When living out of a suitcase, it can be hard to keep your clothes looking good and feeling fresh and clean. And while most people could find actual laundry services in the area they’re visiting, many people either don’t have the time or don’t want to pay for this service. But luckily, there are things you can do on your own to help you get multiple wears out of the clothes you pack without having to wear dirty, smelly clothes.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for keeping your clothes clean and fresh while traveling.
Make A Plan For Hand-Washing
For small issues like spills, having something like a pen filled with laundry detergent and stain remover can be extremely helpful. But when your clothes are just too musty for you to keep wearing them without a wash, making a plan for hand-washing can be a great option.
One way to do this is to bring a zippered plastic bag and some laundry detergent. You can then place the article of clothing you’re wanting to wash into the bag with some water and detergent. Then, with the power of your hands, you can make your own little washing machine. Just rinse out the clothes and hang them to dry overnight. Or, if you want another washing option, you can also pack along a drain stopper that you can use to fill up the sink where you’re staying and hand-wash there, too.
Avoid Packing Natural Fibers
The actual clothes you pack and plan to wear can also be a big determining factor in how often you’ll have to wash your travel clothes.
Knowing this, it’s best to avoid packing clothes made out of natural fibers. These types of materials often don’t allow for great air movement and will trap and lock in the smell of sweat or other spills. But with man-made fibers, you’ll often find that these types of clothes don’t get stained as easily, won’t hold onto smells, and will dry faster when you do need to wash them.
Pack Your Clothes Correctly
How you pack your clothes into your suitcase can also have an impact on how clean and fresh your clothes stay.
For things like suits you need to wear for business travel, you’ll want to pack your suit completely separate from everything else so it can stay as clean as possible, since cleaning a suit on the fly isn’t easy. And for your more casual clothing, try rolling them rather than folding them to keep them from getting wrinkled and protect them from getting dirty from other items in your suitcase.
If you’re needing to find some easy ways to keep your clothes fresh and clean while traveling, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do this.
2018 ·