RV travel gives you the means to see new places, meet new friends, and enjoy nature's beauty. It's fun to be in your happy place and loving the freedom of it all. While you can leave many of the stresses and duties of everyday life behind, one thing that doesn't leave you is the need for clean clothes. Sometimes the need can be even greater depending on what outdoor activities you do on your travel adventures.
Its not one of the exciting things about going on RV trips, but no matter where you are there will always be laundry to do. Unless you are just out for a short trip, you most likely will have to manage getting everyone's clothing clean at least once during your travels. While it's not complicated, here are some tips and tricks that might help you keep up with those dirty clothes.
Guest Post By Robin Buck
Campground Laundry Room:
The good news is that most campgrounds have a laundry facility for guests to use. We have seen larger campgrounds with 10-20 machines and some smaller campgrounds with only a few machines. The trick to using campground laundry rooms is finding a time when everyone else is not also trying to do their laundry. Avoid evenings and weekends if you can because they are often the busiest times.
We collect our quarters in a jar and save them for doing laundry. Laundry machines can cost anywhere from $1.00 to $3.00 per load, depending on location. Some campgrounds have change machines but oftentimes they can be empty or not working. There are even a few laundry rooms that take credit cards for the machines as an alternative to cash.
In your RV you will need some place to keep your dirty clothes, whether a laundry basket or fabric hamper. We have found that a fabric bag that hangs on a hook in the bathroom takes up less space in the RV and makes transporting clothes to and from the laundry room easier. We keep a separate small tote bag to hold laundry detergent, fabric softener, and hangers. I really like using dryer balls too--they help to fluff laundry and enable it to dry quicker.
RV Washer and Dryer:
If your RV has a washer and dryer then you are lucky to have the option of doing laundry inside your RV. You might have a separate washer and dryer or maybe a combo unit that does both functions. Our motorhome has both machines which makes it very convenient to do laundry. We don't have to leave the RV which is especially nice if the weather is cold or rainy.
If your RV doesn't have its own washer and dryer, you might be able to modify it to add them. There are different brands and styles out there with many unique features available. Of particular note, our washer uses cold water and heats it up, which means we don't have to use diesel or propane. It also has different cycles to choose from and senses the load size, so we can conserve water. Of course, you should follow the manufacturer's directions for your specific brand and type of washer and dryer.
Most RV washers and even many newer home washers now use HE detergent, which requires much less detergent. Be careful not to use too much or you could have suds everywhere! Also, if you are not connected to a sewer with a grey tank drain open, you will need to manage your grey tank levels during laundry use. We know our washer fills about 15% of the grey tank per load and plan accordingly.
One downside of doing laundry in your RV is that the machines are usually smaller than conventional ones. We have to wash smaller loads at a time. Therefore, we do laundry more often, so it doesn't pile up. The dryer is smaller as well and takes a little longer to dry each load. This is where those dryer balls really help. Keeping your dryer vent clean is an important safety tip to avoid lint buildup and possible fire hazard.
While it's convenient to be able to do laundry in our RV, sometimes its nice to be able to do multiple loads all at once. Especially when I have larger loads to do like sheets and towels, I will use the campground facilities. Some campgrounds even have an extra-large machine or two for oversized items. If that is the case, I take advantage of the ability to wash a comforter or blanket if needed. Whenever the campground has a fitness room, we like to kill two birds with one stone and get a workout in while doing laundry.
Laundromat:
If you are boondocking or your campground doesn't have a laundry room, finding a laundromat in town is your best bet. Because they are typically large facilities, you can do multiple loads at a time and use their larger machines for oversized items. The drawback to this option is having to drive to the location and wait while the laundry is done. Still, it's great to get all of your loads of laundry done in about an hour!
Other tips:
In a pinch, you can always wash out a few items (like my husband's sweaty gym clothes!) in your RV sink until a laundry option is available. Most campgrounds do not allow hanging laundry outside on a clothesline, but you can buy a foldable drying rack to set up inside your RV bathroom. This could also be an option to save money on dryers at the laundry room.
Another thing we do to help manage laundry on the road is to reuse items that are not really dirty or stinky. If you just wear something for a little while or when you aren't doing anything strenuous, you can hang the items up to air out and use them again. Since we don't have as many clothes in the RV as we would at home, this helps us conserve and get the most use we can out of each item. My husband will also wear a t-shirt under his dress/polo shirts so they can be reused. Hang up or neatly fold anything you might use again to keep it looking good and unwrinkled.
While it is a task that must be done, getting your RV laundry clean is easily manageable when you know your options. Whether you use the campground facilities, a laundromat, or your RV, keeping up with laundry while you are on the road makes life easier. No piles of dirty laundry will get in the way and take up valuable space in the RV--and a clean RV makes you feel good as you are traveling. If you keep on top of it, you will always have a good choice of clean clothing to wear when you are ready to go out or explore. Best of all, you can focus on enjoying your RV adventures.
Robin and her husband, Mike, are Air Force veterans and empty nesters who travel full-time in their Entegra Anthem motorhome. Always ready to explore, they love nature and wildlife, meeting new friends, and discovering America's many hidden gems. Robin chronicles their adventures and experiences on her travel blog RVing with Robin.
