Washing laundry while away from home with ever-evolving destinations and scenery can lead to many unique challenges. One day you may be washing your clothes in a sink and the next day it could be the frigid stream formed by the winter snow melting off the nearby mountains.
Wherever you end up, I hope these tips prepare you for your adventure.
A laundry bag
This item goes at the top of the list because it is the one item I seem consistently to forget to pack. Make sure to include it on the packing list. Hopefully, I won’t have to carry around armloads of dirty clothes again. A mesh laundry bag is great for being able to just toss your clothes in. It makes your space just a little neater wherever you call home for the night. They require very little space or weight and are are inexpensive.
Having your own bag can also be a good way to identify the set of laundry that is currently being washed too. Make sure to write your name on the bag with a very permeant marker.
A laundry bag can also make moving on short notice a little easier. No more repacking dirty clothes and compressing your bag into the original size, just grab your laundry bag and toss the rest of your stuff in the spot your clothes used to be.
Soap
Pods are great if you have access to a laundry mat. Having a few of these in your bag can be really handy. You can even make a few new friends by bringing extras. Just be careful they don’t explode and prematurely clean your gear! Having them in a separate sealed bag is a good idea.
A dry powder mix may be more practical. It’s also less likely to leak on your clothes or be eaten by teenagers.
A Friend
The buddy system works great in kindergarten, firefighting, and unknown places.
It’s a good idea to bring a second person along any time you venture out especially in unfamiliar area. At the very least make sure someone knows where you’re going.
Quarters
The coin shortage of 2020 disrupted the coin-operated laundry industry in a way few saw coming. At one point I rented my metal detector out for 20 dollars! He found 5 quarters after searching all day and could wash his clothes for the first time in weeks!
Okay well that may not be entirely accurate, but having the right change will be pretty important. Some areas may use a card to load cash onto while others may take change directly. If you’re in a different country their countries currency is likely preferred.
Dryer Sheets
I mean, if you want to feel just like you’re at home you can pack these. As a male, I had to look up why people even bother adding this step when they dry their clothes. Apparently, it makes ironing easier? Oh yeah, that was definitely going to be my next step! I’ll be sure to pack an iron and ironing board for my next trip!
Wrinkle Release
Speaking of ironing, if your job requires you to look semi-presentable and you don’t have the time, resources, or maybe the know-how to iron your clothes this is for you!
Wrinkle release normally comes in large bottles. You can repack it into a smaller spray bottle, though. Just make sure it doesn’t leak! (Oh look! Another use for that permanent marker and sealable bag) Most will have an added benefit of a slightly fragrant scent!
You can make it at home if you already have fabric softener!
Clothes line
Maybe you’re a survival expert and have paracord on you at all times, but a little twine works well as a clothes line too. Anything to hang your clothes from will help!
Electric or gas dryers can be hard to find when resources are scarce. It’s a good thing you didn’t pack those dryer sheets!
Clothesline is an optional item, but it can be nice to have. Not all trips will require it, especially the shorter ones, but it’s a good item to consider.
A Bucket & a Tea Kettle
Okay, you probably won’t want to add a 5-gallon bucket to your packing list, but a bucket and tea kettle are a pretty common sight in a lot of countries.
A stopped up sink works well for washing your clothes too if you don’t have a spare bucket.
Okay, dumping boiling water on laundry may not be the most traditional method but I had my reasons!
My specific circumstances involved working around a disease that is most effectively killed by high temperatures.
The process is pretty simple really. First, fill the sink with some water. Next, dump a large kettle of boiling water on top. Finally, try not to burn your hands as you get impatient!
Conclusion
Wherever your journey may take you, from New York to Africa, all populations have created a method to clean their clothes. Laundry may be washed with the fanciest industrial machine on the market. Your washing machine may play music when the cycle finishes, it could send a notification to your phone when it finishes, but on this adventure it just might be a lady that hums softly while she hand washes each item by hand.
Wherever you find yourself in this world, take peace in the fact that no matter how different we are, we all are united by the common need for clean clothes.
I hope some of the tips here prove helpful on your next adventure!
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Favorite quotes: “Wherever you find yourself in this world, take peace in the fact that no matter how different we are, we all are united by the common need for clean clothes.” AND “It’s also less likely to leak on your clothes or be eaten by teenagers.” ?
Favorite tip: laundry bag…I am 50/50 at remembering to pack one of these but am always happy when I do it!