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Washing your Laundry Blues Away
Just like doing the dishes, doing laundry always seems to be a drag. This statement seems to be especially true when in the travel zone. Not only are you displaced from your comforts when traveling, but domestic tasks prove to be more of a challenge. That is why it is absolutely essential to have the proper materials and game plan to do something as simple as your laundry. The key ingredients to the laundry recipe are 1) Reduce number of packed clothes. This means that you also must 2) Increase number of versatile clothes and 3) Pack a few travel laundry materials (see below).
As airlines are pressured to improve their operations and cut costs, we have already seen change on limitations of baggage. Packing less will not only make you a more mobile traveler, but will also improve your quality of life and the financial impact in transition between airports, train and bus stations etc. The less clothes you bring, the higher the quality material needed i.e. wool, nylon, bamboo, polyester, etc. is essential for travel comfort and preparedness. When the dollar has a lower value, paying to go to a Laundromat quickly adds up. So to save, be prepared to hand wash.
Materials needed for efficient and cheap travel laundry session:
• Travel packets of Woolite (amount varies depending on length of trip and dirt concentration, but 2-3 packets generally work per “load”)
• Nylon laundry line (braided, with hooks and suction cups on the ends)
• Sink plug (optional—not necessary if your clothes are extremely dirty and clean water flow is necessary)
• A sink, shower, or item that can function as a washbasin OR: a wash machine if you have a larger number of clothes. . .
• Water access
• Quick dry clothes (wool, nylon, bamboo, polyester, the least amount of cotton possible)
The Woolite packets are perfect for delicates, wool, and nylon etc, but do not cover large quantities of clothes. As a backpacker you may be able to get away with washing in the sink every time you run out of clothes. Washing clothes once a week is doable during travel. Keep in mind that it takes some time, but you will want enough clothes to last a week (wearing items more than once).
Locating the home for the clothesline is essential before washing. If you buy one with hooks, you could spread the line in the hotel/hostel/apartment/house (look for places near windows for better circulation and hook options) and use the hooks to secure. If this is not an option use the suction cups in the shower to secure a line. Make sure that the flooring underneath can handle dropping water from the clothes.
In the sink, you may be tempted to plug the hole to reuse water. The first time you do laundry you may be surprised at the amount of dirt that has collected from sightseeing/hiking/exploring. It is important to maintain some water flow in this circumstance to better clean your clothing. Once you have washed your clothes in the Woolite water by hand, hang them on the line, securing them in the braided junctions. In a semi-humid climate the clothes should be dry within seven hours. Most of www.OutdoorGiftWorks.com clothes selections have superior drying capabilities, including the prAna Moab Capri.
*Note: A traveling FAVORITE that does exceptionally well through washes by hand and by machine are SmartWool products, specifically the socks. From travel experience with other brands of wool socks in the same conditions, the SmartWool pair far surpassed the others in level of comfort, and quality. While the other socks began to ball-up and wear down, the SmartWool socks kept intact. These may quickly become your first pick out of the clean laundry pile.
Happy Washing!
By Tegan Molloy
Tegan is an employee of www.OutdoorGiftWorks.com and a crafty traveler who graduated from Montana State with a degree in Filmmaking and a minor in International Business.
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