Washing clothes while travelling in a motorhome

When travelling by motorhome, be prepared to pack light, with only the essentials to enjoy more space in the motorhome. 

Often when travelling, washing clothes does not even cross our minds since finding a washing machine is not always an easy task. Here are some of the options available for washing clothes quickly and easily, so that it is not a concern when your hire a campervan.

Some of the options that you have are the following:

Campsites

Most campsites have clothes washing areas for guests staying in the facility. They usually have more than one washing machine and in some cases, they have a tumble dryer. Most work with coins or payment is made at reception, they are self-service and work 24 hours a day, so they can be used at any time and without the help of campsite staff. 

This is the most convenient option since you don’t have to think about washing or using the motorhome to wash clothes. Many campsites have liquid detergent and fabric softener available for purchase, so you don’t have to bring it yourself. It’s always a good idea to check the campground website for the facilities available at the campsite to make sure you don’t need to take your own detergent. 

Launderettes

This may be the best available option when campsites do not have clothes washing facilities. One reason this is the best option is that all launderettes have tumble dryers, which is not common in campsites. They can be found in all towns and cities and offer a fast and convenient way to do your laundry.

Laundrettes cost, on average, between €8/6£ and €20/17£. Many people do not want to dry their clothes there, so there is always the option of drying them in the motorhome. One of the best tips is to take a small clothes hamper that is easy to store. Keep the motorhome clean and tidy, to take advantage of the maximum possible space. This is the best option, especially in summer, when clothes dry in a matter of hours. In winter, it’s easier to use a tumble dryer.

Washing inside the van

This may be the least popular option for cleaning your clothes on the road. Here are some different places inside the motorhome where you can do laundry.

• Sink: With laundry soap, fill the sink with water, and leave the clothes in soapy water for 20-30 minutes, then rinse them well and put them outside to dry.

• A special washing bag: One of the best utensils for washing clothes is a clothes washing bag. Put soap and water inside the bag and rub it against a rough surface for 3-4 minutes. Then, take out the dirty water and clothes and put them back in with water to do a manual spin.

• Basin: Another option is to take a small or medium basin that won’t take up too much space inside the motorhome. This can be done outside the motorhome. Simply fill it with hot soapy water and add the clothes. Rinse well and hang on a washing line with pegs.

Finally, to dry the clothes inside the motorhome would be to take a small clothes horse so that it dries better. If this option is not practical, simply take some rope and pegs to quickly make a washing line. Choose the sunniest time of day to hang the clothes to dry.

When washing clothes, it’s important to consider the environment. Use a proper waste water disposal area to get rid of the soapy water, as simply dumping it anywhere can cause damage to the surrounding environment. Here some soap examples that are good for the environment.

About the Author

Sabrina Riechers