How to Travel Light November 15, 2014 By Cait Hartwyk Leave a Comment Sometimes, it can be difficult to bring enough clothes to get you through a long trip. Surely, no savvy traveler wants to haul any more luggage than is absolutely necessary through customs. The secret to traveling lighter when on an extended trip is to plan to clean the clothes you bring. Follow these tips to successfully slim down your suitcase, without resorting to wearing each outfit inside and out! 1. Plan wisely A bit of pre-travel planning will go a long way. If you plan to wash your clothes yourself, pack quick dry items that do not wrinkle or require ironing. If you plan to use a hotel laundry service for your laundry needs, be sure to send your items to this service with ample time before your departure. 2. Pack proper supplies Supplies will be necessary if you plan on doing your own laundry while overseas. A mesh bag with a drawstring will help separate dirty clothes from clean ones. You can pack concentrated liquid detergent in a small, sturdy, plastic squeeze bottle (and seal it in a plastic bag to contain potential leaks) so that you do not have to make this purchase overseas. Don’t forget to bring a sink stopper, as some hotels will remove these to discourage cleaning clothes in the hotel room. Finally, a stretchable travel clothes line will ensure you are able to hang everything up to dry in your hotel room. 3. Be mindful of hotel rules Many hotels prefer that you do not do laundry in your room, and some bathrooms will even include a sign stating this policy. Therefore, wash carefully and in a way that does as little potential damage to the hotel room as possible. Wring clothes out before hanging them to minimize dripping on the floor. Hang your clothes to dry over the bathtub or in a closet; do not hang them out the window, as this unsightly practice is discouraged by most hotels. What are some of your best tips to pack light or do laundry while traveling? Tell us in a comment to this post!
