Keeping dirty clothes in your van can diminish the fun of traveling. How?
The clothes serve as a breeding site for pathogenic bacteria, fuel the growth of mold in your van, and at times they can release a distasteful odor.
For that reason, washing your clothes and or beddings while travelling in your campervan is essential, if at all you want to improve your van’s air quality, as well as shield yourself from mold allergies.
The problems is, most campervans have limited space to accommodate a full size washing machine.
Again, vans have limited electricity to power up an ordinary washer and dryer. In consequence, washing clothes in a campervan can be stressful.
But it doesn’t have to be. These days, there are portable washing machine and dryer units. These consume very little space and don’t need much power. Some don’t even use electricity. We’ll talk about them in a bit.
This article gives you ideas to help you keep your clothes clean while enjoying every bit of your campervan trip.
Let’s get started.
How to Wash Clothes During a Campervan Trip
1. Wash your clothes and beddings at a Laundromat
A Laundromat, also known as coin laundry, has several washer and dryers to let you clean and dry your clothes while travelling. It is the number one preference for campervan travellers who wish to keep their clothes clean.
Most Laundromats are coin-operated. However, in some, you can pay in cash or through a loyalty card. The rates vary depending on the load capacity, as well as the type of laundering service. Payments are done per cycle.
Modern Laundromats offer tables to fold your clothes, and comfy chairs to relax as you wait for the laundry machine to clean/dry your clothes. Others may have a television and wifi connection to keep you entertained.
The laundry facilities open early, and they close late in the evening. They operate most days of the week, and you can always find one even in small towns.
How do you identify a good Laundromat?
Frankly, there are multiple Laundromats you would find on your road trip. Some offer reasonable rates, have enough washing and drying machines, and they have bonus facilities like wifi, a television room, and comfy seats.
Others might be expensive, have fewer washing and drying machines, and they might be dirty. If you want to avoid the less-reputable Laundromats, the following ideas will save you from wasting your time and gas.
- Use Google to locate Laundromats around your neighbourhood
A simple search on Google can help you identify all laundry service providers around the area you are touring. Into the bargain, Google gives you a map to guide you to the suggested Laundromats. Make a list of all the launderettes that charm you.
- Use trusted review sites to scrutinize the Laundromats
After identifying Laundromats near your area, use yelp, Angie’s List, Merchant Circle, Consumer Affairs, Glassdoor, and other generous review sites to scrutinize the most apposite. Pick one with a better customer rating. Why? High-rated Laundromats offer the best services than those with low rates.
- Request locals to recommend a good launderette
Unlike you, locals understand the best Laundromats in their neighbourhood. So, if you cannot locate a good one using Google and Yelp, request locals to recommend one that offers exceptional laundry services.
- Use campervan life apps to get suggestions
There are multiple apps designed to simplify and improve your campervan life. Some help you identify best routes to your destination, gas stations around the area you are touring, as well as best Laundromats around. So, if you are tech-savvy, download and use a van life app to get directions to a good Laundromat. You can try iOverloader or RV Allstays.
2. Do your laundry at a friend’s home
If you cannot find a good Laundromat, check if you have relatives and or old friends living around the place you are touring. Call and ask if they can let you use their in-house laundering machine.
Many friends will be glad to welcome you with a cup of coffee as you share great catch up memories. They would not mind suggesting the best places to visit, as well as the things you would do to enjoy your trip.
However, if your friend lets you use their laundry machine, don’t overstay. Leave after you wash and dry your clothes to allow your friend to proceed with their normal life. As such, your visit will not interfere with their regular routine.
While visiting, let your friend know your program. Do not criticize your host’s possessions, and remember to bring along some gifts. If you find it hard to operate their washer dryer, ask your host to help you run it.
3. Wash your clothes and beddings in a sink
If you have a few clothes or extremely delicate items to wash, wash them in your camping washbasin or bucket. While hand washing would be a little labor-intensive, it will save the hard-earned dollars you could have spent in a Laundromat.
