overnight on a towel rail, chair back or clothesline.

Ruling: do this every second or third night, not all at once.

Method 2: hotel laundry service

Good for work clothes, shirts you want pressed and trips with a short stay. Ask about prices and turnaround before you hand clothes over. Hotel laundry is typically more costly than a laundromat. Do not hand over anything delicate.

Method 3: a laundromat or wash and fold

Best for trips over a week, jeans, towels and bulky items. Allow one to two hours or leave it for a local service. Carry coins or a card if needed. Pack a laundry bag so dirty and clean stay apart.

What dries fast and what does not

If you pack with this in mind, see one bag travel for beginners.

What to leave at home

• A bottle of full-size detergent
• Heavy cotton clothes that take two days to dry
• A travel iron
• Lots of spare underwear

If it goes wrong

Clothes still damp in the morning? Roll them in a dry towel and press, then wear them for an hour in a warm room, or use a hairdryer on low. Stain on a light top? Dab with soap and cold water at once. No sink stopper? Use a zip bag or a clean plastic bag over the drain.

A worked example: 10 days with 5 days of clothes

You pack 4 tops, 5 sets of underwear and socks, 2 bottoms.

1. Days 1 to 4: wear each item once.
2. Night 4: wash underwear and socks in the sink, hang overnight.
3. Days 5 to 8: wear again.
4. Night 8: wash the tops, underwear and socks again.
5. Days 9 to 10: wear and fly home.

You washed twice. Total effort: about twenty minutes. Ruling: wash small things before you run out, not after.

Packing for easy washing

• Choose quick-dry fabric for underwear, socks and tops.
• Avoid heavy denim and thick towels.
• Pack a small bag for dirty clothes.
• Pack a few detergent sheets or a travel tube of wash.

If you are planning a carry-on only trip, see one bag travel for beginners for the method.

Common mistakes

• Too much soap, which leaves clothes stiff and sticky.
• Wringing and twisting, which stretches fabric.
• Washing everything at once, so nothing is dry for the morning.
• Hanging wet clothes in a closed, cold room with no air.
• Leaving a damp item in the bag. It will smell by the next day.

Hygiene and rules

Wash hands and the basin afterwards. Do not wash clothes in a shared kitchen or a public sink where it is not allowed. Some hostels and apartments have rules about hanging clothes on balconies. Check before you do it.