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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 19 Nov 2020
SanchoPansa
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Washing clothes while traveling?
Hi!
I started travelling with my camper van a while back. First it was just here, around England, close to my living spot. But I would like to try doing longer rides. I have a small toilet, kitchen sink and a bathroom sink installed. Access to water is not an issue but you have to stay rational but I always have a problem with disposing of it. There are certain spots where I can pour out the dirty water and refill my tanks. But it is not always the case or rather, I don't know all spots I can do it in. My greatest worry when travelling for a longer time is washing the clothes. I don't have washing machine installed obviously so it is all done by hand. By I don't know water saving methods and it scares me.
How do you deal with washing on the go?
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  #2  
Old 19 Nov 2020
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Get a plastic bin with a watertight lid. Fill it with hot water and soap. leave your clothes in it while you are driving.

The vibrations and movements of the vehicle will wash your clothes like a machine would.

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  #3  
Old 19 Nov 2020
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Just take a shower with your dirty clothes on , and wash yourself + clothes ,
Put clean on and dry washed clothes ... easy !
So many people take far too much when travelling
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  #4  
Old 19 Nov 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badou24 View Post
Just take a shower with your dirty clothes on , and wash yourself + clothes ,

Put clean on and dry washed clothes ... easy !

So many people take far too much when travelling
Exactly.. or use sink; then fold and strap on the back of your bike to dry out.

Other trick pull sock inside out, rub baking soda then pull back and put it on; baking soda decomposes sweat they will be fresh even after 3-5 days. Works on underwear too.
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Old 19 Nov 2020
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On bike trips we used to fill the top box with water and use it as a sink for clothes washing. A hole drilled in the bottom beforehand and sealed with a blanking grommet acted as a drain. You had to park someplace where draining the water didn't cause an issue (so not the hotel foyer) but in hot climates it would be gone in 10 mins. Cleans the box out as well.

These days I used a laundrette.
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  #6  
Old 19 Nov 2020
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SanchoPansa banned for spamming, (spam link removed) but he got a reaction on this one I didn't expect, so leaving it!
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Old 19 Nov 2020
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Laundromat once a week for the most part. A few times I've been travelling with no access to such fancy facilities, and it's been a sink scrub and clothesline of the socks/undies/T-shirt until I return to civilization.
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Old 19 Nov 2020
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"Eco-friendly" soap and water when at a campsite with water. Scrubba washbag when remote.
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Old 20 Nov 2020
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Washing?
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Old 20 Nov 2020
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Washing?
Everyone knows that if you want to conceal something from an Aussie, you hide it in the washing machine.
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Old 20 Nov 2020
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Shampoo and hotel sinks work well. If you're on an extended trip without hotels you'll either find somewhere to handwash with a little Dr Bronners or just smell for a while. It's not the end of the world.
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Old 20 Nov 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomkat View Post
If you're on an extended trip without hotels you'll either find somewhere to handwash with a little Dr Bronners or just smell for a while. It's not the end of the world.
In my experience that approach - particularly the smell for a bit part - doesn't sit well with the other side of the gender divide.

Here's what I mean:



(At least it was our camp, not someone else's !!! although I can't say I ever thought I'd get to the point of posting a picture of an old girlfriend's knickers on an internet forum. At least in my defence I didn't take the picture )
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Old 20 Nov 2020
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or..... just ride naked ! + helmet !
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Old 20 Nov 2020
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Campsite
One of the reasons to use camp sites.
Instead of wild camping.
You have washing machine, toilet shower, sink ....
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  #15  
Old 21 Nov 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Erik_G View Post
One of the reasons to use camp sites.
Instead of wild camping.
You have washing machine, toilet shower, sink ....
Once in a while its great to check into a hostel or a well equipped campaite where one can do laundry. Every two weeks or so....
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