How to Hand-Wash Clothing While You're Traveling
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My kids' clothing getting nice and crispy-dry on our recent trip to Italy. Photo credit: Amy Suardi
I know, dirty laundry is the last thing you want to think of when you're getting away from it all. But, laundry happens. Especially if you are traveling with messy kids. (Are there any other kind?)
Luckily there are plenty of strategies so you can pack light, save time, and avoid spending your kid's college fund on a luxury laundry service.
1. Before You Go: What to Pack
Last week I listed a bunch of helpful travel laundry products I wish I had packed when I was slaving over a hot sink of shampooed shorts on our family trip to Europe. But if it's too late, or if you want to wing it, read on because there are still plenty of tricks using whatever you have on hand.
2. Spot Clean First
Without a giant electric machine, you don't stand a chance against stains unless you do some fancy footwork.
If you don't have a stain remover stick, wet the stained area with hot water and then pour a little shampoo or soap directly on the mark. Then with grab the fabric on either side of the stain with two hands and rub back and forth until you create lots of suds. This usually works for me, but if necessary, rinse and repeat.
3. Make Your Own Washing Machine
Hot water cleans the best, so fill the sink with the hottest water possible and some shampoo or travel detergent. (I was able to find a packet of concentrated detergent at a pharmacy in Italy: "detergent ad alta concentrazione"). Swish the clothes around, or stir the hot duds with the end of a toothbrush, then let soak for several hours.
If you happen to have an oversized zip-top bag, use it to shake up your clothes together with some water and soap.
4. Rinse out the Bubbles
Let the soapy water out of the sink, and run warm water over the clothing as you press down to remove the rest of the suds.
5. Imitate the Spin Cycle
Twisting clothes will wring out a lot of water, but it will leave them really wrinkly. (And something tells me that ironing is pretty low on your list of favorite vacation activities).
To avoid the dreaded iron, lay the clothes on a towel, and roll them up. Then squeeze the clothes, or even sit on them, to release as much water as possible. The drier you get them now, the less time they will need to dangle in the air -- which can be a two or three days if you don't have access to sunlight or hot air.
6. Hang 'em Dry
Try to get some air between the front of and the back of the clothing by hanging them on fat hangers or wide towel racks, and keep the windows open. In Italy, where electric dryers are rare, some bathrooms have retractable clothes lines or drying racks on the balcony.
Since there are not that many places to hang clothing in hotel rooms, it helps to wash your clothes a little at a time. Some seasoned travelers on Rick Steves' Europe Helpline even wash a change of clothes in the shower every day.
How do you get rid of dirty laundry when you're on the road? We'd love to include your strategies in the comments!
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