Sink plugs?

[Ladielle]

When you want to wash your clothes in hand, do the sinks in the bathrooms or in designated areas in albergues (esp. camino de norte) have plugs?

 

[C clearly]

Sometimes. I just use a sock and take on the challenge of trying to wash things before the sink drains.

 

[Ladielle]

Thank you. I have a universal rubber plug that I take everywhere, so I will take it with me again. It is small and light.

 

[J Willhaus]

Many albergues will have a laundry sink and usually some plastic tubs stacked nearby about the size of a foot bath. You should fill a plastic tub and wash your laundry in that. If you are at a hotel, etc. you may not have a vessel for washing.
edit: this allows for more than one person to wash at a time.

 

[henrythedog]

When you want to wash your clothes in hand, do the sinks in the bathrooms or in designated areas in albergues (esp. camino de norte) have plugs?

Very rarely. Take your own - or a 4” circle of rubber which does pretty much the same job.

 

[Former member 92300]

I found most places had a sink outside (or somewhere) - and many had basins that you could fill with water and do your laundry in the basin instead of a sink. No plug? I just gave a really good scrub and rinse. Did a better wash the next day.

 

[Sheesh]

I know you specifically asked about albergues but, just fyi, private rooms in hotels, casa rurals, pensions, etc often do not have a plug for the bathroom sink. I carry a flat suction stopper that weighs 20 grams for my private stays. You can use a sock stuffed in the drain of course but, as C Clearly said, it is challenging to complete the task before the water drains.

 

[Stroller]

A piece of plastic bag cut bigger than the hole works well, costs and weighs nothing

 

[Esperanza]

I used to carry one of those flat rubber discs, but have found that a wadded up plastic bag works perfectly, is basically zero weight, and I always have a few extras on hand. I do like to let things soak for a while to give the detergent time to do its work, so just rinsing isn’t worth the bother.

 

[Marbe2]

I tend to spot wash soiled areas first,which do not normally require lots of water. Except for a short sleeve shirt and a pair of ultralite base layer pants. I give everything a quick wash and rinse well because right now tree pollen is high and I am allergic. Most often I usually use my underwear around the drain as these are cotton and they afford-me sufficient time to wash several Items.

 

[chinacat]

A plug/rubber disc can also prevent contact lenses from disappearing down a hand basin plughole

 

[MarkA]

My laundry bag (a drawstring stuffsack):
block of laundry soap 125g
universal sink plug 10g
4 x plastic clothes pegs 25g

 

[Sweetbaboo]

When you want to wash your clothes in hand, do the sinks in the bathrooms or in designated areas in albergues (esp. camino de norte) have plugs?

I brought a wide lipped plug and used it maybe twice and was glad I had it.

 

[boski]

When you want to wash your clothes in hand, do the sinks in the bathrooms or in designated areas in albergues (esp. camino de norte) have plugs?

I carry a scruba

Scrubba Wash Bag | A portable washing machine for travel & camping.

A Scrubba wash bag is a pocket sized device for washing clothes anywhere, anytime for free. Perfect for traveling, camping, trekking, backpacking, on a cruise, tiny home living, when you're tight on space. Perhaps you're a minimalist? A Scrubba is great for reducing space, using less power...

thescrubba.com

I use it for dirty clothes when im not using it to wash. It can also be used as a dry bag. Pretty handy and multi use.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I always bring a flat, 4" rubber sink stopper purchased from the Dollar store, although I've only needed to use it a few times.

 

[lindam]

Thank you. I have a universal rubber plug that I take everywhere, so I will take it with me again. It is small and light.

You will not regret having it. I always pack mine and more often than not, it is needed for washing clothing and sometimes dishes. An insignificant weight penalty for a useful item.

 

[irrie]

I am on the camino frances right now and used my light universal plug a few times for handwashing. Am happy I brought it!

 

[howardd5]

When you want to wash your clothes in hand, do the sinks in the bathrooms or in designated areas in albergues (esp. camino de norte) have plugs?

A small circle of plastic makes a good plug. Even a 3 inch circle of a ziplock bag works great

 

[CarolamS]

After trying to hand-wash under a running tap I bought a travel plug. However I won't bring it next time as I never used it. I now use a drybag to soak my clothes in warm soapy water while I shower. It's easy to squish the items through the bag. I then rinse in a sink or in the bag if there's no plug. The drybag dries very quickly and is used to store my clean clothes.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

I injured myself carrying too much. 10g is definitely nothing...until it is put with too many other little nothings that have added several kg to total carry weight. The one thing I am most grateful for is learning from these wonderful Forum Members around us, is to make one thing do the job of and replace those many little things.

Once the carry list is made and accumulated, handle each piece, (it may seem useless to do but bear with it), determine in your mind what that piece can do beyond its main purpose. Look at a sock. We usually use one light and one heavy pair of socks per day. Heavy socks can, as previously mentioned, stop a drain or stand in as mitts if the wind gets too freezing. Light socks, wet or dry, can shield hands from the Sun, cushion the hands on walking poles...just imagine possibilities. Do this with everything. This is where reductions are made. Make less do more.

