Keeping your clothes clean is one of the most practical challenges for long-term travelers.
Regardless of whether you pack light or bring a full-sized suitcase, the question of laundry will come up sooner or later. Travelers around the world have developed a range of strategies – each with its own pros and cons.
The most common option is washing clothes by hand in the hotel bathroom. With a little detergent, dish soap, or even shampoo, you can get clothes acceptably clean. The trick is to wring them tightly in a towel afterward to cut down on drying time – otherwise it can take a couple of nights before the garments are truly dry. The method requires planning: you need to stay in the same place for at least two nights and have somewhere to hang the clothes.
In most European cities, coin-operated or staffed laundromats can be found. It's an efficient way to wash larger amounts of clothes at once, and the result is considerably better than hand washing. The downside is that you have to be there and wait, which takes time that could otherwise be spent exploring your destination.
Many hotels offer laundry service where you drop off your clothes in the morning and pick them up clean and folded in the evening. It's convenient and smooth, but the price can be high – especially at more upscale hotels.
In many cities there are local laundry shops where you can drop off a bag of clothes and pick them up ready a few hours later. It's often cheaper than the hotel service and just as convenient – you have time to grab lunch and see a sight while the laundry is taken care of.
More and more travelers are choosing accommodation with access to a washing machine. This gives great freedom and the ability to wash when it suits you, without extra cost. However, it does require a bit more planning when booking.
Some travelers avoid the laundry problem entirely by packing enough clothes for the full duration of the trip. This solves the laundry question but creates another problem – heavy and bulky luggage.
Regardless of which method you choose, doing laundry while traveling always involves time, planning, and compromise. Tumbly offers professional laundry and clothing care service where you drop off and get back clean, well-cared-for, and packed clothes. No waiting at laundromats, no half-dry clothes on the bathroom rail, and no time wasted on anything other than the trip itself.