How to do Laundry While Traveling

As odd as it may sound, how to do laundry while traveling is a question I get asked a lot. Maybe it’s because I’m always running around in the jungle and climbing mountains. Or maybe it’s my fixation on personal hygiene.

For most people, how to do laundry while traveling is rarely an issue. I’m sure you’ve seen the classic traveler with a gigantic suitcase and a carry-on that fits almost as much.

Or there’s the giant backpack. I remember on my first ever solo trip, while part of a month-long tour, there were people with 80 Liter backpacks that defied logic in how they refused to burst at the seams.

So as someone who travels light, one question that I’m often asked is how do I do laundry while traveling?

Just how light do I travel? Well, my go to bag has become the Arc’teryx Alpha AR 35 Backpack. It’s a durable, versatile multi-day ice and alpine climbing pack that lacks the bells and whistles of a typical travel pack. Meaning it has no outer pockets aside from one in the removable top.

That doesn’t leave a lot of room for clothing.

What do I usually pack?

Typically, unless I’m going to a cold environment, I roll with 4x travel shirts made of a quick-dry or Capilene material, 3x travel pants made of a thin nylon material that dries super fast, 4x hiking socks, and 5x underwear.

Beyond that, I bring a hard shell for rain, and a bathing suit, regardless of where I’m going. If I’m staying in any hotels or hostels at all I skip the towel as I consider them wasted space.

This all includes what I’ll be wearing on my flight.

I could cut this down further if I needed to, but it all fits in my 35L pack with room left for some camera gear and emergency food.

This isn’t exactly a lot when you’re going to be getting physical for 2-3 weeks.

How to do Laundry While Traveling for Extended Periods.

That I’m asked this as often as I am is a little surprising, as it’s a fairly simple process.

There are four different laundry techniques that I primarily use:

• The Dry-Bag Bag Method
• Washing Clothes In A Sink
• Coin-Operated Laundromats
• A Laundry service

Each of these methods has its pros and cons, as well as their own levels of practicality.

Dry-Bag Method

When I’m on the move, the Dry-Bag method is what I do most. Would it be my first choice? No, but in some places you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.

This method involves using a large dry bag. I normally travel with two that are 20 Liters which is more than enough.

Other people use something called an aLOKSAK Bag, which is essentially a giant zip-lock bag made of heavy plastic, but I find these to be too one dimensional compared to a traditional Dry-Bag.

First, you throw a few articles of clothing in the bag. Don’t fill the bag because you won’t get them as clean. They need room to move once you get started.

Next, drop in a little laundry soap.

You can buy laundry soap in small quantities in most countries, but I always use Sea to Summit Trek & Travel Pocket Laundry Wash. This useful product is laundry soap that has been pressed and cut into little “leaves” of soap. The pack takes up almost no space, and the soap is biodegradable.

You then fill the bag about halfway with water, preferably hot, if it’s available, and seal the bag, trapping some air inside.

While you roll down the top of a dry bag, unless you force the air out, you get a sort of balloon effect.

The extra space inside from the trapped air gives the clothing room to slosh around like they would in a washing machine.

Things can get tiring depending on how clean you want your laundry!

Unfortunately, the next part can feel a little tedious. There’s a lot of shaking since you’re simulating the agitation of a washing machine.

Pick up the bag and go to town. Those clothes should be splashing around inside. You’ll want to do this for 5-10 minutes. Realistically, you’ll probably stop at five, because this can get a bit tedious.

After you’re done, you’ll hold the bag and drain the water out, before refilling it and repeating the process for another minute or so.

This should leave your clothing nice and clean, but feel free to give it another rinse if you’d like.

Another alternative is to agitate the clothing in the bag by hand and let it soak, but I prefer the shaking motion. It’s cleaner and not as likely to get you wet.

Once you’re finished, just ring out your clothing and hang it somewhere to dry.

Free and effective, you now have clean clothing.

Washing Your Clothes in a Sink

The sink, while basic, works quite well. It just takes longer, because you can wash less.

The process is simple, plug the sink’s drain (not necessary, but not plugging the drain will waste a ton of water), add a few leaves of soap, fill it with water, and hand-wash your clothes.

Due to its simplicity, and the usual availability of a sink, this is one of the most popular ways for backpackers to do laundry while traveling.

In a pinch, you can also substitute a bucket of water for a sink. Or, as I once had to do in Uganda, a bowl of water.

Though the bowl method was a little obnoxious as I was only able to wash one shirt at a time… and I soon found out, that the water spigot I was using was located directly above a nest of safari ants.

Luckily, I managed to not get bit even though they were all over my feet before I noticed their tickle.

The other camp wasn’t as lucky, as they were sleeping on ground level and had their tent invaded in the middle of the night. Imagine my reaction when I heard two men yelling at 4:00 a.m. in a remote bush camp.

To put our location in perspective, there was an outdoor shower, my friend went to use it, and came sprinting back in a towel because a hippo decided it wanted to take a nap there.

Hippos are dangerous. Rooftop tents for the win!

Laundromats

Coin-operated laundromats can be found everywhere, but particularly so in large towns and cities. A simple google maps search for “laundry” will usually locate a multitude.

I recently made heavy use of these while living in Rio de Janeiro for a few months. Even when I wasn’t looking I would find them everywhere, crammed into whatever space would fit a washer and dryer.

Some took coins, but most accepted credit cards, which is always more convenient.

There isn’t much to explain about this method as it’s no different than doing laundry at home. If you’ve never done your own laundry (I’m giving you some side-eye), it’s pretty self-explanatory, and most machines will have some form of direction.

Choose your machine, pay, add clothing, add soap, choose temperature, press start, wait.

You can risk it if you want, but this method usually entails waiting with your clothing so it doesn’t disappear.

While I was waiting I would use the extra time to study Portuguese.

Laundry Services

There’s no denying that using a laundry service is the easiest way. They’ll wash, dry, and fold everything for you.

If I’m staying in a hotel or hostel, one of the first things I always ask is if they offer any type of laundry service.

Some only have do it yourself machines, others will wash it on site or send it out to be washed.

Similarly, a lot of laundry mats will wash your laundry for you while traveling.

You’ll be able to spot these places immediately when compared to a regular coin-operated laundry mat.

These places will be staffed and stuffed with bundles of clothing that others have left to be washed.

Or, it may just be someone’s house and they run a service of their own as a source of income. Again, Google Maps will generally tell you what sort of place it is.

In these places (and often in hotel services) price is determined by the weight of your clothes. Just expect it to cost more than a self-service laundry mat.

In Rio for example, I used one of these drop off services only once. She charged me $20 USD! While the price was posted, this was absolutely the gringo price.

Many types of establishments charge tourists more than the locals… it’s worldwide. Unless you speak the language, just accept it.

Conversely, the laundry mat was only about $3 USD. Needless to say, I never went back to the service.

Home Wash Hacks for Doing Laundry While Traveling

If you’re washing clothes with the dry-bag or sink techniques, getting your clothes dry is important. Otherwise you could wake up the next morning and find everything still wet.

If it’s sunny out, and there’s a clothesline outside, this is a no-brainer. Usually, you can inquire with the front desk or your host.

If there isn’t, a trick that I like to use is to hang them in front of a fan or air conditioner. The moving air will have them dry much faster than hanging them on a hook or over the shower rod.

Do you have any good travel laundry tips? What are your thoughts on how to do laundry while traveling? Share your tips and questions in the comments below!

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