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Original poster

Going away for two weeks and cannot do laundry

152 replies

Dilbertian · 07/08/2022 17:06

I'm going away for two weeks and will not be able to do any machine laundry. Most of my clothes are natural fibres so are not easy to hand wash and will not dry quickly.

Short of taking 14 shirts etc, any tips for packing or for reusing worn clothes?

We're staying in 3 different places, the last one being a youth hostel with a drying room, so if I have to do any hand washing I'll probably do it the day before we go to the YH and transport it wet.

Oh, and I'm a Sweaty Betty - I cannot re-wear a shirt without washing it.

OP posts:
Namechangeforthis88 · 07/08/2022 17:12

I once went for a year without a washing machine, is there any reason why you can't handwash and hang stuff up to dry? Some fabrics dry faster than others, but they all dry the in the end. What about a launderette?

TheSmallAssassin · 07/08/2022 17:14

I was going to suggest finding a launderette too, it will eat into a few hours of your holiday, but will be done all in one go.

Louise0701 · 07/08/2022 17:15

This is completely normal for a 2 week holiday. I just take enough for the whole trip.

Hotandbothereds · 07/08/2022 17:16

What type of holiday is it, where are you staying?

A hiking/activity holiday for two weeks where you’re likely to get clothes dirty etc will be very different to a beach/pool holiday where you’ll spend days in a swimming costume.

Are you staying rurally or in a town/village? There might be a laundrette where you could do a service wash.

Notgotanyidea · 07/08/2022 17:16

Every holiday I send DP and DC to an activity that I’m not interested in, but they are. I then take a book and a fancy coffee to a laundrette. In a two week holiday I reckon I could do this at least twice.

Hotandbothereds · 07/08/2022 17:16

Louise0701 · 07/08/2022 17:15

This is completely normal for a 2 week holiday. I just take enough for the whole trip.

Yeah tbh for two weeks I’d normally not plan to do laundry either.

Hotandbothereds · 07/08/2022 17:18

Notgotanyidea · 07/08/2022 17:16

Every holiday I send DP and DC to an activity that I’m not interested in, but they are. I then take a book and a fancy coffee to a laundrette. In a two week holiday I reckon I could do this at least twice.

Twice? Isn’t it easier to just pack more clothes?

Or are you just after the peace & quiet for a couple of hours? 😁

Moltenpink · 07/08/2022 17:18

Roll your clothes to fit more in, or you could try vacuum packing.
could you have a very light T-shirt to wear as a base layer that could be washed & dried very quickly?

Original poster
Dilbertian · 07/08/2022 17:20

I cannot use laundrettes. I have allergies and can only use specific laundry products. There are usually residues of laundry products in washing machines. I will be scratching my skin off within an hour or two of putting on garments washed in those machines.

OP posts:
BettieSpaghetti · 07/08/2022 17:22

It really does depend on the type of holiday. Hiking for two weeks in the uk is very different to two weeks at a resort in Greece, or a fly/drive holiday in the USA for example.

onepieceoflollipop · 07/08/2022 17:23

I hate returning home with 2 weeks or more worth of laundry.
plus I don’t have 2 weeks worth of clothes for very hot weather.
like a pp I usually find a launderette (bonus points if there is one at the hotel or resort)

went to NYC recently. Did 2 loads in a launderette plus drying, it took an hour and cost around £8 so absolute bargain and it was lovely being able to rewear favourite items and not have a case full of 9 days sweaty pants! it’s also nice to freshen up sweaty and sun lotion covered swimwear in a machine. I much prefer this to the alternative of bringing it all home. 5 days or fewer I wouldn’t bother but for a week or more then it would be unusual for me not to do laundry.

Original poster
Dilbertian · 07/08/2022 17:23

Louise0701 · 07/08/2022 17:15

This is completely normal for a 2 week holiday. I just take enough for the whole trip.

Really? 14 t-shirts, plus several long-sleeved shirts in case it's chilly or the sun is too strong, 4 pairs of PJs, 4 pairs of trousers...

Do I even have 14 t-shirts?

OP posts:
Moonface123 · 07/08/2022 17:24

l wash mine in the shower, as l' m having a shower when away, kill two birds with one stone, just buy a small box of persil etc, then hang out in fresh air.

onepieceoflollipop · 07/08/2022 17:25

Oh ok just saw your update re not being able to use launderettes. Would it work if you paid for 2 cycles, the first to clear out any residues, the second with your own laundry products? Obviously would cost more but might be worth it?

if not, then hand wash and roll items tightly in a clean towel as an alternative to a good spin - cuts down drying time drastically.

Original poster
Dilbertian · 07/08/2022 17:26

Mixture of seeing relatives, hillwalking, wild swimming, museums, boat trips. No lounging by a pool with a cocktail (I can dream).

OP posts:
onepieceoflollipop · 07/08/2022 17:29

Would the relatives be amenable to you putting a load of laundry in their machine?
I would (and have done more than once) for friends and family who are visiting.
a quick wash would take 20-30 minutes and limited electricity.

Sarahcoggles · 07/08/2022 17:30

Louise0701 · 07/08/2022 17:15

This is completely normal for a 2 week holiday. I just take enough for the whole trip.

Wow you must have a lot of clothes!

Sarahcoggles · 07/08/2022 17:30

Dilbertian · 07/08/2022 17:26

Mixture of seeing relatives, hillwalking, wild swimming, museums, boat trips. No lounging by a pool with a cocktail (I can dream).

Don't the relatives have washing machines?

Spanielsarepainless · 07/08/2022 17:32

We go regularly for two to three weeks to a cottage with no laundry facilities. But as we have a relation she lets me do a load or two. All our stuff is natural fibres too.

MrsOwainGlyndŵr · 07/08/2022 17:34

Really? 14 t-shirts, plus several long-sleeved shirts in case it's chilly or the sun is too strong, 4 pairs of PJs, 4 pairs of trousers...

You can wear a t shirt more than once. Two long sleeve shirts will be fine. 2 pjs and one pair of trousers, and a tube of hand washing stuff.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 07/08/2022 17:36

Can't work out why you can't hand wash and hang up a shirt?

NoSquirrels · 07/08/2022 17:36

If you can’t use anyone else’s washing machine, then you will just have to hand wash and hope things dry. Or take more clothes.

Personally I’d take more clothes.

AlisonDonut · 07/08/2022 17:37

Dilbertian · 07/08/2022 17:26

Mixture of seeing relatives, hillwalking, wild swimming, museums, boat trips. No lounging by a pool with a cocktail (I can dream).

So what are the other two places you are staying at? Do they not have sinks or somewhere airy to dry stuff?

Are you driving there and can take loads of clothes or are you flying where you can only take 10kg of baggage?

You aren't really helping with solutions, we know you can't do laundry at a museum.

Namechangeforthis88 · 07/08/2022 17:37

Assume relative's washing machine out for same reason as launderette. Looks like the choice is handwash and air dry (possibly investing in some things that are easy to wash and dry quickly, or take loads of changes (possibly investing in additional bits that pack up tiny). Or a combination of the two.

onepieceoflollipop · 07/08/2022 17:39

Perhaps relative (if allows use of machine) would let op do a rinse cycle first. That would surely remove any old powder etc.
or use an extra rinse when you wash clothes.

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