Moreover, hand washing your clothes would save you from bothering your friends, let you use less detergent to clean your clothes, work-out your arms, as well as shield your delicate garments from lint or accelerated wear and tear.
4. Do your laundry at a rented Airbnb
Washing and drying several pieces of clothes is costly. You will need to waste some gas, time, and money looking around for a suitable Laundromat or travelling to your friend’s home to do your laundry. Averagely, you can spend $10-30 to clean your clothes while travelling.
Therefore, if you have loads of clothes and you don’t intend to wash them in a launderette, look around and rent a cheap room with Airbnb. In fact, you can hardly miss a single room costing about $25-30.
How do you find a good deal on Airbnb? It is simple. Don’t just hit Airbnb’s “Request to Book” button. Instead, use the “Contact this host” option to connect and build some rapport with the host, and ask them if they can offer you a discount.
Many Airbnb hosts will be glad to give you a discount, commonly termed as “Airbnb Special Offer.” Use the offer to book the room through Airbnb.
5. Invest in a portable washing machine for camping
Do you want to wash your clothes in the comfort of your campervan? Invest in a good portable washer, and you will not have to battle the inconveniences associated with doing your laundry at a Laundromat, a friend’s home, or at a rented Airbnb room.
While investing in washer seems like an excellent idea to clean your clothes at the comfort of your campervan, Appliance stores have several portable washing machines for camping.
The brands differ depending on size, energy efficiency, load capacity, construction material, and water/detergent effectiveness. As a result, finding an appropriate unit for your campervan can be a hectic undertaking.
For that reason, we have evaluated some of the best electric and non-electric washing machines for camping to help you find a portable washing machine that fits into your unique camping lifestyle.
Top Portable Washing Machines (Non-Electric)
- Lavario portable clothes washer
Lavario’s hand-powered clothes washer uses patented power flow technology to let you wash your clothes quickly, using less water and detergent. In fact, with this portable washer, you can clean a moderate load of clothes in less than 20 minutes.
You can use the portable clothes washer to clean delicate clothes, undergarments, jeans, light beddings, and sweatshirts.
Lavario’s manufacturers designed this clothes washer from a shatterproof plastic material to serve you for years. The material weighs less, and it has excellent resistance to caustic detergents.
The portable washing machine for camping stands 31 inches tall, and it measures 19 inches wide. Its compact size fits into tight spaces while its 10-lb weight lets you move it into and out of your van effortlessly.
Merits
- Rubber feet remain stable on wet and dry surfaces
- Can hold up to 5 gallons of clothes
- Comes fully assembled
- Uses less water and detergent than an electric clothes washers
- Requires less arm power to get the job done
Demerits
- Not ideal for cleaning comforters, blankets, and any other heavy fabric.
- Splashes out water
- The Laundry alternative wonderwash
Weighing 5.5lbs, Wonderwash stands among the most portable washing machine for RV in the market. You can carry it easily in your camping bag, or you can stack it in overcrowded spaces in your campervan.
Despite its compact size, this laundry machine can wash a 5-lb load of clothes in less than 5 minutes. You can use it to clean delicate woolen, silk, and knitted garments. Furthermore, you can use this laundering unit to wash jeans, dress shirts, T-shirts, and any other hand-washable clothes.
With a premium plastic construction and no moving part, this unit can last much longer than electric competitors. It comes with a three-year warranty to shield you from engineering imperfections.
Merits
- Uses 90% less water than ordinary washing machines
- Its cranking mechanism operates smoothly
- Its patented lid prevents water from splashing out of the unit while washing
- The inbuilt stand has suction cups to keep it stable while in use
- It is fully assembled
Demerits
- Not ideal for washing many clothes per cycle
- The unit feels wobbly when using it on an uneven surface
Top Portable Washing Machines for Camping (Electric)
- Giantex Mini compact Twin Tub
Giantex’s mini compact twin tub utilizes a 120-volt electric motor to wash and spin dry your clothes. The unit can clean 10lbs and dry 6lbs of clothes in one cycle, a feature which makes it an ideal mate for van campers with huge loads of clothes.
