The minimalist dilemma - "If I only pack 3 or 4 tops, won't I run out of clean clothes in three days?"
This is one of the most common worries I hear from travellers dreaming of lighter bags. And it is a completely logical concern. When we look at a tiny carry-on bag, our brains automatically do the math based on how we live at home – one fresh top each day, two weeks away, means 14 tops and then there is the trousers, skirts and underwear. All this leads to a very heavy bag and a mountain of laundry. (Not my preferred mountain!)
The secret to breaking free from overpacking isn’t doing without. It is simply about how you handle your clothes on the go. By replacing the weekly laundry grind with a quick micro-routine, you can travel indefinitely with just a handful of versatile pieces and never run out of something clean to wear.
Grateful for a drying rack - a mix of freshly washed & drenched clothes on the Tour du Mont Blanc, Switzerland.
Why handwash clothes while travelling?
Back in 2017 I travelled for four weeks with a small carry-on bag weighing just over 5 kilos (11 pounds). Handwashing was my secret to always having clean clothes available.
Every 2nd or 3rd night I would grab a couple of tee shirts, my underwear, my favourite laundry bar (Dr Bonners - not affiliated - just what has worked for me for 10 years), a bath towel, my sink plug and pegs. In 5-minutes my clothes were washed and hung to dry. I particularly enjoyed hanging my clothes on the clotheslines outside my bedroom window. I felt like a real local and it saved me a few times from missing my accommodation. Seeing my clothes waving in the Adriatic Sea breeze was a great welcome home after a day of exploring.
There was no sitting around in a laundry room waiting for the machine to be available or for the wash to be finished, then moving my gear to the clothes dryer. Handwashing also avoids hefty hotel laundry fees.
Handwashing every few days meant there was no big pile of clothes, and the weekly chore didn’t chew up valuable travel or relaxation time.
Handwashing (beyond travel) is much kinder to your clothes. Clothes last longer and are less hammered by the machines. Also, handwashing uses way less water than a machine. And if you're travelling with jeans, these can be spot cleaned rather than full water immersion, as they take FOREVER to dry if there's no sun or wind.
I know many people wash clothes in the shower. Personally, I prefer to wash clothes in a basin as I spend a lot more time in the shower if washing clothes in it, and that’s a hell of a lot more water wastage.
The original bag contents way back in 2017. As you can see there's not a lot of clothes to wash.
The 5-minute travel laundry routine: Step-by-step.
You need:
Clothes to wash
Laundry detergent bar, dissolvable laundry sheets or powder
A universal sink plug (if the basin doesn’t have one)
A dry bath towel
A few pegs or a stretchy travel clothesline.
Your Step-by-Step Handwashing Guide
1. Clean The Basin: For hygiene reasons, always give the basin a quick wipe down first. Insert the plug and fill the basin with warm water.
2. Add Your Soap: Follow the instructions of your laundry product and dissolve in the water or use directly on the clothing if using a travel bar.
3. Wash Essentials First: Depending on the size of the basin, I wash one tee shirt at a time, then underwear, and lastly socks. Shorts and trousers can go longer between washes.
4. Lightly Wring: Lightly wring each item out as washed and set aside until everything is clean. Empty the soapy water.
5. Rinse Twice: Refill the basin with fresh cool water and rinse your clothes thoroughly twice. Wipe the basin down at the end.
6. Squeeze Water Out: Wring or squeeze excess water from each item.
7. The Towel Roll Trick: Lay the towel flat on a table or bed. Place items one at a time on the towel. Roll the towel up into a log. Hold one end firmly in one hand and with the other hand, twist the towel tightly to squeeze out remaining moisture.
8. Repeat for All Items: Remove item from the towel and repeat until all clothes have been wrung out.
9. Hang to Dry: Hang your clothes on hangers, a clothesline or over a rail to dry.
10. Pack Away or Wear: Once dry, pop them in your bag or wear them for your next travel moment.
My tee-shirt drying in Hvar, Croatia.
Best quick-drying fabrics for carry-on travel.
To make even lighter work of your laundry days, packing quick-drying clothes is an absolute winner. Not only are they often lighter in your bag, but their fast-drying abilities mean they are often dry within hours of being washed.
I’m a huge fan of merino or smart wool fabrics. Aside from being a natural fabric and compostable, they also are clever at keeping you warm in cool weather and cool in warm weather. Their sweat-wicking abilities make them more comfortable for wearing.
The real magic is that wool is naturally odour-resistant, meaning you can wear a merino tee shirt for quite a few days without the need for washing it. The trick is to air it at night and even better is to hang it in a steamy bathroom to refresh the fabric.
You do need to be a bit gentler with it - I generally squeeze water out rather than wringing it, and I don’t wrap the towel up as tight with my merino gear.
Merino in the wild. Madagascar.
Why you should practice handwashing before your trip.
I’m a big fan of practicing all my travelling light skills before I leave home. I 've been known to research which of my underwear or tee shirts dry fastest! Some tee-shirts take a lot longer to dry. Drying clothes in different weather changes drying times.
I remember in China at the Tai Chi school, back in 2019, I packed bamboo exercise clothing to give it a go. In the cool, damp weather nothing was drying. I was beginning to panic when on day 3 and about to run out of clothes, the sun came out.
Handwashing - no excuses for smelly clothes.
Travelling with a light carry-on bag isn’t about restriction. Embracing handwashing will open you up to more of the freedom that travelling with less provides. Practicing before you leave home will have you an expert in handwashing in no time at all. And on the road you’ll experience the ease and liberation that all travelling light enthusiasts celebrate.
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About the Author Katherine Leamy is an award-winning solo travel enthusiast who after years of travel across changing climates and conditions freely shares her tips & tricks to help others lighten their load. She is a blogger, speaker & the author of Dare to Travel Solo: Exploring Croatia and Italy with a light carry-on bag and a ton of determination.
