How to Wash Your Clothes While Traveling

Keeping clothes clean and fresh is easier than you think

a person packing clothes into a suitcase

Consider doing laundry while traveling to reduce the urge to overpack.

Getty Images

Jamie Davis Smith,

AARP

Published February 21, 2025

Traveling for more than a few days can be exhilarating. However, keeping clothes fresh and clean is a problem for many travelers. Washing clothing is particularly important for older travelers. In addition to collecting food and dirt, clothing can carry germs that can make them sick. To make sure they don’t run out of clean clothing, some travelers overpack. As a result, they may wind up with big, heavy luggage. This can cause injuries in people over 50.

Packing light and doing laundry may be a better solution. “It all sounds like a hassle, but it’s really not with a little bit of forethought and planning,” says Sheri Howell, vice president of marketing and communications for Medjet, a medical air transport and security service.

Wash clothing in the sink

Washing dirty clothing in a hotel sink is a tried-and-true method for keeping clothes clean while traveling. It’s inexpensive, convenient, and easy. All you need is a small amount of laundry detergent or laundry sheets. Alicia Sokolowski, president and co-CEO of Aspen Clean, a manufacturer of organic laundry detergent, shares how to get your clothes clean in the sink.

First, fill the sink with cold water. “Using cold water prevents shrinking and fabric damage while also saving energy,” she says. Then, add a small amount of detergent, gently agitate your clothes, and let them soak for 10-15 minutes. Occasionally swirling your clothing can help remove additional dirt, Sokolowski adds. Next, drain the sink and rinse your clothing with cool water until all the detergent is removed. To dry your clothing, Sokolowski recommends squeezing out excess water without twisting your clothing. Once you have removed as much water as possible, lay your clothes on a dry towel, roll the towel like a burrito, and press down to absorb more water. Finally, hang your clothes in a well-ventilated area to dry.

Portable washbags such as Scrubba, above, Tilcore, and Dezitrek are another option for laundering clothes while on the go.

Courtesy The Scrubba Wash Bag

Use a portable washbag

A portable washbag is travel blogger Amber Haggerty’s go-to method for washing clothes on the go. Washbags have a built-in washboard that can get clothes cleaner than washing clothing in a sink. To use a washbag, put your clothing in the bag, add water and detergent, and agitate your clothing for a few minutes, Haggerty says. To dry her clothing, Haggerty hangs it near a heat source, such as a sunny window. Some options for washbags are Scrubba bags, Tilcore, and Dezitrek.

Laundromat

It may be easy to find a laundromat by doing an online search. Nevertheless, it’s important to dig a little deeper before heading out with a heavy bag of clothing, Howell says. On a recent trip to Iceland, Howell used her phone’s map app to search for laundromats near her hotel. Several looked promising. However, when she checked the laundromats’ websites, she discovered one was closed permanently, one was only open at night, and one washed clothes for customers but did not have self-serve washing machines. She eventually found one that worked but was glad she didn’t head to the first place that showed up in her app.

When going to a laundromat, Howell recommends bringing your own detergent since some may not have any. She also recommends checking what type of payment the laundromat accepts and bringing change or small bills if necessary. Haggerty also uses laundromats occasionally. When she does, she stays close to her clothing “to avoid theft or mix-ups.”

Some laundromats have more options than watching the spin cycle. The Laundromat Cafe in Denmark and Iceland serves coffee and meals while you wait. The Cafe Laundromat in Norway has over 4,000 books and a full-service restaurant to help you pass the time. If you would like to grab a drink while you wait for your laundry, Harvey Washbangers in Texas has a selection of craft beers and burgers.

Hotels with self-service laundry machines can be a cheaper option than hotel laundry service.

Courtesy Hilton

Hotel laundry service

Most full-service hotels have laundry service. Typically, guests leave dirty clothing in a bag provided by the hotel, fill out a card indicating what is in it, and leave it with hotel staff to be laundered. Hotel laundry services can be convenient and a “lifesaver” for some travelers, says Tom Ceconi, president of Fine Linen & Bath. However, for Howell, “hotel laundry is always my last resort. It’s expensive and never seems to get returned in time.”

To avoid surprises, Ceconi suggests verifying costs and turnaround time in advance. To save money, he suggests using hotel laundry services strategically. “Clean bulky items like jeans and sweaters while handwashing smaller items like underwear and socks,” he says. Additionally, don’t wait until your last night at a hotel to do laundry. That way, your departure won’t be disrupted if your laundry is delayed.

For a lower cost option, Ceconi recommends looking for a hotel with self-service laundry facilities. Some short-term rentals through sites such as Airbnb, Vrbo, and Vacasa, have on-site laundry facilities.

Buy new clothes on the road

Instead of doing laundry, “one creative strategy is to pack light and purchase clothes along the way,” Ceconi says. He thinks this is a great way to embrace local styles and support the local economy. If you take this approach, Ceconi advises packing “multipurpose staples that are easy to layer and mix with your new purchases.”

Alternatively, you could pack old clothing you are ready to replace and donate it to a charity shop or to someone in need as you purchase new clothing. If you don’t want to buy an entirely new wardrobe, “my simplest tip is to buy socks and underwear on the road. It’s an easy way to extend the time between washes without overpacking,” Haggerty says.

Choose fabrics wisely

Choosing travel-friendly fabrics can keep your clothing looking great without doing laundry often, says travel coach Heather Markel. “Merino wool tops are excellent for absorbing sweat and don’t smell bad, even after a few wears,” even in summer, she explains. When it is time to wash merino wool clothing, it’s usually easy to do because it is naturally stain-resistant and dries quickly. Wool&, Wool x, and Smartwool specialize in selling merino wool clothing. Wearing synthetic athletic wear can also help extend the time between washes, says Carly Dela Cruz, a tour guide at The Table Less Traveled travel agency. She also recommends avoiding denim, which can take a long time to dry.

%{postComment}%

Jamie Davis Smith is a mother and writer living in Washington. She has written for National Geographic, The Washington Post, Business Insider, Fodor’s Travel and several other outlets She can be reached at byjamiesmith@gmail.com.

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member? Login