How I do laundry while traveling | Minimalist Travel Tips

2022 update here: • How I do laundry while...
➡️ Products I use:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. #commissionsearned
Sink stopper: amzn.to/45Cv8um (or DIY it with a silicone bakesheet)
Sea to Summit Drybag: amzn.to/3S4xpLv
Sea to Summit Laundry Sheets: amzn.to/3S0L5Hp
Better option: amzn.to/400Tvk8
Dr. Bronners Soap: amzn.to/3PXZWQp
Sea to Summit travel clothesline: amzn.to/3ttMYSL
Heroclip: amzn.to/3MtQkvZ
People are always surprised when I tell them I love minimalist travel and only travel with a carry-on-sized backpack. They often want to know how I do it.
Well... to be honest, it's not that difficult. The only thing I have to do is wash my clothes. A lot. All the time.
Over the years, I've learned a few hacks that make it easier for me to get my laundry done on the road, and I'm sharing them with you.
If you have any tips, please leave them in the comments! I love trying new things.
Subtitles and Translations, Subtítulos y Traducciones Legendas e Traduções Untertitel und Übersetzungen by (Fiverr Affiliate Link):www.fiverr.com/share/4Y0e1k

[@MaggiFuchs]

I redid this video in 2022, because after traveling non-stop for a year, I made some changes to my laundry process: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHuYhWObbsSfq6M

[@MaggiFuchs]

Hi everyone! Sorry for the focus issues! 🙈 I realized I forgot to mention one thing: After washing, I wrap the clothes into a towel and wring it out. That helps to remove the excess fluid and then they dry much faster.

[@UpintheairFL]

I take a small USB travel fan which really helps creating a breeze when drying clothes in the closet.

[@MaggiFuchs]

This is an awesome idea! I actually have one of those fans I can plug into USB and I love it, I just never had the idea to point it on my clothes. Will try that for sure! ❤️

[@patsyfoister684]

I made my own detergent sheets yesterday to take on my Great Britain holiday to wash clothes in the hotel sink. I laid USED dryer sheets on a piece of Glad Press n Seal on the washing machine, laid the sheet flat, wore a vinyl glove to put a thin coat of Tide on the sheet, hung up to dry, and voila--sink detergent! I cut the sheet in thirds after dry and each will be enough for one wash..and won't count as a liquid on the plane! Store in plastic bag for trip.

[@timepi437]

Also helpful for those who live off grid or in tiny homes/apartments without washing machines. The sink stopper and bag method is genius!

[@debraticehurst2583]

I take a bar of plain Sun light soap. No worries with liquids and lots of washes in one bar. I carry sink stopper and travel clothes line and a magic stain remover pen. Wash undi s, socks etc each day and all done!!!!!

[@Lalalu74]

I use zote bar from walmart cut it up and take a small pieces so i can wash clothes when we travel. Lathers very well and clean clothes like a charm!

[@jooky5]

Tip with jeans: wash the sweatiest parts (crotch and back of knees 😁) so there’s less to dry. Wearing them while still wet will speed up drying time and have them form to you

[@MaggiFuchs]

I never though of just washing parts of the jeans, but makes sense. 😂 I will definitely try that.

[@syjukebox]

How about steaming it? Either with an iron on steam mode or hanging it in the bathroom during a shower

[@drewrichardson8789]

Cheap hotel shampoo is great for washing clothes. I have a scrubber bag. Stores dirty clothes,a bit heavier than your big but gets clothes clean. I wrap in towels and stomp on them before hanging to dry. But in many countries , given I travel with my husband laundry is cheap to send out.

[@anapgmonteiro1]

Wonderful tips, Maggi - really appreciate you taking the time to make this video!

[@KSamai]

Love dr bronners! Also hand washing soap bars are very cheap in most countries. And they have ridges to help hand wash. My only issue is colder climates. I need enough clothes to be warm, dirty (hiking, etc) and clean. Lol 😂

[@Poppi_Weasel]

Love Ur Videos! Great Tips!

