has anyone tried the TSA approved travel soap sheets for laudry?
i don't know about "TSA approved" but I have used soap sheets to do laundry. The ones I got didn't work very well using a couple for a few items in a sink; maybe I didn't use enough (but if I used a bunch each time, I would have run out). Since then I've just taken a 1 ounce squeeze bottle with liquid dish washing soap... the type labeled for washing delicate clothes. It works great, and a half bottle lasts me 3 weeks. In a crunch, I've also used clear liquid shampoo from the supply in the room.
Yes, I carry them as a backup in case I can't find something else (like shampoo) to wash my clothes out in the sink with. I find they don't work all that well and there's not much suds but it's better than nothing and they don't take up any space in my bag.
I have some, but don't really like using them. You can use a powdered soap meant for hand washing. I have some Purex 3 in 1 laundry sheets that I cut into one inch strips and use a couple for hand washing, and use whole for machine washing. I'm not sure if they are still available.
We have tried those little sheets. They don't work well. Liquid in TSA size containers just fill up your paranoia bag as do the envelopes of Woolite or Tide. Now we use Forever New Fabric Care Wash. You can find it in Macy's in the women's underwear section. It is kind of expensive but I have never found anything as good. In some hotels there are liquid soap containers in the shower and next to the sink that we use for laundry. We begin a trip with two four ounce plastic bottles full of the powder. You can get quite a bit in if you use a hand vibratory motion to settle the soap. W also have a bar of Dr. Bronner's for whenever there is no soap in the hotel room. It will also double as laundry soap. For the hair we take two of the round bars of Lush shampoo. That will leave space in your paranoia bag for little bottles of nerve medicine.
Monte ... that made me laugh. Thanks.
Forever New is WONDERFUL,, it lasts a long time, you only use a little, its a powder that comes in a nice little well sealed plastic container. It is low sudsing and easy to rince out..
Don't be fooled by the fact its sold in lingerie departments etc. its great stuff for travel! Or you can go out and buy stuff similar sold at those travel gear stores that costs sometimes 2 or 3 times as much! ha,
Being an older gentleman, I am never surprised at what's sold in lingerie departments.
We bought a small box of Ivory Snow powder laundry detergent at Target, then put a small amounts in snack size zip lock bags, then in a little larger zip lock back. Take's up no room, doesn't count for liquids on carry on, and enough to last for at least the next couple dozen trips.
Gosh, so no problem for anyone having ziplock bags or small boxes of white laundry powder? I was scared that would cause a raucous with TSA or customs? Do you pull it out separately for carry on? (like your liquids).
I figured I would have to buy something over there.
No need to pull it out for TSA. You only need to do that with your 3-1-1 bag.
Monte - Love the "paranoia bag" Jim - I too have tried not only the sheets for laundry, but also for body soap (bought travel sized containers at a sporting store for my last trip to Italy). I found the same as the others - did not work well, in fact I think I still have them kicking around in my linen closet somewhere. I would recommend either the lingerie wash, or just buying a small container of baby shampoo - I did this when I discovered i disliked the sheets. It can also double as body wash. I put the bottle in a zip lock baggie so if it opened it would not leak all over everything.
I have to give credit where credit is due, My wife, Sharon, came up with the phrase "paranoia bag" about five years ago. She's very inventive when describing things, just about like George Carlin only she doesn't use bad words.
Related to the "paranoia bag", I used to fly from Milwaukee regularly and always got a chuckle after getting through security. They have a big sign that says "recombobulation area" in the section where you put your "paranoia bag" back in your suitcase. Mitchell Airport recombobulation area
I use the detergent soap sheets from REI. I think they work great. When I first tried them I wasn't happy - so I read the directions. You take a few sheets and dissolve them in water, then add to your laundry like a liquid detergent. Once I figured that out, I was more than happy with them. TSA's limit on liquid is one reason to use them; they don't have to go with liquids in a quart bag and you can carry enough for a month of laundry. Water/liquids are also heavy. You can save weight by eliminating liquids. The sheets weigh almost nothing and take up very little space in my carry-on.