Last spring, I indirectly acknowledged one of my long-held beliefs about laundry: You can do a lot less laundry than most people think.
As I explained to a coworker, I don’t put clothes in the wash pile just because I wear them. They have to actively get stained to prevent me from putting them back on, and due to some tricks I use regularly, they almost never do.
Here are my best practices for people who hate doing laundry, and how they can make packing for a trip up to two weeks completely carry-on-friendly.
keep clean
When I was in middle school, I saw a quote from a member of Eve 6 describing the band’s lead singer in a teen magazine. “Max’s personal hygiene is the best I’ve ever seen,” he said. “His idea was that if you showered all the time, then you could wear the same clothes every day.”
Little did I know, this quote would eventually define my packaging philosophy. I usually wash two to three times a day, even when traveling, which usually keeps me from feeling too gross at any time.
These showers are also always scheduled before getting dressed for the day or changing into a second set of clothes for the evening. If my clothes are clean when I put them on, they don’t automatically get dirty for me when I take them off unless I subsequently sweat or soil them.
Keeping my clothes rotated while traveling allows me to mix and match them to create different outfits, significantly reducing the amount of luggage space I need.
keep Calm
I know what you’re thinking: “But what if I Do Do they sweat when I’m outside? “
This is where one of my personal mottos really comes in handy: no more than 70 in sleeves.
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that’s right. When the temperature rises above 70 degrees, I wear sleeveless or half-length. Given that 70 degrees doesn’t actually feel that warm most of the time, this rule ensures that a) I don’t get too hot and uncomfortable, and b) I don’t sweat out of my sleeves, rendering my top unusable for the rest of the trip.
Of course, in a warm enough climate, it’s possible to sweat even while wearing a sleeveless shirt. But in this hot weather, I’d be better off going to the pool than going out to see the scenery.
There’s another benefit to wearing sleeveless tops: They’re usually easy to pack, saving space in your suitcase. They also pair well with a jacket, sweater, or blazer that you can carry with you in case you catch a cold.
Upgrade your stain game
As a mom of a 1-year-old, I love this stain-removing spray so much that I put it on my daughter’s clothes almost every day after daycare (not to mention our white couch and various other household linens in unrealistic colors).
But it wasn’t until one of my kidless friends showed up on a girls trip to Las Vegas with the same product that I had a lightbulb moment: I should use it on my clothes, too, especially if I don’t have access to a washing machine.
I promptly purchased it in pen form and haven’t looked back since. Trust me when I tell you this stuff is pure magic. After treatment, you can actually see the stain disappear before your eyes. If anything it almost works also Well: if you soak the garment it may fade, so don’t overdo it.
(This probably goes without saying, but wearing black is another great way to avoid obvious stains that will make your clothes ineffective. And since you’re wearing sleeveless clothing when you’re over 70, you don’t have to worry about black clothes making you too hot. BANG.)
But what about socks and underwear?
Relax – there’s no particular advice here. I replace these items every time I take them off, which is a lot if you shower two or three times a day. The bonus is that they don’t take up much space in your luggage and can easily be tucked into your shoes or purse to help them maintain their shape.
One of my key tips: bring an extra pair than you think you’ll need in case your trip goes wrong or you decide to stay an extra day. (But don’t go overboard on buying extras “just in case”: stocking up on a pair will be enough to give you time to hit the store and buy more if needed.)
bottom line
I realize these tips may not work for everyone, and if for some reason you’re not ready to completely stop adding laundry while on vacation, that’s okay. Instead, consider which items of clothing actually need washing—is your sweater dirty, or is it just the white T-shirt you’re wearing underneath? —This alone will save space in your suitcase.
Happy packaging!
