Originally Posted by
arfer1
I'm wondering how people handle cleaning their clothes on tour. In the past, I've carried a small bottle of laundry detergent and a collapsible sink that packs small in order to wash stuff in, but I'm wondering if it would make more sense to just wait until I get to towns that have a coin laundry. I like the idea of using a laundry stop to relax, walk around, and dry my clothes quickly in a dryer. On the other hand, I usually only have a few things to wash and some might say paying for a full wash and dry is a waste of money. Also, I like the sink for carrying water and to use to wash dishes and for washing my face, hands, and hair. How do other people deal with this?
Whenever you shower, wash your riding clothes. Get some soap on them while they're on you. Then put them on inside out and soap the inside surface. Rinse well, and then wring out and hang up the clothes to dry. This works better if you use spandex or other quick-drying fabrics.
I usually camp when I'm on tour, so showers typically don't happen very often. On longer tours where I camp, I'll usually do laundry about once a week. When I do, I typically wash everything except one pair of off-bike shorts that I wear to avoid getting arrested. That includes arm and leg warmers and my sleeping bag liner. If you use warmshowers, some hosts will let you use their washing machine if you ask.