Handwashing - Laundry detergent sheets? laundry detergent bars?

I use the shampoo or body wash that is in the bathroom at most hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs. I sink wash almost daily on most trips.

Wash stuff when you're showering - use your socks/undies as a flannel.

Saves time. Job done.

Here is a recent thread on the subject. If you use the search bar, you will find others- https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/packing/travel-laundry-soap

I've used the laundry sheets for years. I think they are all much the same. I like that they dissolve almost immediately on contact with water. But for just a couple of items, I usually just use the hotel shampoo or body wash. Soap is soap.

Here’s something I learned recently. If you are going to “sink wash” instead of a laundromat. Go to Walmart, fishing section, and buy a $10 dry bag -10 liter size. (Or, something similar). Think of it as a fabric bucket. Place it in tub. Add some laundry soap (woolite). Add water. Add clothes. Then, close the roll-top. Swish your clothes around. Then, rinse out your clothes in tub. Hang to dry.

The Walmart brand is called Ozark Trail.

I usually use the Tide travel packets, and I bring a jumbo size storage bag (like ziploc, I think 3 gallon) that I use to soak clothes and wash in the shower.
My travels without access to laundry machine are 10 days, so a few Tide packets work for me.

I use shampoo in the shower. After they are clean I take them off, wring, hang.

I don’t remember the brand but the laundry sheets worked for ne. I put clothes in the 2 (2 1/2?) gallon zip lock bag and it works well

Just for fun: 2.5 gallons - 3 gallons converts to roughly 9.5 liters - 11.5 liters.
So, looks like the posters here are on the same wavelength.
Now, Mr. E is taking a different approach.

Woolite is good for cold water washing. A 3.3 ounce travel bottle can be filled with it and placed in 3-1-1 kit.

Hi Laura, I used to take the Earth Breeze detergent sheets - looks like a dryer sheet, to use a piece of it for sink washing or the occasional washing machine we had midway through a trip. But now when it’s just me, I use the shampoo/body wash in hotels.

Important note - if you are bringing some type of detergent, please try it on a load of towels at home, first. I unfortunately found that I was very allergic to a chemical in Tide detergent- gave me terrible headaches & closed ip my sinuses. The positive of that awful incident was that at least I found out after I was back home from a trip - not during the trip.

@jean - I was the opposite. I tried the Earth Breeze and the scent gave me some allergic reaction! I use Tide at home so when I found out about the little travel packets, I got on board. They are small enough to fit well in my 3-1-1 bag and I know I overpay for the amount it comes with, but each packet is enough for my shower laundry :-) .

But I agree - always test it at home first before bringing a new soap to a trip. And one of the reasons I don't use hotel shampoo/soap to wash my clothes especially my underwear.

Wow. Thank you for all the ideas! Love the "dry bag" and large ziplock ideas! So much better than 2 of us trying to use a tiny hotel sink that we may or may not be able to plug and fill up.
Any hang drying hacks that anyone has figured out? I have one of the rubber braided streching drying lines, but this community probably has other unique efficient ideas!

I also use laundry sheets, unscented. Cut in strips for sink washing. If you use in a laundry machine, I would still suggest shredding them up, they don't always dissolve in high efficiency machines. Definitely try at home even if you're not allergic/sensitive. Some just don't work as well as others.

For sink washing, I take a small flat sink stopper in my laundry kit. I also take folding hangers (like these https://a.co/d/02798Q4S). I used to take a small braided clothesline but it stretches out so much with wet clothes, the hangers are easier. I also pack a couple small binder clips just in case things want to slip off. And IMHO the key to quick drying is to roll up your well squeezed out hand washing inside a towel (like a burrito) and then stand on it to squish out more moisture. With the rare exception of jeans in winter, everything I take will dry overnight with that technique applied.

We use a backpacking soap. Highly concentrated (3 maybe 4 drops in a sink), low sussing, and biodegradable. We get it at REI.

We used to take a couple of Rick’s rubber braided lines, and they worked fine for socks & underwear. Now I use two of the hangers CL showed. I flip up the outer arms up to put small socks straight up or to hold straps. Otherwise, they’re great for a shirt or dress to hang in the shower overnight.

I take a roll of butchers twine (about 20 ft wound around a small piece of cardboard. Doubled up, it makes a decent clothes line for everything except heavy clothes. We've also used doubled up dental floss, in a pinch, for the same thing. It is a lot stronger than you might think.

I got a portable clothesline/bungee cord in Japan. It is very similar to this one on Amazon. But I just hang clothes on it. I carry a couple plastic clothespins that I use for socks or underwear. But I usually travel alone so I can spread out wherever there is a good drying space. I use hotel hangers to dry clothes too.
https://a.co/d/03Kv4xfN

For drying, I bet Mr. E goes outside and stands in the wind with his quick-dry fishing shirt and pants still on after showering.

For drying, I bet Mr. E goes outside and stands in the wind with his quick-dry fishing shirt and pants still on after showering.

😂😂

I use mostly the Tide liquid sold in Tide Travel Packs plus a sturdy hand scrub brush for handwashing in the room sink. , no detergent bars.

• Joy - you know me!

I have some of the folding hangers like shown above, but got the ones with removable pants clips.

The clips are flimsy though and a few have broken.

So I got some "boot clips" like this. Boot Clips

I even use them at home to hang dry my merino socks.

I usually stuff 4 of the clips in a pair of shoes when packing. The folding hangers are too wide to fit in my shoes.

I like the clips better for hanging shirts by the hem to dry. The folding hangers leave lumps in the shoulders.

Laura, I bring 2 folding hangers. I only sink or shower wash for my 3 week solo trips. Undies and socks dry in 8-10 hours. Long sleeve cotton/modal turtlenecks can take 12-18 hours depending on how humid the weather is. I find it very easy to keep up with it instead of several hours at the laundromat during my trip.
.

Joy - you know me!

Mr. E - I think you meant @sunbaked florida - she's the one who called it!

• Joy -, Sun-Baked in Florida ooops.....

These are my favorite hanging dryers for socks and underwear. They’re small to pack and fit over clothes hangers. https://a.co/d/06Sn88O3
I used to carry the braided rubber line but often had a hard time finding a place to attach it.