MWH Travel Tips: 4 - Wash Along the Way

Picture by Phillip Collier

This is a tip I got from my mother on our last trip together. We traveled through China as well, and hiked for part of the trip. Because we were moving around so much and had to walk carrying our bags quite often, it was key that we packed lightly.

One of the ways my mom could limit the amount of clothes she brought with her, was by showering in them.

When you take your evening (or afternoon) shower, take the clothes you're wearing, the ones that are dirty, in the shower with you. While you wash, also rub some body soap or shampoo (great for stains coming from greasy skin and sweat) into the clothes. Make sure you rinse them out with very hot water and roll them up in a towel after you finish wringing them out. 


You can leave your clothes to dry in the hotel room/tent/hostel. Wherever you are, I'm sure there's a spot available somewhere. 
Once dry, you can either wear them again, or store them away until you get home. They'll stay cleaner and you can avoid nasty smells. 

I don't suggest doing this instead of a regular washing cycle on your machine, but it's sufficient for traveling when you need to pack lightly.

As an added tip: Rubbing your knuckles together is a great way to imitate an old fashion wash board for those difficult stains!