How to Do Laundry in a Hotel Room, According to a Pro

Frequent travelers know that there is an exact science to packing. There’s the perfect number of underwear to bring, hacks for packing for short trips, hacks for packing for long trips, and everything in between. But things happen. Drinks are spilled. You end up caught in a rainstorm, or you want to extend your stay. When all that happens, you’re going to have to do laundry. And sometimes, that’s just not something that’s offered by your hotel. Fear not. We, along with Matt O’Connor, co-founder and CEO of NoScrubs, a delivery laundry service provider, are here to help you do laundry right in your hotel bathroom. 

First, make sure to pack the right soap. 

The best way to overcome travel accidents is to always be prepared. That includes packing just a little soap before you go. “Bring concentrated liquid detergent in a small travel bottle—it’s easier to rinse out than powder,” O’Connor said. “Dr. Bronner’s or Woolite works well for hand washing. You can skip fabric softener. This just adds rinse cycles you don’t need.” 

Then, put it all in the shower. 

You may be tempted to try the sink, but, as O’Connor explained, the water pressure there just isn’t right. “The shower wins—there’s better water pressure for rinsing and built-in drainage. You can use the tub if available and the sink as a last resort.” Fill the tub with warm water, toss in your clothes, and the detergent. “Agitate by hand for two to three minutes and then let it soak for 10-15 minutes,” O’Connor said. Afterward, rinse thoroughly, as the soap residue will make clothes stiff.” Lastly, roll the clothing in a towel to extract as much water as possible before hanging them to finish drying. 

Then, take things to a professional level. 

O’Connor shared a few pro tips, including packing a travel clothesline if you know you’ll be doing laundry mid-trip, and to wash your underwear and socks each night instead of having to do big loads of laundry. But if you really, really want to avoid doing any work, O’Connor said you can always bring things to a professional. “Reality Check: Hotel laundry is tedious and time-consuming,” he said. “For longer trips or business travel, local laundry services often cost less than your time is worth.” 

The one thing you shouldn’t do? Use the hotel’s kettle or coffee pot. For one, the hot water can wreak havoc on your clothes, and secondly, it’s gross for the people staying in the hotel room after you. The shower will do just fine, we promise.