Who else has wasted hours in exciting foreign cities lugging a bag of dirty clothes while hunting down a laundromat, waited for a machine to be free, sat in a stinking hot room guarding your clothes while they washed, then had to carry your clothes back to your room? If you have, my heart goes out to you at the precious time wasted, and if you haven’t, I can confirm that in the destination of your dreams, this is not high on your to-do list.
So, to avoid the whole Laundromat ‘experience’, here are our top tips and gadgets to keep your clothes clean and your sanity intact while travelling!
Dylon Fabric Care Concentrated Travel Wash
This 75ml bottle can clean 15 large sink loads of clothes, and is still small enough to be taken onboard as a carry on. It’s a gentle crème that can be used in cold, hot and even salt water and on all fabrics, including wool and silk. It’s compact, practical and so much easier than lugging out washing powder. At a cost of $9, it might save you money while abroad.
The Scrubba Wash Bag
This water-tight bag is lined with hundreds of internal Scrubba nodules and promises a machine-quality wash wherever you go. It weighs less than 150g, is compact when folded, and it can also be used to store dirty or wet clothes on the go. The washing process only takes three minutes and requires very little effort. Simply add your clothes, soap and water to the bag, roll and lock the top, deflate the air, rub the bag and then rinse.
The mesh bag
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, here’s one from our travel-pro Leon. He admits to carrying a mesh bag, “just the ones you buy fruit in at the supermarket”. Insert dirty clothes, add soap and water, and voilà! As you rub and shake the clothes-filled bag, just keep rinsing it in water. You could shake and rub your mesh bag while you shower at the same time. For socks and underwear, you could use a normal plastic bag: tie the top end closed after filling with water, soap and intimates, trapping the air in the top half of the bag, then shake. Washing clothes doesn’t have to be rocket science; you just have to get creative.
Pegless Clothes Rope
To finish the process off, here’s a pegless clothes line. The concept is simple but efficient. It’s a twisted, 164cm rope that stretches out to 3m and is suspended between two suction caps, so you can hang it pretty much anywhere in your accommodation. It only weighs 24 grams, doesn’t require pegs as the twists in the elastic rope ‘grip’ and hold your clothes, and it has no metal parts, so there’s no problem when taking it through security in a carry-on.
Whether you’re staying in a hotel, hostel, tent, or even on a boat, these handy travel gadgets could save you time, money and effort.
Do you have any washing tips for our members? How do you keep your clothes clean on holiday?
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How to do washing while you travel
How to holiday without luggage
Packing secrets to save you money
