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tips on doing laundry while travelling
15 Aug 2023
If you’re lucky enough to be heading off on some travels it’s worth remembering that laundry never takes a holiday…
BUT luckily we have our TOP 5 TIPS for your laundry travel-washing that will keep your clothes looking their best, even when you can’t take advantage of a (costly) hotel linen service.
If you’ve got access to a washing machine as you holiday then that makes life a whole lot easier. But if not DON’T PANIC! There are many simple ways you can successfully travel-wash and our number 1 top tip is of course to remember your laundry capsules…
1. pack your smol.
You won’t find a better laundry travel companion than our smol washing capsules. Their compact design makes them ideal for luggage space-saving and our customers have flown with them all around the globe! Bio, non-bio or fragrance-free they all come in the same plastic-free packaging that’s small enough to fit through your letterbox and our extra compact FREE TRIAL packs of 9 capsules could be extra ideal for any short trips away.
2. portable laundry wash bags.
Another travel laundry hero. Bags like The Scrubba are soft containers that have ribbed insides which act a bit like a washboard. Just pop in your laundry, some clean water and detergent then rub the clothes against the bumps for a few minutes before rinsing. It’s ideal for long-term travellers and campers, where you need to pack light. PLUS, it folds down to the size of a deck of cards, a real travel bonus!
3. travel clothesline.
This is going to save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to getting things dry and again, it’s going to take up next to no space in your luggage. Look for a travel clothesline that is twisted because you can clip in your items instead of having to use pegs. Most lines have hooks and suction cups on each end which should make hanging and removing super simple. Wave goodbye to creatively draping your clothes over chairs (that you want to sit on), balconies (that are rusty and 5 floors up), shower rails (that keep getting wet) and radiators (that look filthy)... this is a stress-free way to keep the holiday vibes flowing.
4. microfibre towel.
If you’ve not got anywhere to hang your sopping wet laundry then a microfibre towel can in fact save the day. Once you’ve wrung out your laundry as much as possible, just spread your towel on a dry surface and put your laundry on top. You can then tightly roll the towel up and squeeze. The towel fabric should soak up most of the water (microfibre absorbs 4 x its own weight in water). What’s also great about a microfibre towel is that it’s super lightweight for your luggage and has lots of other uses (as any Douglas Adams Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy fans will tell you!).
wrinkle-free.
Wrinkles on holiday, ugh. We’re not talking about sun damage to your skin - we can’t help with those, but we CAN help with removing those clothing travel wrinkles. Especially if you don’t have an iron and you’ve just done your laundry.
- If your laundry is still damp, use a hairdryer on a low heat setting whilst hanging up your items. Don’t hold the dryer too close to your clothing but gently pull down the fabric whilst you dry. This is great if you’re in a hotel as most provide hairdryers free of charge.
- Hanging your washed items in a steamy shower will also help the wrinkles to fall out. You want to aim for about 15 minutes in a steamy environment for the wrinkle-dropping to occur!
- Some people swear by sandwiching their items between 2 towels and placing them underneath a mattress or other heavy object for 20 minutes.
and the return.
Once you’re home it’s time to spark up the washing machine so everything gets a thorough clean. If you need to ensure there’s some smol ready and waiting for your return then don’t forget you can easily manage your orders via your online account. Yes, there’s going to be an inevitable laundry glut on your return but hopefully the above top tips will have lessened the load just a bit!
want to dip your toes into planet-friendlier cleaning?
Claim your FREE TRIAL of smol laundry capsules today and pack them in your suitcase. It's a great way to discover why thousands have already made the swap to smol. Cruelty-free & vegan cleaning products that cut carbon, plastic and chemicals AND STILL give results to match the big brands.