Planning to do laundry is can help you avoid overpacking when going on a trip. You may find that you can easily manage going on a trip with just a small carry-on without any inconveniences. 

In this quick guide, we talk about doing laundry while traveling: what options are available and what products to pack for your laundry. 

Benefits of Doing Laundry While Traveling 

• You can pack fewer clothes without worrying about running out of clean stuff to wear. This is especially handy when planning a long trip.   
• You can save on baggage fees since you’ll be traveling lighter. Lighter luggage is also so much easier to travel with.  
• You don't have to worry about your clothes getting dirty or stinky.

3 Laundry Options When Traveling 

Do Your Own Laundry 

This may not be the easiest or most fun option, but it’s the cheapest one. Chances are that there is a sink wherever you are staying. That’s all you need to hand wash your clothes. A bathtub also works great. 

You can use whatever soap is available or pack a small bar when you leave home. If you travel often, consider buying a pack of travel-size laundry detergent. 

Wring out the clothes as much as possible then hang them up. We highly recommend getting a travel clothesline.

If you are planning to hand wash your clothes, make sure you pack quick drying clothes. Clothes made from synthetic fabrics are usually the best. They can dry overnight. 

If you are not jazzed about hand washing, you can buy a portable foldable washing machine. There are both electric and manual ones you can order online. 

Alternatively, book an Airbnb or any other accommodation that has a washer and dryer. Some motels, vacation rentals and even camping sites also offer self-service laundry, either free or coin-operated. 

Go to a Laundromat 

If you don't mind spending a bit of money on laundry, look for a local laundromat. 

There are two kinds of laundromats. There are the self-service ones where you pay with coins or via an app to use their machines and there are those where you drop off your laundry and pick it up later. The latter is usually more expensive. 

Of course, this only works if you are traveling to a town or city. If you are going to a remote place, doing your own laundry might be your only option. 

But in some countries, especially in places like Asia and Africa, you can find someone locally who can do the laundry for you. Just ask around where you are staying and the staff can recommend someone. You just pay them a small fee and they come and wash your clothes.  

Use the Hotel Laundry Service

If you are staying at a hotel, check if they offer laundry services. Most charge per item or based on weight. 

Note that hotel laundry services can be quite pricey and you might be better off going to a laundromat. 

Alternatives to Doing Laundry 

If you really don't want to do laundry, but you still want to pack light, there are some alternatives. 

The one we always recommend to our readers is buying our range of antimicrobial clothes like the HercShirt, the Kribi underwear, or the HercSocks. These clothes are made with self-cleaning fabrics that don't get dirty or smelly. 

You can wear them multiple times before you need to do laundry. A single HercShirt t-shirt can last you an entire trip without needing to be cleaned.   

The other option is to repeat your clothes. For example, two pairs of jeans or khakis can be enough for a week-long trip. Just switch the tops and you’ll be fine. You can limit laundry to just underwear and repeat the rest of the stuff. 

Another option is to buy whatever you need at your destination. If you need a clean shirt, go out and buy one. But this has several downsides. 

One, it is expensive. Two, while you will succeed at packing light when leaving home, you’ll have lots of laundry to carry back home. This can be a problem if you don't have a place to pack it in. 

Something else you've probably not considered - you might not get clothes in your size especially in some countries. For example, in some Asian countries like Japan, clothes are generally smaller.