Bob Hummel
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- April 2017
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Hello All!
A question regarding washing your clothes while on the Camino... Is it best to use some kind of mesh bag, and just throw your bag into the machine? (I assume there are machines)
And would doing so be better if you share a machine with other Pilgrims?
Can you recommend a particular bag that you know works well?
Thank you!
Bob
You can always hang a few items from your pack to dry as you walk.As a fast walker i hand wash daily and plenty of time to dry but if you arrive late you are in trouble.
You can always hang a few items from your pack to dry as you walk.
I have always done my laundry like this. It's amazing how much water you get out by walking on your clothes.I have mentioned this great tip before, and it is worth another mention.
A quick-dry towel dries MUCH faster than socks and some underwear. I strongly recommend AFTER wringing your items, put them in the towel, and roll them up. Step, step, step on that towel with items rolled up inside.
It will remove a lot of the moisture.
Next, wash your towel. Voile!
I am a pro at the washing and drying thing.
Hello All!
A question regarding washing your clothes while on the Camino... Is it best to use some kind of mesh bag, and just throw your bag into the machine? (I assume there are machines)
And would doing so be better if you share a machine with other Pilgrims?
Can you recommend a particular bag that you know works well?
Thank you!
Bob
You can always hang a few items from your pack to dry as you walk.
+1 on CaminoDebrita using the towel to remove excess water after washing.
I'm going to take some of those binder clips next time. I brought a ton of safety (diaper/nappy) pins, but they don't work very well when the clothesline slopes.Daily, for shirt, undies & socks.
In the above order they get 30 kneads each in 1/3rd basin of warm or cold water, with a dash of shampoo. Then wrung out.
Then 30 rinse-kneads in 1/3 basin water. Wrung out again.
Wrung out again in interior of a towel if so desired.
One of the reasons I start and finish early is to catch and employ/enjoy a couple of hours of late warm drying sunshine.
Trousers/shorts get their own basinful as it is required less often.
I use 'bulldog' paper clips instead of pegs. 6 little ones live on the back of my pack.
Regards
Gerard
Just ensure you get some reasonably sized ones you can work ok with your fingers. The very tiny ones can be quite tough on the fingers and therefore too fiddly.I'm going to take some of those binder clips next time.
The Scrubba bag holds 3 US gallons, or 11.35 liters, so I thought that I'd get a dry bag about the same size.Just ensure you get some reasonably sized ones you can work ok with your fingers. The very tiny ones can be quite tough on the fingers and therefore too fiddly.
Blimey, I am getting fussy now aren't I Trecile?
Regards
Gerard
Makes sense. My knead/squeeze routine has always seemed to work quickly and well for me alto quite a few folks use the bags. I guess I see it as just another thing to carry.The Scrubba bag holds 3 US gallons, or 11.35 liters, so I thought that I'd get a dry bag about the same size.
Please don't start your washing in the shower. This will make for a longer shower while othere may be waiting in line for a shower, and you will be using more hot water. Get in, get out, 2 minutes, do your washing in the dedicated wash basin, even if they only have cold water.I think that I could start the process while I'm in the shower. As I remove my clothes I can just put them in the bag, squirt in some soap and fill it with warm water from the shower. The clothes can then "pre-soak" while I shower.
I don't plan on spending much extra time with the clothes. I can probably fill the bag while I'm waiting for the water to heat up. The only place where I wouldn't want to use this method would be at Orisson with their timed showers. I honestly never experienced much of a wait for the showers at the albergues when I walked. I did experience longer waits for the clothes washing basins.Please don't start your washing in the shower. This will make for a longer shower while othere may be waiting in line for a shower, and you will be using more hot water. Get in, get out, 2 minutes, do your washing in the dedicated wash basin, even if they only have cold water.
Hello All!
A question regarding washing your clothes while on the Camino... Is it best to use some kind of mesh bag, and just throw your bag into the machine? (I assume there are machines)
And would doing so be better if you share a machine with other Pilgrims?
Can you recommend a particular bag that you know works well?
Thank you!
Bob
There are Few Machines available And even if you dry many are not vented. I found my clothes dried outside faster. Although I walked in spring/summer and weather was good. You tend to wash outside with scrub board and sink and hang.Hello All!
A question regarding washing your clothes while on the Camino... Is it best to use some kind of mesh bag, and just throw your bag into the machine? (I assume there are machines)
And would doing so be better if you share a machine with other Pilgrims?
Can you recommend a particular bag that you know works well?
Thank you!
Bob
Thank you for asking this question - it has led me to read all the posts on the washing subject and I am firming up action plan!Hello All!
