Essentials for Doing Laundry While Traveling

A swimsuit drying on The balcony of my hotel room in Saint Martin

Whether you’re heading out for a quick getaway or venturing on a weeks-or-months-long adventure, traveling with a few essentials for doing laundry on your trip can help you be better prepared. Maintaining freshness of your clothes can help you feel more comfortable, and especially if you are trying to pack lightly or are limiting yourself to just a carry-on, you may find that you need to do laundry often while traveling.

Accidental food-spills or other unexpected surprises can also happen while traveling, and having a few convenient products on-hand can help you avoid any additional headaches and can help prevent ruining your garments or your travel experience.

Read on to discover my list of must-have accessories and essentials for doing laundry while I travel. Each item mentioned here is under $15, and is also compact and easy to travel with to any and all destinations.

1. Laundry Detergent Sheets

These dissolvable laundry detergent sheets have become my go-to at home because they are so practical, can be stored easily, produce little waste, and work well. The fresh scent is pleasant, and the detergent itself is very effective in cleaning my laundry. Because the detergent sheets are flat, lightweight, and liquidless, they are perfect for traveling. The sheets can be easily torn into smaller pieces if you’re planning to wash a smaller load or even a single garment. Even if you are using them to do a quick hand wash of your clothes and don’t have access to a washing machine, you can easily dissolve a piece of a sheet into a cup of water to make a liquid detergent.

2. OxiClean Stain Fighting Spray

This stain-fighting spray from OxiClean comes in a convenient size for traveling, and is great if you are on the go and need to prevent a stain from setting. The best part about this spray is that you can apply it to a stain and then wash your laundry up to seven days later, which is perfect for any situation where you are traveling and don’t have the time or ability to do laundry as soon as you notice a stain on your clothes. This OxiClean spray can also be applied to and treat larger stains that a Tide To-Go pen wouldn’t be able to handle.

3. Universal Drain Stopper

A flat, silicone drain stopper is an easy accessory to travel with, and could be just what you need to plug a bath or sink drain when you’re doing a quick hand wash of your garments. A silicone drain stopper is flat and lightweight, so it won’t take up much space in your luggage or carry-on. This option from Amazon features a small suction to keep it in place, and comes in a pack of three.

4. Tide To Go Stain Removing Pen

Tide pens really seem to work like magic— they instantly remove stains and are handy to have if you’re traveling for an event or special occasion. The pens are small and easy to store in a purse or backpack, so it can be ready to use as soon as you notice a fresh stain. The tip of the pen is quite small, so it’s ideal for smaller stains and marks. If you are dealing with a larger stain while traveling, I recommend using the OxiClean spray I mentioned earlier in this article.

5. Meyers Dryer Sheets

While it’s not exactly a laundry hack, I travel with a few dryer sheets in my luggage just to keep my clothes smelling fresh while I’m on the go. They’re also a pleasant addition to my ski bag when I’m traveling or storing my gear in the off-season. Just a few of these dryer sheets placed between your clothes in your suitcase will have you feeling fresh on arrival to your destination. I personally love the Meyers brand for their mild, fresh scents and clean ingredients.

6. Waterproof Laundry Bag

I always travel with a laundry bag to keep clothes separated in my suitcase, and found that it’s helpful to have one that’s waterproof incase you are in a rush to pack up and your beach towel or swimsuit are not totally dry yet. I’ve also found that these waterproof bags are more durable and last longer than mesh laundry bags, and the convenient handle makes it easy to carry.

Shop all the travel laundry essentials and accessories mentioned here:

Do you have any go-to products that you like to use for doing laundry while traveling, or have any questions about the products I’ve mentioned here? Let me know in the comments below!