[@jimeva7363]

Awesome video. Thank you

[@GoMandiMartin]

I love this! Thank you :)

[@lethiapage4767]

Bar of Dr Bronner soap is so handy for everything and even though it is a pricey bar soap it melts pretty slowly if you take care of it and replaces all your cleansing items in the pack. I like most of their scents and would appreciate the gentle fragrance in my laundry. My fav is citrus followed closely by lavender.

[@franknobody5965]

Noch ein Tipp von meinen Radl-Reisen: wenn du die gewaschenen Sachen in einem Handtuch auswringst....auch wenn dieses schon nach dem Duschen feucht ist, dann kannst du sehr fest wringen, ohne z.B. Merino Tshirts kaputt zu machen, denn ein Handtuch dehnt sich nicht. Damit kannst du die Trockenzeit erheblich reduzieren ;-) Viele Grüße , Frank

[@alfonsohshk8998]

Das hab ech au gmacht ond es isch super!

[@cathw898]

Hi Maggi, I've just discovered your chanel and I'm loving your videos. Practical, affordable tips with great humour! I too like SeatoSummit products. 👍 I look forward to watching more. Happy Travels!

[@MaggiFuchs]

Happy travels to too and thanks so much for the nice comment! :)

[@paulaprice493]

I use a gallon zip lock bag for laundry.

[@MaggiFuchs]

This is also an excellent idea 😊

[@JulsB63]

Love this. Id also add that to really speed up drying time. Use a bath towel and roll clothes in it and i always step on it on the floor to really get excess water out, especiallly jeans, then unroll and hang to dry.

[@MaggiFuchs]

Hi Juls! Thanks for the tip, I appreciate it! I learned that „towel trick“ in the meantime, that‘s why I recently released a new version of my laundry video. :)

[@user-jk2zm7uq5s]

That's the real reason why hotels give you so many towels ;)

[@ellybea68]

Hi Maggi. I have been sink washing my clothes while travelling for years. I travel with an international carryon sized bag and a small cross body bag. Sometimes my husband and I find a laundromat and sometimes we hand wash. I don’t carry washing supplies but will use whatever is available. If I find a laundromat I buy soap powder there. If I sink wash, I’ll use the hotel shampoo or body wash. Heated towel rails in Europe are fabulous for drying clothes. In winter I usually have two pairs of jeans and they dry quickly on the heated towel rail and warm hotel rooms (by Australian standards).

[@MaggiFuchs]

Hi Elly! I second that with the heated towel rails. I wish more hotels had them! 🤗

[@Denzelllllllll5478]

Thanks 👍

[@maureenmulligan5882]

I also like to take an inflatable coat hanger with me. Again, it does not take up much room but I find my t-shirts and shirts dry more quickly as the back and front are not touching and the air is circulating through the middle. Korjo is the brand here in Australia. I actually use this all the time at home for delicate handwashing.

[@wingertstrasse1]

Using a dry bag is good as long as you get it nice and dry again if you want to put dry stuff in it. A separate bag for washing and ir doesn't matter when it's damp inside. Just thinking aloud. 😊

[@BibbyVelum1]

You really have a great system Maggi. I have heard mixed reviews about the Sea to Summit soap leaves. I am ok with bringing a little dry powder or making my own soap leaves by shaving off a washing bar. Helpful and concise, thanks! :)

[@MaggiFuchs]

Hi Teresita, thanks! :-) Making soap leaves is also a great idea, I never thought of that. Most of the time, I just use the Dr. Bronners soap and just "rub" it in the water. But it would be less weight to just take a few soap leaves, especially for short trips or during hiking. Thanks for sharing that! 🤗

[@sexyslovak]

GIRL. you just SAVED ME. thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MaggiFuchs]

Hahaha you are welcome. :)

[@happyheartslee]

i wash them in a plastic bag over the sink. I had a bad experience when i was younger washing direct on sink and some gunk stick to my clothes!!! TTTT

[@PackingLess]

Great tips!