 

[Schamber]

Thank you. I have a universal rubber plug that I take everywhere, so I will take it with me again. It is small and light.

I take one too! I like baths in hotels and sometimes the plug doesn’t work!

 

[OBJ. i]

I usually carry some of the screw on caps from the litre / 1.5 lt fruit cartons or the like.

 

[Ladielle]

I injured myself carrying too much. 10g is definitely nothing...until it is put with too many other little nothings that have added several kg to total carry weight. The one thing I am most grateful for is learning from these wonderful Forum Members around us, is to make one thing do the job of and replace those many little things.

Once the carry list is made and accumulated, handle each piece, (it may seem useless to do but bear with it), determine in your mind what that piece can do beyond its main purpose. Look at a sock. We usually use one light and one heavy pair of socks per day. Heavy socks can, as previously mentioned, stop a drain or stand in as mitts if the wind gets too freezing. Light socks, wet or dry, can shield hands from the Sun, cushion the hands on walking poles...just imagine possibilities. Do this with everything. This is where reductions are made. Make less do more.

I sure get the point. I am piling things at the moment and will weigh everything next Monday and see (flying on Tuesday).
My intention is to get close to 5-6kg without water.

 

[ukjohn99]

When you want to wash your clothes in hand, do the sinks in the bathrooms or in designated areas in albergues (esp. camino de norte) have plugs?

I always carry a universal sink plug when I travel but I never needed it on the Camino.

 

[PJThomasJP]

A 10 cm square piece of a used inner tube is a light, universal sink plug.

 

[Vicki Brian Miller]

Thank you. I have a universal rubber plug that I take everywhere, so I will take it with me again. It is small and light.

We took a plug and it was one of the most used thing we took. We found quite a few albergues didn't have them and when we stayed in a hotel they had a bath but not a plug so it was a treasure to have a bath

 

[WilliamTee52]

Very rarely. Take your own - or a 4” circle of rubber which does pretty much the same job.

I found that the 4" circle of rubber was the most user friendly option.

 

[frank rawley]

I made this foam plug. Works on all sinks and is so light it would not even register on my gram scale.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I made this foam plug. Works on all sinks and is so light it would not even register on my gram scale.View attachment 123800

An elegant solution - well done!

 

[Sixwheeler]

Whenever you travel, anywhere, home or abroad, ALWAYS take a travel plug; it's the law.

I had a travel plug for about twenty years, always stayed in my washbag. It got perished and crumbled away so I chucked it; recently went to Morocco, lovely modernised riad but no plug; ah I said, I have a solution, reached in my washbag, remembered! Got a new one as soon as we got home. DOH!

 

[chinacat]

I made this foam plug. Works on all sinks and is so light it would not even register on my gram

I have a dense sponge in my home water filter jug … I’ll cut it to size!
Thanks!!!

Actually, the plug I always used to prevent my lenses from washing away was a lot lighter than a travel plug. It had holes in it, to allow the water to run through - but not the lens .. ultralight!!
… but as much use as a chocolate teapot for washing clothes …,

 

[Cynthia Gwynn]

I made this foam plug. Works on all sinks and is so light it would not even register on my gram scale.View attachment 123800

What is the diameter of this?

 

[Magpie9]

I had one and found it very useful for hotels and guesthouses (work travel) but didn't really use it much on the Frances. I think I forgot it in a sink somewhere and made one out of a cut up lid of a guacamole tub and it worked perfectly. I probably should have handwashed more but the people travelling at the same pace as me almost always did a machine wash and would ask if I had any things to pop in to fill up the load. Next time I will try the in shower method or a scrubba bag

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Whenever you travel, anywhere, home or abroad, ALWAYS take a travel plug; it's the law.

I had a travel plug for about twenty years, always stayed in my washbag. It got perished and crumbled away so I chucked it; recently went to Morocco, lovely modernised riad but no plug; ah I said, I have a solution, reached in my washbag, remembered! Got a new one as soon as we got home. DOH!

Made me smile to see you live in . . . Bath!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

What is the diameter of this?

A standard European hand basin needs a 38mm plug while bathtubs have a 42mm one. My old travel "sink stopper" will cover a 50mm hole.
Don't forget if you make it too big it will squidge into the hole - try a cookie cutter?

 

[frank rawley]

When you want to wash your clothes in hand, do the sinks in the bathrooms or in designated areas in albergues (esp. camino de norte) have plugs?

What is the diameter of this?

2 inch diameter

 

[Alan Baker]

Re: the aforementioned rubber disc. I went to my local discount store and got a silicon mat - it was about $2. I cut three discs -14 cm/5.5 in. It weighs 25g/.9 oz. It works great.

 

[frank rawley]

2 inch diameter

Many times they have no plug

 

[Old Kiwi]

I carry a universal sink plug. Nine out of ten places do not have plugs. I have lent it to a great number of pilgrims to wash their clothes. I have had this plug for over 20 years and used it many hundreds of times. It was $3.50 well spent.