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17 Comments

  1. jajaja, i was just thinking this would be a good article someone needs to write about, a few days ago. Glad you got it up and enjoyed reading it.

  2. Believe it or not, this was one of the very first topics covered on the Indie Travel Podcast! We’re in the process of trying to find and update out-of-date information, so we’re going to be re-covering some very old ground … but with a very new set of readers, I imagine. Should be fun 🙂

  3. Maybe I’m just lazy, but I could never wash my clothes myself on the road. I always used a laundromat. Most of the time, it wasn’t that much money.

  4. Definitely works well. Even travelling as a couple, we sometimes struggle to make a full load of washing though, unless we’re washing pretty much everything we own. Do you carry enough clothes to make it for over a week without washing them? or do you launder pretty regularly?

    We got into the habit in Europe, which was our first three years of travel, as a laundromat there could cost as much as 5 euros a load or sometimes 2-3 euros a kilo … and that was our lunch money!

  5. Great tips! The most expensive place to wash your laundry is probably at hotels – I get chills down my spine just thinking about the prices they charge!

  6. We’ve done a lot of sink washing but never really thought about wearing the stuff into the shower, thought about walking into the ocean with it all on but that wouldn’t really have the desired affect.

  7. Same here. I’ve done quite my share of sink washing but never had the idea of taking it to the shower.
    Main problems for me are usually :
    – find a plug (wish i’d find one that can adapt to every sink 😉 )
    – Drying : more often than not i have put wet clothes in my bag because i was changing hotels when the landry from yesterday was not dry yet :/

  8. @Poi The ocean would be refreshing, but yeah … I don’t think it’d have the desired effect 🙂

    @Lemerou The plug problem can be tricky. If you have some bluetack, that works wonders or a rubber ball is great. You can use it as a plug or to throw around on the beach or in a park.

    Drying is tricky. If something’s a little-to-reasonably damp, I prefer to wear it — and wear the dampness out of it — rather than packing it. If you’re travelling all day, you often have to wash damp clothes again, and that’s no fun.

  9. My favourite tip that I picked up from someone else is to use a drybag for your washingt. Think about it – they are designed to keep water out, but they will also keep water in, just like a bucket!

    I got a cheap 15litre one with the intention of using it for kayaking, and to protect electronics when it was raining, etc. It got more use, however, as a bucket. I put all my washing in along with a bit of powder, closed it up and gave it a good shake – just like a washing machine! I would then take all my stuff (incl towel, sarong, etc) to a laundry place every 3 weeks or so for a good machine wash.

    It’s usually pretty easy to dry stuff when travelling in SE Asia as you often have a fan or aircon in the room. I hang up a clothesline in front of it overnight and most stuff is usually dry by morning.

  10. You can also carry one of those flat rubber disks as a sink stopper. Those work wonders and are flat and light and easy to throw in your bag. It was a lifesaver for us in Paris as our hotel had no stopper in the sink and we handwashed clothes about every other night. The stretchy clothesline is also a great idea! The travel towels are also great. My husband and I use them all the time, even when visiting our children’s homes. We can pretty much go anywhere and not have to ask to use anything at the home/hotel we are staying in. Also, a couple of flat plastic hangers work well and take up little space in your bag. I take two with (with clips – that I get at a store with clothes on – just ask, they usually will just give them to you). I hang my travel towel or face cloth on these to dry out and it works great. You can hang them from anywhere to dry. Loved the podcast on this subject and the others that you do, too! Keep up the great work!! Wish I was traveling as much as you do! Hopefully, some day though!

  11. Some more great ideas! Thanks so much for joining in the conversation.

    Lisa, I’ve heard of people doing that (or just using a heavy-duty plastic bag) and I guess it makes sense if you’re using one as a drybag too. Good thinking.

    Becky, the clothes-hanger idea sounds great for those with a suitcase. I imagine them getting snapped pretty quickly in my pack 😛 Hope to see you on the road somewhere.

  12. oh my… this is one thing i didnt do when i traveled last year… i always go to the laundry shop and have them wash everything hehe im really lazy… LOL

  13. I pack a little bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap, peppermint flavor. That stuff is so potent and so concentrate it can take the funk off nasty feet and clean up ripe clothes. And the stuff last forever.

    great video!

    ~ J

  14. Love your podcasts! I download them all from iTunes. One thing I noticed in listening to this podcast (#171) about packing and cleaning clothes while travelling is this – Linda, you kept referring to “jumpers” and I am aware of what they are in your country, but in America (where I am sure you have many listeners), a jumper is a sleeveless dress that you wear (usually) with a blouse or shirt underneath. Some people may be wondering why Craig (or any other guy, for that matter!) would wear a jumper. Just thought I would pass that along so you could clarify that for those of us in America who are not aware of what you consider a jumper! Best wishes and hope you enjoy your time in Viet Nam and Cambodia!

  15. Hilarious! Thanks Becky. We do try and tone our language to an international audience, even though that means it’s a bit castrated at times … But jumper … Never saw that one coming 🙂