How to wash clothes in a sink while travelling

Short answer: Lukewarm water, a little soap, ten minutes of soaking and a thorough rinse are enough. Then roll the item in a towel and press the water out, and it dries in about half the time.

Lukewarm, not hot

Hot water from a hotel tap can be very hot, and high heat can shrink clothes and set stains into the fabric. Lukewarm water is enough to loosen sweat and skin cells from underwear and socks. Dip a finger in first. It should feel comfortable, not hot. Read more about washing and care.

A little soap goes a long way

A teaspoon of liquid detergent or ordinary hand soap is enough for a few items. Too much soap is hard to rinse out of a small sink, and the residue leaves the fabric stiff. If you carry a small travel bottle of detergent, add a little to the water and stir before the clothes go in.

Ten minutes of soaking

Leave the clothes in the lukewarm soapy water for about ten minutes. Time does most of the work, because the soap has a chance to loosen sweat and dirt from the fibres without scrubbing. Use the time to pack or find somewhere to hang things. Press the item down a few times so it stays covered.

Rub only where needed

After soaking, gently rub the spots that need it, such as underarms, sock soles and the waistband of underwear. Rub the fabric against itself with your fingers rather than scrubbing hard. Soft fabric like bamboo viscose does not like rough handling while wet. Most items need no rubbing at all.

Rinse until the water runs clear

Empty the sink, refill it with clean lukewarm water and rinse the clothes through. Repeat until no more bubbles appear. Soap residue makes fabric stiff and can irritate the skin, especially in underwear worn close to the body all day. It usually takes two or three rinses. Many people rush this step when travelling.

The towel trick

Gently press most of the water out with your hands without wringing. Then lay the item on a dry towel, roll it up tightly and press or step on the roll. This removes far more water than wringing, and it does not stretch the fabric. Afterwards the item is only slightly damp. See bamboo underwear for men.

Hang it with air around it

Hang the item so air can reach both sides. A hanger on the shower rail, the back of a chair or a small travel drying rack works well. Avoid radiators and direct sun, as strong heat can wear out elastic. Open a window if you can, so the moisture leaves the room. See bamboo underwear for women.

Pack clothes that dry quickly

When travelling, it helps to bring clothes you can wash in the evening and wear dry in the morning. Thin items like underwear, socks and light T-shirts dry fastest. Thick jumpers and jeans take too long in a hotel sink. Pack one extra set of underwear, so you always have something dry while the rest hangs.

In short

Use lukewarm water, a little soap and ten minutes of soaking. Rub only where needed and rinse until the water runs clear. Roll the clothes in a towel and press the water out instead of wringing. Hang them with air around them, and they are usually ready by the next day.