[@MaggiFuchs]

I can only return that compliment. I have to constantly stop myself from buying the Bellroy Sling since I saw your review on it… 😂

[@JarlGrimmToys]

I’m not a minimalist traveler. However you soon learn you have to cut down on packing the more you travel.

[@myflyingkidney]

Also anyone who is looking into ways to your laundry, there is a thing called Scrubba wash, it is a drybag but it has added a plastic bottom with ridges that help clean the clothes when you rub them inside the bag. It seems like a goodthing to check out. I haven't tried it myself but I have watched videos and it seems cool. Maybe someone here can add more if they tried it.

[@MaggiFuchs]

I have been eyeing the Scrubba (the valve seems quite practical), but I personally don’t think it adds enough value to my current setup to justify that steep price. At the end, it’s just a fancier dry bag with a valve and a few silicone nibs. ;-) And it is much more bulkier than my current drybag (which weights just a few grams). And my current one is more multipurpose, I reuse it as an actual dry bag and as a laundry bag. So I will stick with my drybag at the moment. :) But I would love to hear all of your opinions about it. :)

[@myflyingkidney]

@@MaggiFuchs Seems true. I have even found regular dry bags with a similar type of valve I believe it was in Decathlon. But anyway, this is an excellent video :)

[@marcyrodney43]

I can see the advantage of one of those wash bags if you're camping, but I confess I don't see it if you're staying anywhere with the sink. Like you we've taken a scrap of rubber to use for a stopper. We've gone the ziplock with soap crystals route but I made try some of these leaves see how they work. We use the laundry line, and I always carry a little bit of goop which is used for getting oil and grease off your hands. I always keep small skincare sample containers, and I take that size full of goop. It's perfect for stains

[@MaggiFuchs]

Hi Marcia! I use the washbag a lot when I am here in Brazil, because they only have cold water in the sinks. Then it’s more “hygienic” to fill the bag in the shower with hot water and wash there. Other than that, I also prefer the sink stopper. But it does not add much weight and bulk, so I don’t mind bringing both options along. I have never heard of Goop though, and my googling just found a Skincare line.

[@toml.8210]

I take a duffle bag or normal backpack, because I usually need to take formal dress clothes when I travel, not just shorts, socks, and as shirt.

[@MarieJesne]

I personally like doing laundry while I'm traveling. It feels so much better to wear clean clothes and less hassle with luggage, than to wear stale clothes from the bottom of a large suitcase. I've done laundry in a bathtub, a sink, and even in a small cooking pot, one item at a time. It was worth it to be able to go places on a budget at a younger age and now it is just a habit of mine. The laundry sheets are new to me, thanks for sharing. Looking forward to trying some out on my next trip.

[@MaggiFuchs]

Hi Marie! I had to laugh so hard when I read that you did laundry in a cooking pot. I did not do that yet, but I can totally see myself do that too... :)

[@mvinson63]

What liter sea to summit bag are you using? Thanks

[@susie9893]

@@mvinson63 I had wondered this myself so I did a little research and found that most travelers recommend at least 10L or 10-15L. Hope that helps

[@susie9893]

I've always done this travelling to the point that I don't feel like I AM traveling if I'm not washing my undies every night or every other night.

[@susie9893]

I love it! "My wish for you is that you never run out of clean undies and sox". We should make that a new years greeting 😆

[@MaggiFuchs]

I‘m in! I will write it in all my christmas cards this year. :-D

[@susie9893]

@@MaggiFuchs 😃👍👍

[@Ella-km3ov]

Excelentes tips. He usado los zafacones of the hotel room para lavar, when the sink is small, o para separar white clothes. I also wash with the shampoo que obsequian.

[@tuyetcong-ton-nu1388]

Thanks, Maggi, for your helpful videos. Would you make a video on travel clothes that dry quickly and are light with comfortable fabric? Thank you! I would like to find easy to wear clothing that can be washed and dried overnight in the hotel.

