Laundry on the road

[Cosmo]

The time at laundrymats seems so opposite of the teardrop experience.
Was wondering how others keep the clothing clean. Short trips are no problem I just haul it home and wash there.

For longer trips hand washing in a bucket is always an option.

In the book Travels with Charlie John Steinbeck describes using a bucket with a lid. Add soap and water and drive for agitation.

For fixed location bucket and tub washing Amazon is selling these plungers. Some people use a toilet plunger with half inch holes drilled in it as the agitator. Very cost effective. Lots of bucket washing tips in the Amazon reviews of this product.
http://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Mobile- ... ry+plunger
Lots of Youtube demos of the Breathing Mobile Washer available.

If you want to speed drying http://www.amazon.com/Calliger-Clothing ... ZRRZHD0HC8 (not a problem I have since a cord cloths line with some folding hangers works fine)

When all else fails (great grandma will be proud of you)!
http://www.amazon.com/Behrens-BWBG12-Ga ... 27ZGEP6B7H


Cosmo

[mustangcats]

Or you could do it this way.

http://www.bridgesandballoons.com/how-t ... n-a-river/

[Cosmo]

I wonder how she fits the rock in the trialer??? Baw haw haw haw.

[noseoil]

Best washing machine on the road is a 5 gallon bucket with water, dirty clothes & some detergent. Drive all day, rinse & hang out to dry. Presto, clean clothes!

For a really dirty load, the small toilet plunger for an agitator with holes in it works great. Nothing beats a bumpy road & a sealed 5 gallon bucket.

[halfdome, Danny]

Laundromats are so common, even in national parks & KOA's, we just visit one when it's necessary.
Don't think it's detrimental to the teardrop lifestyle, why carry extra junk just to wash your clothes.
Danny

[Tomterrific]

I have to agree with Danny. Many, not all, places have a laundromat at the camp. About the only things I really need clean every day is socks and underwear. These are easy to hand wash in the dishwashing tub we always bring. We went to a laundromat in Maine on a cold, cold tent camping trip. It was so warm and cosy we didn't want to leave.

Then again, the longest we have ever camped is two weeks.

T

[daveesl77]

We are weird and kind of like the laundromat experience. Depending on the town, they are often near some neat places to visit.

dave

[GuitarPhotog]

For me it's part of the adventure, finding and using a local laundromat. While I was on my month-long trip through western Canada, I found laundromats to be a warm dry place to get away from the rain. At one point the only dry clothes I had were those I was wearing, and they weren't too fresh!

If I'm camping away from civilization, I'll schedule a laundry visit when I go to town to shop and buy ice and beer.

<Chas>

[kirkman]

Or you could do it this way.

http://www.bridgesandballoons.com/how-t ... n-a-river/

Not really legal, the soap causes algae bloom witch is quite bad for the aquatic interment.

[Backroads4me]

We usually just take 3 day trips so we bring along what clothes we need. If we were gone longer than that, we'd probably hit a laundramat along the way. Pull up with a teardrop camper in tow, and I'll bet the washing/drying time will fly by----what with all the teardrop tours and explaining the teardrop lifestyle we'd be doing!

[Mary C]

I will use one day to do laundry, while doing so I can check the maps and the possible things to see on my way, its a chance to talk with the local people to see if I have missed any points of interest or a great place to eat. It is also my day to shop and just refuel my physical needs and mental needs write in my travel dairy and to make phone calls, put away laundry, remake my bed, do a little housekeeping..

Mary C.

[Vedette]

We have been out for a month at a time on numerous occasions, and have never found laundry to be a problem??
Like Danny, Charlie , and Mary have already said.......there is always a laundry facility at some campground, or community you plan to visit.
Or, even a visit with friends or relatives along the way, can be an easy laundry stop.
We have enjoyed many a "wine and cheese" interludes while awaiting our clothes to wash & dry.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Cosmo]

"We have enjoyed many a "wine and cheese" interludes while awaiting our clothes to wash & dry."

Now that is a great idea!
Thanks
Cosmo

[H.A.]

[.

[S. Heisley]

Washing isn't a problem; however, drying can be. Some campgrounds no longer allow ropes to be tied to the trees, hung between trees or for clothes to be hung up outside ones tent or vehicle. We ran into that at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park where my family was told to take down their "laundry line" almost as soon as they had put it up. There were 7 of us and we had to go purchase one of those fold-up dryer racks for our bath towels, as the kids came back to camp filthy and their mom insisted they have showers every day. (I like the drying rack better anyway. Unless they can be hidden fairly well, laundry lines can take away from the beauty of some camps.)

Other than that, the longest trip I've been on was 3 weeks; and, like many others, I simply stopped at campgrounds that had laundry facilities.