When packing for a trip, it’s easy to forget that you’ll at some point have dirty laundry. If you don’t have a way to deal with it, it can funk up everything in your luggage including your clean clothes. 

Here are a few ideas on how to deal with dirty laundry when traveling, whether you are going on an overnight trip or a 2-week vacation. 

1. Store Them Separately 

The easiest way to handle dirty laundry when you are traveling is to store it separately from the rest of your clothes. This keeps your clean stuff from getting dirty or smelly. 

You don't need anything fancy. A garbage bag or a plastic bag easily does the trick. As a bonus, it helps keep the smell of dirty laundry contained. 

Other options for storing dirty laundry when traveling include a compression bag, a dry bag (great for damp clothes since it's waterproof), a packing cube or a pillowcase. 

If you don't have any of these, you can also roll up dirty clothes in a towel or store them in a separate compartment in your suitcase. 

2. Do Laundry 

When I go on longer trips, doing laundry is my preferred way of dealing with dirty clothes. It also allows me to pack fewer clothes and travel lighter since I don't have to pack a different outfit for each day. 

You can do laundry even on shorter trips. You don't have to clean everything. You can wash a t-shirt and underwear in the sink and hang them to dry overnight. Just make sure you pack quick-drying clothes. 

Another option is to stay at a place that offers laundry facilities, whether it is a hotel or a short term rental. If it’s a hotel, you may need to pay extra for laundry. You can also check if there is a laundromat near you. It’s usually cheaper than paying for hotel laundry.   

3. Pack Clothes That Don’t Get Smelly 

The last option is to pack clothes that stay cleaner for longer. Natural fibers are your best friends here. 

While synthetics like polyester are great at absorbing sweat and they dry quickly, they tend to stink more. That's why gym wear can stink to high heavens. It’s not just because you sweat more when you work out, but also because of the synthetic fabric. 

Natural fibers like cotton and linen absorb more sweat and take longer to dry, but they smell less. All you need to do is let them air out and you can put them back into your suitcase, ideally in a separate compartment. 

If you don't want any hint of sweaty smell, look into Hercleon self-cleaning clothing. We have shirts and underwear made with treated fabric that actively eliminates odor-causing bacteria. 

You can wear these clothes over and over and they won’t smell or cause your other items to stink. You can pack fewer clothes and you don't have to worry about doing laundry while on the go. 

Additional Tips

• Do not store dirty laundry that is still damp. It will get mold and mildew and make your luggage smell worse. Even if it is in a plastic or dry bag, the moldy smell can still pass through and get to your clean stuff. 
• If you go back home with dirty laundry, unpack it as soon as you get home and clean it. Leaving it dirty for too long can cause mold and mildew to grow on it. 
• Wool is an excellent fabric for travel clothes. It is highly breathable and wicks away sweat but it is odor-resistant so it doesn't stink. You can wear it multiple times without an issue. And if you have to launder a wool item, it dries quickly unlike cotton or linen. 
• Even if you plan to do laundry while traveling, it’s still a good idea to pack a laundry or plastic bag for your dirty clothes. It gives you a place to store dirty laundry in your hotel room while you wait to get it cleaned. 

Final Thoughts

This is a bit extreme but you could also just leave dirty clothes behind when you go back home or dispose of them. We don't recommend this, but it can work in a pinch and if you’d carried some cheap low quality clothes.