How to Do Laundry While Traveling

Doing laundry on the road means you can pack half the clothes and still have something clean to wear. You have three options: a sink, a washer where you are staying, or a laundromat. This guide covers each one, what to pack, and how to dry clothes overnight.

What to pack for travel laundry

• Detergent that travels well. Dry sheets are the easiest: flat, light and not a liquid, so they don’t count toward the carry-on liquids allowance.
• A universal sink stopper. Many hotel sinks don’t hold water.
• A travel clothesline or a few clips.
• A zip bag or packing cube to keep dirty clothes apart.

Our Travel 3-Pack is 15 sheets in three cardboard envelopes, up to 30 loads, and weighs under 2 oz.

How to wash clothes in a hotel sink

1. Plug the sink and fill it with warm or cold water.
2. Dissolve half a sheet in the water.
3. Add a few items and work the water through them for a minute or two. Focus on underarms, collars and socks.
4. Let them soak for a few minutes.
5. Drain, refill with clean water and rinse until no suds remain.
6. Squeeze out the water without wringing hard.

Then roll each item in a dry towel and press down to remove most of the water before hanging it. That step is what lets clothes dry overnight. Our full hand-washing guide covers delicates and heavier items.

Using a washer in a rental or hotel

Put one sheet in the drum with your clothes and run your usual cycle. Two for a large or very dirty load. Sheets work in HE, front-load, top-load and standard machines, in hot or cold water. Skip the dispenser drawer, which can hold a sheet back.

Laundromats and shared machines

Carrying a few sheets is easier than carrying a jug, and you never have to guess how much to pour into an unfamiliar machine. If you share machines with other people, the same applies: see our guide to dosing in shared machines.

How to dry clothes fast on the road

• Roll in a towel first. It removes more water than wringing.
• Hang items with space between them, near airflow such as a fan or an open window.
• Turn thick items inside out halfway through.
• Pack quick-drying fabrics: merino, synthetics and thin cotton blends dry fastest.

Plan your laundry days

Wash every two or three days rather than waiting until you run out. Small sink loads are quicker, and you only need to pack three or four days of clothes. On longer trips, plan a machine wash every week or so for heavier items.

Camping, RV and outdoor trips

The sink method works in a bucket or collapsible basin too. Use half a sheet per basin and rinse well. Carry used wash water at least 200 feet from lakes and streams before you dispose of it, and follow the rules where you are staying.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take laundry detergent sheets on a plane?

Yes. They are dry sheets, so they don’t count toward the liquids allowance. Three envelopes weigh under 2 oz and lie flat in a carry-on.

What is the best travel laundry detergent?

One that is light, dry, pre-measured and works in both a sink and a machine. Sheets do all four.

How much detergent do I need for a sink wash?

Half a sheet per sink or basin.

How do I get clothes dry overnight?

Roll each item in a towel and press out the water before hanging it with space around it.

Pack it: the Toss & Go Travel 3-Pack is up to 30 loads for a machine or a sink.