[@MaggiFuchs]

Hi Tuyet! Thank you for your nice comment and thanks for the great idea. 😊 I usually shop in the „hiking“ clothing section. They often have nice materials, quick drying and if you look a little bit, you find styles and cuts that are not too sporty looking. :) But I am definitely considering to do a video about that, I added your idea to my list. :)

[@catherinelauda6948]

After wringing the piece of clothing I want to fast dry, I roll it in a dry hotel towel and sit on it to compress . The towel sucks the extra water .

[@violaineaudrey8841]

Hello Maggi, I love your videos, it's very practical and straight to the point ! Could you tell me what is the capacity in liter of your Sea to summit dry bag please ? Thanks a lot🌷 !

[@MaggiFuchs]

It‘s the UltraSil with 13 liters. 🤗

[@violaineaudrey8841]

@@MaggiFuchs Thanks you so much Maggi !!

[@jaiganapatibapa1134]

Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[@MP-lv5vk]

I have seen purpose built washing bags (e.g. the Scrubba washing bag), but a dry bag also works.

[@MaggiFuchs]

Hi! Yes, I also have seen the Scrubba bags. But I personally prefer things that are multipurpose, plus the Scrubbas are outrageously expensive in Europe - They charge around 65€ for one (and a decent dry bag costs me 20€, plus they work just as fine… ;-)

[@diannelane3192]

Have been stressing about having to do laundry in a hotel room. I like the idea of the little clothesline but can't figure out what I would attach it to in a hotel room, and how.

[@MaggiFuchs]

I believe that it is easy to do laundry in a hotel room, but I agree that the clothesline is not always the best choice. We use it most often when we have a balcony (or a suitable bathroom). When trying to attach it, the Heroclip helps a lot. But when drying clothes inside the room, I usually hand the T-Shirts and pants on the hangers and my smaller items like socks and underwear on that cap hanger. I usually do my laundry every day or every other day, so it is never too much at once and the hangers are usually enough.

[@kenkarsonn]

Had I known just how damn difficult it is to properly do laundry while traveling into Europe, I would’ve brought one of those travel-size bottles of detergent 😑

[@runawamy]

Hi, what backpack are you using? :)

[@MaggiFuchs]

I currently use a Nitro Weekender. The typical „one bag backpacks“ are too sleek for me, I love little compartments all over my backpack to stuff things while on the go. ;-)

[@lazarusdig1264]

What size dry sack are you using?

[@MaggiFuchs]

I believe its 13 or 14 liter or so… 🤔

[@Oraclestarsong]

What size is the dry bag?

[@MaggiFuchs]

I think it’s 12 or 14 liters…

[@alfonsohshk8998]

Grüetzi Maggi, how many litres maximum per 1 sheet of seatosummit laundry wash leaves?

[@MaggiFuchs]

I usually used one or two per load… but I guess it depends on how dirty your laundry is.

[@Scolopente]

Scrubba wash bag.

[@MaggiFuchs]

… is in my opinion too expensive, too heavy and I cant reuse it for other things. So for me a regular dry bag works well enough. :)

[@InevitableTruth.]

@@MaggiFuchs I just checked about it and it's not worth the price tbh. I could repurpose an old raincoat to do that sort of thing.

[@burgienl]

Hotels remove the sink stoppers because they don't want people to do their laundry in the sinks 🤣

[@MaggiFuchs]

Ha! Then they need to do better. Me and my DIY sinkstopper are always ready… 😂

[@burgienl]

@@MaggiFuchs ROFL! 🤣

[@Sharperthanu1]

Your tinted eye shadow makes your glasses look tinted and it makes you look less nerdy wearing glasses.

[@MaggiFuchs]

Haha I am not wearing any eye shadow… that cast came from the glasses (some kind of blue light filter) and I changed them because I got so annoyed that I always looked like I had purple makeup 😂