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What do you do about dirty clothes?

Claybe
Explorer
Explorer
We are on our first trip that is longer that 5 days. We will be gone for 10-12 days and haven't had this issue before. What do you do with your dirty clothes? Seems like a weird question I guess but...
1. Where do you put your dirty clothes? It seems like there is no logical place to hang our dirty clothes bag (we have the C with the bed in the back corner) and there isn't anywhere to build a hamper???
2. Do you wash your clothes? Where and how often? We are not staying at any campgrounds with these facilities and won't go to a laundry mat.
58 REPLIES 58

mlts22
Explorer
Explorer
My two cents:

For short trips, the clothes go into a set of mesh laundry bags. One bag for undies and towels, one bag for light clothes, one for medium, one for darks. They come home, and get washed.

For medium trips, same as above, and I hit a laundromat. I first wash stuff I don't care about, then the undies and towels (twice with bleach), which cleans out the washer. Then, follow up with the medium and then the dark clothes. This helps mitigate things in case the previous user of the washer used it for their pets.

For boondocking trips, out comes the five gallon bucket, the Bronner's soap, and the plunger. The advantage of this method is that I can wash the clothes, and then toss the water from the bucket outside, as opposed to having it occupy space in the gray water tank. To dry the clothes, in colder weather, I put them over a floor vent and aim a Vornado fan on them. In warmer weather, I hang them in my truck, crack the windows and let the greenhouse effect dry them.

Of course, one technique I've seen used, is in scenarios where one doesn't have enough water or whatnot for doing laundry. Stick the clothes to be worn again in the freezer overnight. When I was in college, I had a foreign exchange student who was proud of the fact that he never washed his jeans throughout the entire college term, and when they started to smell, he would just stick them in the freezer.

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
DaCrema wrote:
To tide me over ....
good one
DaCrema wrote:
... so partly dry clothes (not dripping) can hang over the bed and other open areas in the rv.
I rarely use the dryer. I prefer the front-loader washers (if I can find them) because they spin clothes much drier than the old agitator top loaders. And I don't have to worry about an off-balance spin stop either.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

DaCrema
Explorer
Explorer
I did not read through all the answers so I am likely duplicating.
about once a week to 10 days I visit a KOA or like campground that has washing machines. I will do the laundry and other tasks that are nice to do when there are full hookups (and maybe wifi). To tide me over I will wash clothes in the sink and use the shower as a drying area. If there are a lot of clothes (rarely) do the clothes in stages so partly dry clothes (not dripping) can hang over the bed and other open areas in the rv.

Dakzuki
Explorer
Explorer
phillyg wrote:
Throw out the dirty and buy some new ones is one plan.


This is not as much of a joke as one would think. When we were going on a month long trip my wife had saved up the undies she was going to toss. During the trip they were worn once and disposed of along the way.
2011 Itasca Navion 24J
2000 Chev Tracker Toad

Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Explorer
I'm a single male RVer. My wardrobe consists of jeans and colored T shirts for a load of colors and white socks and underwear for a load of whites. I buy a book that I want to read before leaving home, and read while I'm in the Laundromat. Works for me.
Retired and visiting as much of this beautiful country as I can.

Mocoondo
Explorer II
Explorer II
Shorter trips...black trash bag.

Longer trips...visit to the laundromat.

garmp
Explorer II
Explorer II
I find it hard to believe that no one else has commented on the Drumi as posted earlier. Just imagine a tent with a washing machine boon docking it.
I find it hilarious. Why not. What's next?
Our 2351D Phoenix Cruiser, Jack, has turned us from campers into RVers and loving it!

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
tenbear wrote:
Stopped washers and dryers full of clothes are not well tolerated by campers who are waiting for an available machine..
I know that, so I'm very careful about timing my arrival 1-3 minutes before the machine stops. The newer machines all have minutes displays on them.

I remember a time when the room was busy and the only available machine stopped. I was patient for about 5 minutes before I unloaded it and started my wash. Lady arrived a few minutes later and got pretty upset with me. Perhaps I should have put them in the dryer for her.

EDIT: I also think that 'some' older women have a hard time understanding what a MAN is doing in laundromat in the first place!! ๐Ÿ™‚
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

tenbear
Explorer
Explorer
2oldman wrote:
tenbear wrote:
.. campground laundry room. She says its a great place to visit with others ...
It is, but it's one thing I won't do: sit and wait for my clothes - as if someone wanted to steal my clothes.

Sitting around and waiting for your clothes is not a bad idea in a crowded laundry room. People will take your clothes out of the machine when the machine stops and pile them up somewhere so they can start their washing. Stopped washers and dryers full of clothes are not well tolerated by campers who are waiting for an available machine.
Sitting around and guarding your clothes is something else.
Class C, 2004/5 Four Winds Dutchman Express 28A, Chevy chassis
2010 Subaru Impreza Sedan
Camped in 45 states, 7 Provinces and 1 Territory

Kit_Carson
Explorer
Explorer
We use a collapsible mesh laundry hamper. I place it on the drivers seat of the class c when parked. When it gets full, we go to the laundromat. Works for us.
KIT CARSON
GOOD SAM LIFE MEMBER
USAF VETERAN
ARS: KE5VLE
NORTHWEST LOUISIANA

Claybe
Explorer
Explorer
Have any of you used the portable washing machine that you can find at camping world?

FULLTIMEWANABE
Explorer
Explorer
We have an onboard washer/dryer but tend to store in a laundry basket and if boon docking once every 10 days or thereabouts go to a laundry matt and wash sheets, towels etc all at once with 3 machines going = takes about 40 mins to hour tops.

Also I tend to hand wash a few small items and hang. Besides the Bucket With Lid Slosh around trick, get a NEW Toilet Plunger, and use that in the bucket of clothes and soapy water and it'll clean your clothes in a jiffy!! Same with rinse water. Works a treat when we are out in the wilds and we then create very few dirty clothes to store.

Of course we could all take a leaf out of Adam & Eve's or Tarzan's book and wear just a loin cloth (LMFAO). Was actually thinking something else here but decided to abstain the fingers on keyboard.

Happy Travels.
It Takes No More Effort To Aim High Than To Aim Low - Reach For The Stars

lots2seeinmyrv
Explorer
Explorer
Drop them off at the dry cleaners if you do not want to use a laundry mat. Some have same day...or next day turnaround service.

I don't like laundry mats either. Seen...and smelled...some disgusting stuff people put in those washers and dryers.

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
tenbear wrote:
.. campground laundry room. She says its a great place to visit with others ...
It is, but it's one thing I won't do: sit and wait for my clothes - as if someone wanted to steal my clothes.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

tenbear
Explorer
Explorer
We keep the dirty clothes in a storage area under the bed. DW does a washing about once a week, usually at a campground laundry room. She says its a great place to visit with others and find out what is ahead on a long trip, like to Alaska.
Class C, 2004/5 Four Winds Dutchman Express 28A, Chevy chassis
2010 Subaru Impreza Sedan
Camped in 45 states, 7 Provinces and 1 Territory