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My laundry bag has evolved over 6 Caminos. I used Washeze for the first 3, switched to these other two brands to save contributing to the local landfills. Washeze has the soap on a plastic webbed sheet so there is trash left behind, the other 2 dissolve with water contact (have dry hands to reach in and grab one). As these are all for a full wash load, I cut them in 1/4s and put them in a zip lock bag to carry. I used one sheet (1/4 of original) per sink load. Generally, I did pants alone in a "load" because of the trail dirt. I do the wash loads first, then combine the pieces for the rinsing "loads". I stay in private rooms with bath attached--and have learned a great cheat---(laundry before showering) use the bathmat to roll the laundry after having rung the water out---this gets more moisture out and ensures they are dry by morning. Then, I use the bathmat as a bathmat---never too wet to be useful. Besides these soap sheets, my laundry set includes: 2 folding hangars and my bungee cord--it seems to always be able to wrap around chairs/bedposts, shower heads/doorknobs/window levers/etc. to be able to work well---the suction ended ones never worked for me. HTH.I have 1 item I would like advice on:
1. Laundry detergent--clothes are washed almost daily and for two people hiking 14 days, that will be approximately 26 separate sinks of clothes. I found a possible light weight solution. Has anyone had any experience with Travelon laundry soap sheets? They come in a little, extremely light container of 50. I do understand that for a sink load I would need to use possibly four or five sheets at a time.
TIA
While I understand the convenience of the all-in-one washers at laundromats, I am disappointed that they all seem to have additives by which I mean fragrance and other odds and ends, including fabric softener. The tags on some of my clothing say not to use these additives. That fact, plus I cannot abide unnatural fragrance, keeps me from using the machines at laundromats. I do chop off a small chunk from a Zote bar (Mexican laundry soap bar), and wash as needed in a sink.I have 1 item I would like advice on:
1. Laundry detergent--clothes are washed almost daily and for two people hiking 14 days, that will be approximately 26 separate sinks of clothes. I found a possible light weight solution. Has anyone had any experience with Travelon laundry soap sheets? They come in a little, extremely light container of 50. I do understand that for a sink load I would need to use possibly four or five sheets at a time.
TIA
Bill and Trecile, thanks so much for your advice.I use Breezo Laundry detergent sheets and they work great and they are very convenient to carry. I tear off about a quarter of the sheet for my laundry. Remember the whole sheet is is for a full washer load.
Check this post by trecile on this forum : https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/takeaways-from-our-first-camino.77910/post-1088746
There are washing machines all the way across the Camino now.
If you use a washer, soap is almost always provided.
If you are hand washing, you can buy a bar of Fels Naptha or some other clothes washing bar, and cut it into halves or thirds to carry. You can also buy something similar in Spain.
Here is an older post I wrote on this topic:
Doing Laundry on the Camino
I've had a few folks ask about doing laundry while on the Camino. I think I've blogged this before. But I can't find it so her...caminosantiago2.blogspot.com
My previous wanderings have not been on popular routes, although I will soon be braving the crowds. I am usually washing my clothes in a bucket or a sink. If a machine is available I will use it.There are washing machines all the way across the Camino now.
If you use a washer, soap is almost always provided.
If you are hand washing, you can buy a bar of Fels Naptha or some other clothes washing bar, and cut it into halves or thirds to carry. You can also buy something similar in Spain.
Here is an older post I wrote on this topic:
Doing Laundry on the Camino
I've had a few folks ask about doing laundry while on the Camino. I think I've blogged this before. But I can't find it so her...caminosantiago2.blogspot.com
I too am a fan of Wilderness Wash. I believe I used the 50 ml size on the CF and still had some left over. I try to hand wash most days, except when I get lazy for a couple of days and know that there's bound to be a washer/dryer up ahead (in which case I used whatever detergent was available). With Wilderness Wash being water-based, I can't help but think that the sheets and powders could be a lighter-weight solution, but at 50 ml I didn't sweat that too much.We tried the Travelon sheets and you did need several for a load. The biggest drawback was trying to pull out a sheet with slightly wet hands. We switched back to Sea To Summit Wilderness Wash, which we’ve used on backpacking/camping trips for years. One capful for a sink load.
I haven’t been able to find the bar laundry soap in Spain - but the photos you posted might help. I am also trying to find a bar of scented soap suitable for body and hair.There are washing machines all the way across the Camino now.
If you use a washer, soap is almost always provided.
If you are hand washing, you can buy a bar of Fels Naptha or some other clothes washing bar, and cut it into halves or thirds to carry. You can also buy something similar in Spain.
Here is an older post I wrote on this topic:
Doing Laundry on the Camino
I've had a few folks ask about doing laundry while on the Camino. I think I've blogged this before. But I can't find it so her...caminosantiago2.blogspot.com
The best bar for hair and body is a shampoo bar.I am also trying to find a bar of scented soap suitable for body and hair.
I have had success by using a small bottle of liquid Tide . It’s surprising how little you need for a basin of washing, don’t use too much or it’s hard to rinse . I had a 5-6 oz bottle and never ran out , even sharing with othersI have 1 item I would like advice on:
1. Laundry detergent--clothes are washed almost daily and for two people hiking 14 days, that will be approximately 26 separate sinks of clothes. I found a possible light weight solution. Has anyone had any experience with Travelon laundry soap sheets? They come in a little, extremely light container of 50. I do understand that for a sink load I would need to use possibly four or five sheets at a time.
TIA
I agree! Shampoo works really well for hand washing, and the harsher, cheap stuff sold in albergues or free in budget hotels is particularly good at it. (Fancy hotels often have fancier toiletries.) Personally, I prefer to use other things on my hair and body, but for my stinky and sweaty clothes, no problem.I used a bit of my shampoo to wash clothes. They came out very clean, even managed to get out a wine stain from a leaky cup at the wine fountain. Shampoo also worked well for washing my body in the shower. It solved the problem dealing with messy bars of soap. Many albergues sell small bottles of shampoo for a Euro or so. Just a little bit is all you need for washing clothes.
I found shampoo doesn’t rinse out very wellI agree! Shampoo works really well for hand washing, and the harsher, cheap stuff sold in albergues or free in budget hotels is particularly good at it. (Fancy hotels often have fancier toiletries.) Personally, I prefer to use other things on my hair and body, but for my stinky and sweaty clothes, no problem.
Although it means carrying a tiny bit of liquid, I think this would work well for the Camino. Check those bottles for how well they seal up. Some are probably not reliable.
Use less. Whatever detergent I use when hand washing, I use very little. It doesn’t have to make suds. Seems to work just as well, and it rinses out much more easily.I found shampoo doesn’t rinse out very well
I just used plain water. Not like I spent time working on car engines or playing in mud. Water was sufficient.I have 1 item I would like advice on:
1. Laundry detergent--clothes are washed almost daily and for two people hiking 14 days, that will be approximately 26 separate sinks of clothes. I found a possible light weight solution. Has anyone had any experience with Travelon laundry soap sheets? They come in a little, extremely light container of 50. I do understand that for a sink load I would need to use possibly four or five sheets at a time.
TIA
I don't have an issue with a shampoo bar - but yes - sometimes liquid shampoo takes extra rinsing.I found shampoo doesn’t rinse out very well
That's why I like the Breezeo laundry detergent strips - they get the clothes clean without making a lot of suds that you have to rinse, and rinse, and rinse. I bring enough strips to handwash my clothes daily, and they weigh about an ounce.Use less. Whatever detergent I use when hand washing, I use very little. It doesn’t have to make suds. Seems to work just as well, and it rinses out much more easily.
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