A question regarding washing your clothes while on the Camino... Is it best to use some kind of mesh bag, and just throw your bag into the machine? (I assume there are machines)
And would doing so be better if you share a machine with other Pilgrims?
Can you recommend a particular bag that you know works well?
Thank you!
Bob
This makes a lot of sense and I will certainly apply it to my socks particularlyI have mentioned this great tip before, and it is worth another mention.
A quick-dry towel dries MUCH faster than socks and some underwear. I strongly recommend AFTER wringing your items, put them in the towel, and roll them up. Step, step, step on that towel with items rolled up inside.
It will remove a lot of the moisture.
Next, wash your towel. Voile!
I am a pro at the washing and drying thing.
I like this advice. Will one bar/cake of soap be enough for 30 days - I looked at the web site and Dr Brunner soap is sold here in Australia in 5oz/140g size AND is it truly good as a soap for hair, body and clothes. ThanksNothing against washing machines, but I've rarely used them on my two caminos. I just hand wash with Dr. Bronner's soap (and that mainly means soaking for a minute, not lots of scrubbing. Quick-dry clothing will dry over night most of the time, and socks will dry every other day even if it's damp outside. I use a mesh bag to carry damp clothes tied to my pack for air drying. Aside from socks, most things can be put on a bit damp and will dry quickly on your body.
This works well if the bag is closed. The heat from your body helps them to dry, and much of the moisture is exhausted from the bag. I have used this method on multiple canoe trips in Quetico, but only for a few days in a row. Repeating this cycle on a daily basis without letting the bag dry completely can become a problem.During some wet weather in April '16 I found that by putting my 'not quite dry' socks & undies in my sleeping bag with me overnight, they dried out completely by the next day.
Honestly I'd suggest trying to get a block of Savon de Marseilles (two if you're walking longer than just the Francès or if you're particularly meticulous ; three is in any case overkill) -- the Casino supermarket chain in France, in its larger shops, in the South anyway, does sometimes have the decent non-industrial variety on sale at non-tourist prices (ie €2 or thereabouts). It triple-tasks as body soap, shampoo, and clothing detergent. There are Lavender and Olive Oil scented versions.
My French Wife tells me it's a very good and common soap in France.Do you carry this in a Ziploc bag? How do you keep it from turning into a slushy mess (or is it substantially different than Ivory?)
Thanks!
Hello All!
A question regarding washing your clothes while on the Camino... Is it best to use some kind of mesh bag, and just throw your bag into the machine? (I assume there are machines)
And would doing so be better if you share a machine with other Pilgrims?
Can you recommend a particular bag that you know works well?
Thank you!
Bob
Hi I've walked the Camino twice, and each time I have hand washed my guick dry clothes with my shower gel and hang them on the line, be dry that evening, no problem. Enjoy your Way, Bueno CaminoPlease don't start your washing in the shower. This will make for a longer shower while othere may be waiting in line for a shower, and you will be using more hot water. Get in, get out, 2 minutes, do your washing in the dedicated wash basin, even if they only have cold water.
No problem for you, but what about for the ones you may have left with cold water only?Hi I've walked the Camino twice, and each time I have hand washed my guick dry clothes with my shower gel and hang them on the line, be dry that evening, no problem. Enjoy your Way, Bueno Camino
I didn't say I washed them in the shower, only I used shower gel to wash my clothes in the sink. Only need to carry one item. Paul Bueno CaminoHi I've walked the Camino twice, and each time I have hand washed my guick dry clothes with my shower gel and hang them on the line, be dry that evening, no problem. Enjoy your Way, Bueno Camino
You are right, my appologies. Since I don't bring soap nor shampoo, only conditioner, I need to bring something for my clothes. Only one item.I didn't say I washed them in the shower, only I used shower gel to wash my clothes in the sink. Only need to carry one item. Paul Bueno Camino
Travel light, my first Camino I had a haversack that weighted 8k, my second I got it down to 6k and it was great, I'm back again late September can't say I'll get it much lighter, take care PaulYou are right, my appologies. Since I don't bring soap nor shampoo, only conditioner, I need to bring something for my clothes. Only one item.
We cut a bar of soap in half to reduce weight and just bought more as we needed. It was easy and fun to buy good soap in Spain even in the smaller villages provided, of course, the shop was open.I like this advice. Will one bar/cake of soap be enough for 30 days - I looked at the web site and Dr Brunner soap is sold here in Australia in 5oz/140g size AND is it truly good as a soap for hair, body and clothes. Thanks
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