I get ready by packing a little bit everyday and today was the laundry kit. We talked about doing laundry at the last meeting and many were absent so here goes... With the limits on suitcase size and weight we will have to do laundry while we travel. Sending your wash to the hotel laundry is expensive and requires us to be at the hotel for at least 2 days, not the best choice. Instead I hope there will be a few opportunities for launderettes (laundry mats) while we travel. For those days a few detergent pods and softener sheets are perfect. You might also want some kind of bag with a handle that you can use to cart your clothes back and forth to the launderette. (I just use a few grocery bags.) If you've never done your own wash ask your mom to help you do yours a few times before we leave so you get the hang of it. The only difference over there will be that you have to put coins in the machines before they will work.
The rest of the time we'll be hand washing in the hotel sink. This requires a small bottle with some Woolite, a sink stopper, and a cord for hanging the wash to dry. Don't count on the suction cups holding the wet laundry so grab a few clips so you can make loops. Stop up the sink drain and put your dirty clothes in. Fill with water and add a couple squirts of Woolite. Swish the clothes around a few times to get them completely wet in the wash solution. Let soak for 5-15 minutes. Use your hand to squish (knead) the clothes several times. You may want to pay some special attention to extra dirty areas like armpits. Let the water out of the sink and refill with new, cold water. Squish again to get the soapy water out of the clothes. Repeat. Carefully wring each item out to remove excess water. Lay your towel out flat and lay one item on it. Roll up and wring tightly to remove as much water as possible. Hang on the laundry line to dry. Repeat with each remaining item. (Hint, I have some that take a 2 gallon ziplock bag to use as the washing machine. Put in water, soap and clothes, shake & knead. Drain, add fresh water to rinse and repeat.)
If you've packed lightweight or travel fabric clothes (think athletic quick-dry type fabric) then you're clothes will be ready to go in the morning. Just in case pack a large (2 gallon) ziplock to pack your damp clothes in. Just remember to take them all out at the next stop so they don't mold.
Last thing to consider is some kind of spot treatment so you can zap that little spill as soon as it happens. Makes life so much easier. I take shout wipes (Walmart) but lots of people like the Tide pen.
The rest of the time we'll be hand washing in the hotel sink. This requires a small bottle with some Woolite, a sink stopper, and a cord for hanging the wash to dry. Don't count on the suction cups holding the wet laundry so grab a few clips so you can make loops. Stop up the sink drain and put your dirty clothes in. Fill with water and add a couple squirts of Woolite. Swish the clothes around a few times to get them completely wet in the wash solution. Let soak for 5-15 minutes. Use your hand to squish (knead) the clothes several times. You may want to pay some special attention to extra dirty areas like armpits. Let the water out of the sink and refill with new, cold water. Squish again to get the soapy water out of the clothes. Repeat. Carefully wring each item out to remove excess water. Lay your towel out flat and lay one item on it. Roll up and wring tightly to remove as much water as possible. Hang on the laundry line to dry. Repeat with each remaining item. (Hint, I have some that take a 2 gallon ziplock bag to use as the washing machine. Put in water, soap and clothes, shake & knead. Drain, add fresh water to rinse and repeat.)
If you've packed lightweight or travel fabric clothes (think athletic quick-dry type fabric) then you're clothes will be ready to go in the morning. Just in case pack a large (2 gallon) ziplock to pack your damp clothes in. Just remember to take them all out at the next stop so they don't mold.Last thing to consider is some kind of spot treatment so you can zap that little spill as soon as it happens. Makes life so much easier. I take shout wipes (Walmart) but lots of people like the Tide pen.
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