This portable washing machine for RV comes with easy to operate and access controls to improve your efficiency. You just need basic skills to use the portable electric washer.
An inbuilt timer on this washer turns off the unit automatically after it has completed cleaning and drying your clothes. Therefore, you can focus on other chores while the unit washes your clothes.
This clothes washer measures 24.8 inches long and 15 inches wide. It stands 28.5 inches high, and it weighs 29.3 lbs. The reasonable sizing can fit easily into your van, while the weight lets you load and offload your unit quickly.
Merits
- It is designed from sturdy ABS to outlast competitors
- It uses less energy and water than the ordinary units used at home
- You can use it in your campervan or at your home
- Cleans more clothes within a short time
Demerits
- Requires some assembly before use
- Not ideal for vans with limited power
- Best Choice Portable twin tub laundry machine
This portable washing machine for RV boasts of a low noise but powerful 110-volt motor that delivers 1300 revolutions per minute to wash and spin dry your camping clothes. It washes 8lbs and dries 5lbs of clothes in one cycle.
Best Choice’s engineers designed the portable washer from a light but tough plastic material. The material can hold-up wear resulting from regular loading/offloading, constant exposure to detergents, as well as the damaging impact from a moving van.
Its controls are located on the upper side for easy access, and its top-loading mechanism lets you load the unit quickly. Its timer turns off the unit after a predetermined period to allow you to engage in other duties as you wait for the washing machine to clean your clothes.
Merits
- Its space-saving design requires little storage space in your campervan
- Low noise output lets you use the machine washer any time
- It is UL certified. Thus, it is safe to use in your van.
- It is water and detergent efficient
- You can operate the washer and spin dryer concurrently
Demerits
- Not ideal for cleaning heavily soiled clothes
- Its operating instructions are hard to understand
How to dispose of dirty laundry water while camping
Inappropriately disposed of laundry water can harm wildlife, pollute nearby streams, or even diminish other travellers’ experiences. You can end up on the wrong side of the law if you dispose of laundry water carelessly. Therefore, it is vital to dispose of laundry water from your washer carefully. How?
- Carry a sealable container to store your laundry wastewater
- Dispose your laundry water in a utility sink found in campgrounds
- In the absence of a utility sink, dispose of it 200 meters away from a water source.
- Spread laundry water widely if disposing it in an open field
- Use biodegradable detergents to wash your clothes
How to store laundry in a campervan while on a road trip
There is no denying that keeping your clean and dirty clothes in a campervan is a challenge. Actually, a majority of campers inappropriately store their camping clothes. If you are looking for the best way, use the following tips to keep your laundry organized, as well as free up some space in your campervan.
- Store dirty and clean clothes separately
Dirty clothes can make clean clothes stink, and or they can soil or make them damp. So, if you don’t want the inconvenience of having to wash even the clean clothes, store them in separate packing cubes or laundry bags.
- Store stinking clothes in a sealed bag
Experts advise that you store dirty clothes in a mesh bag so that they don’t grow mold. However, if the soiled clothes are already stinky, keep them in a sealed Ziploc bag or a plastic bin with a lid until you get time to wash them.
- Always fold the dirty and clean laundry
Hanging or leaving your clothes unfolded can take up much of your storage space in your van. If you want to save that space and use it to store something else, fold all your dirty and clean clothes.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let your soiled camping clothes to deny you the peace of mind you need to enjoy your road trip in a campervan.
If your clothes get dirty, wash them in a Laundromat, clean them at a friend’s home, wash them in a rented Airbnb room, or invest in the good portable washing machine for camping to clean them from the comfort of your van.
If you are just about to return home, store your soiled clothes in a sealed laundry