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Reader Sandy M. sent over this great tip for doing laundry on the road. I wish I had known it two months ago, just before we embarked on our latest adventure, which took us to four countries.
Whenever we travel for more than five days, we always pack laundry detergent so we can wash our clothes on the road. We normally pack seven days’ worth of clothes and love it when our hotel or Airbnb has a washing machine. Unless we’re in a luxurious suite with a washer and dryer (like our Mother’s Day visit to Terranea) or are staying in an Airbnb (like our trip to Ischia), we’re usually using a communal machine where detergent is included.
On our most recent trip, I did laundry twice aboard our Sun Princess Mediterranean cruise, pictured above. You can buy detergent in the laundry rooms, but it’s usually overpriced and not a brand we normally use. The same goes for laundromats, like the one I visited last summer in Sausalito while staying at Cavallo Point Lodge, pictured below.
Since our bags are generally packed to the gills, I’m always trying to save space, which is why I love Sandy’s tip. Here’s what she says:
“I just ordered these [Arm & Hammer Power Sheets Laundry Detergent] for an upcoming trip to Europe. In my continuing effort to only travel with carry-on luggage, I found these [laundry sheets], which I think will be a great replacement for the liquid soap packs I used to carry. I’m cutting them in half or even into quarters so I can just use them in a bathroom sink for laundering.”
This may not be news to many of you but I had no idea laundry sheets existed. When I first read Sandy’s email, I thought she meant dryer sheets, which many travelers place in their bags or between clothes to keep them smelling fresh. But this is way better. And at the time of this publication, they only cost $8 for 100. That will last us a few years at least.
Here’s a bit more information:
Arm & Hammer Power Sheets Fragrance Free Laundry Detergent offers a mess-free, travel-friendly way to do laundry … no spills, no heavy bottles and no plastic waste. These compact, pre-measured sheets dissolve quickly in any water temperature (even cold) and work in all machines, including high-efficiency washers. Ideal for darks or whites, they clean up to 100 small loads without bleach, dyes, or fragrance, making them perfect for sensitive skin and on-the-go washing at laundromats or during extended travel.
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Yup, we did a 2 week Europe trip in June with just carry on but brought these flat laundry sheets and used them at a laundromat in Kilkeny, Ireland. Plus we also use compression cubes, great space savers.
There are a lot of different brands of laundry sheets out there. I’ve been using Clean People sheets for a few years. They also have other laundry and cleaning products, including drying sheets. I have found them to be very convenient in my laundry room so I don’t have to have a big jug of liquid detergent. That way I don’t have to pay for the water, just the detergent.