If you are a frequent traveler, you will surely encounter the issue of doing laundry while on the go and looking to save some money. Experts suggest that you can wash your clothes in the hotel room’s bathroom without having to spend money on sending them to a laundry shop. Another scenario is when there is no laundry service available in the hotel or nearby, and you have to do it yourself.
According to Travel + Leisure magazine from the United States, in collaboration with the laundry delivery service provider NoScrubs, founded by Matt O’Connor, they provide people with an easy way to do laundry in hotel bathrooms.
The best way to deal with unexpected situations while traveling is to be prepared, which includes carrying some detergent with you. O’Connor advises people to bring a small bottle of concentrated laundry detergent as it rinses off easier than powder detergent. As for fabric softener, it is not necessary to bring it along as it only adds unnecessary steps to the cleaning process.
Although there is a sink in the bathroom where you may consider washing clothes, O’Connor points out that the water pressure in the sink is not suitable, and it is best to wash clothes in the shower.
He said, “The shower is the best option because it has water pressure that is suitable for rinsing and has a ready-made drainage system. If there is a bathtub, it can also be used, while the sink should only be considered as a last resort.”
When washing clothes in the bathtub, fill it with warm water, add clothes and detergent, stir for 2 to 3 minutes by hand, then soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
Next, thoroughly rinse with the showerhead as the remaining detergent can make the clothes stiff. Finally, roll up the clothes in a towel (as towels absorb water), squeeze out as much water as possible, then hang them up to dry.
O’Connor also shared some tips. For example, if you anticipate the need to do laundry while traveling, consider bringing a portable clothesline. Furthermore, it is advisable to clean underwear and socks every night to avoid accumulating a pile of laundry.
If you prefer not to do it yourself, O’Connor suggests leaving it to the professionals. Since laundry services in hotels are both cumbersome and time-consuming, it is better to use local laundry services.
He said, “For longer trips or business travels, the cost of local laundry services is often lower than the time and effort you would need to invest.”
It is important to note that you should never use the hot water kettle or coffee pot in the hotel room to wash clothes, as the hot water inside these appliances may damage your clothes, and this practice is considered unhygienic for other guests staying in the room.
In addition to doing laundry, you may also encounter the issue of ironing clothes. A flight attendant named Nassim previously mentioned that if your hotel room does not have an iron for pressing clothes, you don’t have to spend money on sending your clothes to a laundry shop for ironing. You can use the bathroom to assist you in ironing your clothes.
She explained that if you have clothes that need pressing, you can hang them on a hanger in the bathroom. The steam from your hot shower will help remove wrinkles from the clothes, usually hanging for 10 to 20 minutes.
However, the prerequisite for using this method is that you must take a hot shower and close the door so the steam can work effectively.