Wash Clothes In Your Sink Like A Pro
If you are travelling for more than a week, it will be smarter and more practical to wash your clothes so that you can wear them more than once. This means more luggage space and less clothes to pack. In this guide, we will teach you how to wash clothes in a sink! This is one of the most popular ways for travelers to keep their wardrobe fresh and clean. Let's get started.
Supplies Needed to hand wash clothes in sink:
- Towel
- Clothes that need to be washed
- Tub or sink
- Dish washing liquid or mild detergent (you may also use the hotel soap if you are in a pinch)
Wash the sink
Other soap already present in the sink (such as facial wash) might bleach your colored clothes. There might also be other chemicals that you don't know about coating the sink.
Clean the sink first with warm soapy water. After a good rinse, you are ready to start doing your laundry!
How to wash a shirt and underwear
- 1- Separate colored from white fabric To simplify this process, just avoid bringing white clothes when you travel. This saves you time in doing laundry since you don't have to worry about this step in the first place.
- 2- Fill the tub or sink with warm water. Use the sink stopper to plug the sink. If your lodging doesn't have a sink stopper, you may use a rolled up sock to prevent the water from draining. Make sure the collected water is warm to the touch.
- 3- Add some drops of dish washing liquid or mild detergent.
- 4- Add your clothes in the sink and swirl them around with your hand. You may also use your hands to scrub the clothes together for the extra tough stains. Apply as much detergent is needed. For underwear, gently scrub the fabric with your hands.
- 5- Soak your clothes. It takes an average of 5 minutes for most clothes. Feel free to replace the water if it's too dirty. For more dirty loads, let the clothes soak for about 30 minutes. It is also recommended for underwear to be soaked for about 30 minutes as compared to regular shirts.
- 6- Fully drain the sink and rinse the clothes under the tap. The water has to be cool when rinsing. Once the water is not cloudy anymore, you are finished with rinsing the shirts and underwear.
- 7- Let your clothes dry by putting them flatly on top of the towel. You can do this in your bed. Roll the towel very tightly. The towel will absorb the extra water. You can also hang your clothes outside if your lodging allows it, but make sure that there is enough space in between the clothes. This will allow the air to flow through the wet fabrics. If you are in a rush, use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process of your freshly washed shirts and underwear. Do not wring or squeeze bras. Simply hang them to dry.
Bonus tip:
If you need more than one sink for you to wash all of your clothes and underwear, you may opt to use a bucket or a thick giant plastic bag to do your laundry.
Now, thanks to our article, doing laundry in hotel sink is no longer a problem for you.
But remember that in some hotels, guests are not recommended to wash in the sinks and hang things in the room, this may go against the rules of the hotel. The main reason is that some travelers make a mess in the bathroom, creating extra work for the maids. It is also associated with possible damage.
Other reasons may be water conservation, excess moisture that damages the walls, hygiene, and clogged pipes. Hotels with their own laundry in this way want to encourage guests to use their services.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What techniques and tips can travelers use to effectively wash clothes in a sink, especially while traveling?
- Techniques include using mild detergent, gentle hand-washing, thorough rinsing, and effective wringing. Tips for better results include not over-soaping, using warm water, and ensuring proper drying conditions.
