Knowing how to do laundry on vacation is an essential skill for any frequent or long-term traveler. Learning how to do laundry while traveling lets you wear your favorite clothes several times and come home with minimal dirty laundry. Moreover, you can pack less clothing, which allows you to travel lighter and have plenty of packing space left for souvenirs or other unexpected purchases at your destination.
Option 1: How to Wash Clothes in Your Hotel
If you plan to handwash your laundry while traveling, a little preparation makes a big difference. First things first: check whether your hotel allows you to hand-wash your clothes. Some hotels prefer you don't, citing reasons such as water conservation, wall-damaging humidity, wet floors, and extra work for their housekeeping staff.
Here’s how to do laundry on vacation without leaving your hotel room:
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Sort clothing by color into lights and darks.
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Check clothing labels. Delicate items may need extra care or dy-cleaning.
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Rinse out the sink to remove dirt or cleaning residue.
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Fill the sink with lukewarm water and add travel laundry detergent to the running water.
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Add a couple of items at a time if using the sink; use the tub for larger amounts.
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Swirl and knead the clothing by hand for about two minutes.
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If you use fabric softener, drain and refill the sink, then add softener after washing.
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Rinse clothes in clean water until soap suds are gone. Drain the sink and refill it with clean water. Repeat until the water runs clear after rinsing.
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Gently squeeze or pat out water. Avoid wringing out delicate or wool items, as doing so can damage the fabric.
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Hand or lay flat to dry.
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Once the clothes are fully dried, remove wrinkles with a hotel-provided steamer or dryer. If neither is available, hang your clothes on the shower curtain bar using hangers, and use the steam from a hot shower.
Hand-washing clothes is especially helpful when traveling with children, who tend to get dirtier than adults. If you can wash clothing on the go, you can travel lighter.
What to Pack: Travel Laundry Detergent and other Essentials
If your hotel allows hand washing, create a laundry travel kit with the following items:
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Drain plug (not all hotel sinks have them)
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Travel clothesline
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Laundry bags for dirty clothing
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Travel laundry detergent
Travel laundry detergent comes in several forms: liquids, laundry soap bars, dissolving sheets, or powders. If you want to use your own liquid detergent, fill travel-sized bottles and seal them in your laundry bag (if you’re packing liquid laundry detergent in your carry-on, remember the TSA 3-1-1 rule for liquids). Alternatively, you can purchase laundry detergent at your destination. Just remember, if you’re traveling internationally, you may not be familiar with local detergent brands.
Option 2: Using Laundry Services or Laundromats While Traveling
Hotel laundry services typically require 24 hours to complete your request, although some offer same-day service. While convenient, hotel laundry services are expensive in North America and Europe, especially in luxury resorts.
Room service, laundry, and hand-washing clothing are only two ways to clean clothes when traveling. Other options include:
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Booking accommodations with self-service laundry facilities. Hostels, Airbnb rentals, vacation rentals, and motels are more likely to have self-service washing machines than high-end hotels, which prefer to offer room-service laundry.
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Depending on your destination, you can often find a local laundromat. Some laundromats offer drop-off laundry services, while others only provide self-service washers and dryers.
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Local laundry services may let you drop off your laundry for pickup or delivery later, but these can be hard to find if you don't know the area well, even moreso if you don’t speak the language.
Even if you plan to use a hotel laundry service, you should know how to wash clothes and clean bags while traveling—You never know when you’ll find yourself in a pinch and these skills will come in handy!
How to Freshen Clothes Without Washing While Traveling
When packing, choose fabrics that don’t require frequent washing. Synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and rayon dry faster than natural fibers, and wrinkle less when packed.
Clothing made from merino wool, bamboo, and hemp has antimicrobial properties to help combat odor and is ideal for sustainable travel. Lyocell is made from sustainable wood pulp, is breathable and dries quickly. Wear lightweight base layers (like a t-shirt or tank top) to protect outer layers from sweat.
To freshen clothes without washing them, air them out on a balcony, spray with fabric refresher, or use a portable steamer to remove wrinkles and kill odor-causing bacteria. You can also hang clothes in the bathroom while you shower, and let the steam kill odor-causing bacteria (and remove wrinkles). If odors persist, place the garment in a plastic bag with baking soda or a dryer sheet, seal it, and leave it for a few hours.
Knowing how to do laundry on vacation helps you pack lighter and more efficiently, reducing the size of your luggage and making travel easier—not to mention saving you money. To make your next trip easier, consider bringing travel laundry detergent, check your hotel’s policy on hand-washing, and pack only the essentials!