Doing your laundry at home can already be challenging, particularly when you have piles of dirty clothes to deal with. And even if you don’t have a large laundry pile, doing it can still feel like a huge chore. However, the feelings of laziness and helplessness you go through whenever you see your basket of dirty laundry won’t compare to the annoyance you’ll feel when you run out of clean clothes to wear when you’re traveling.

Fortunately, there are different ways for you to have clean clothes when you’re on a long trip because of your work or business. From hand washing to using a laundry and dry cleaning service in Dubai, you can have spotless, fresh, and great-looking outfits you can wear anytime and anywhere.

Having Clean, Ready-to-Wear Outfits When You’re on the Move

When you’re constantly in a new city or country because of your work or business or you’re a serious leisure traveler, below are some of the best ways you can do your laundry and never worry about having nothing clean to wear:

1. Hand-wash dirty clothes.

Doing your laundry in the hotel bathroom sink is a popular solution for having clean clothes to wear when you’re traveling. Use the plug to turn the bathroom sink into a basin you can fill with water to hand-wash your clothes. Once done, you can hang them to dry in the bathtub. However, this option comes with a few caveats. First, you’ll have to buy detergent and fabric softener. This means you’ll have to make a quick run to a grocery or convenience store to buy them, which translates to additional expenses on your part. This can prove to be an inconvenience if there aren’t any supermarkets or convenience stores near your hotel. You have to drive or commute just to get these supplies.

Additionally, washing jeans, jackets, and other heavy garments can be difficult in a small bathroom sink. As such, this method often only works for underwear, socks, and light tops and shirts. Lastly, if you’re traveling from one place to another every other day or so, there is a chance that the clothes you washed won’t be dry at the time of your check out. Because of this, you’ll end up bringing wet clothing in your car or on your flight.
These inconveniences make hand washing your clothes not the best option for frequent travelers.

2. Use the hotel’s laundry service.

Nearly all hotels, resorts, and hostels offer in-house laundry services for their guests. Undoubtedly, this is a convenient solution since you simply have to put your dirty clothes in a laundry bag and call the front desk to have staff pick up the bag. Once done, your freshly laundered clothes will be delivered to your room. Some accommodation providers require the guests to drop off and pick up their laundry at a particular area. Although this is a convenient solution, it comes with a hefty price tag. Therefore, it is still not the most cost-effective option, particularly if you’re constantly on the move.

3. Go to a laundromat.

Going to a laundromat is a good option if you want to save money. Go online to look for a laundromat near your accommodation to avoid wasting time searching for one in a place you’re not familiar with. Make sure you choose one with good reviews to avoid issues you might encounter while you’re doing your laundry. This option is budget-friendly and, at the same time, allows you to keep an eye on your garments, particularly the ones that are expensive and mean something to you, like your favorite formal and date night outfits.

However, if you don’t have an hour or so to spare to wait for your laundry to be done during the day and you want to spend the rest of your free time at night relaxing or exploring the city, you won’t like this option. You might want to consider the last solution.

4. Look for a laundry service provider that offers pickup and delivery.

Lastly, a convenient and more cost-effective option that might appeal to you is having your dirty clothes picked up, washed, and delivered by a professional laundry service provider. Look for a provider that offers great laundry pickup and delivery prices near you. Select a time for staff to get your dirty laundry; you have the option of handing the bag to them or leaving it outside your door for quick collection. Your clean clothes will then be delivered to you at the date and time you chose. With this option, you can be sure your laundry will be done before you travel again. Moreover, you won’t have to waste time looking for and staying at a laundromat. Also, you won’t need to buy any laundry supplies and get your hands wet to have clean clothes again. Aside from being clean and smelling fresh, your clothes will be folded well so that they are ready to wear; you won’t have to worry about any creases that can make your outfit less presentable or less attractive.

This option is more affordable than having your laundry done by your hotel’s service provider and more convenient than hand washing them or going to the laundromat. Doing your laundry during your travels allows you to have clean clothes you can wear anytime. Moreover, it lets you pack more easily since you won't have to separate your dirty garments from the clean ones.

Lastly, you'll have less laundry to do once your trip is over, allowing you to relax and savor the feeling of being back home. With several options for doing your laundry when you travel, you don’t have to worry about wearing and filling your suitcase with only dirty clothes.

AUTHOR BIO
Rami Shaar is co-founder and CEO of Washmen, a top-notch online dry cleaning and laundry service in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.