Doing the washing is one of those everyday chores that cannot be avoided, even when travelling on the road. Despite popular belief, nomads and travellers are not stinky people who get around in dirty clothes!
Getting the washing done on the road while travelling Australia can be achieved in a variety of ways. Having a caravan or portable washing machine is a popular option. But many people prefer to use Caravan Park Laundries and Laundromats, or just simply hand-wash what they need.
How exactly do you keep on top of the laundry on the road (especially with kids)? Here are our tips for doing laundry in a Caravan, RV, Camper, or Motorhome while travelling.
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WASHING Laundry On The Road
Here are a few different options for actually washing your laundry while travelling on the road in a Caravan or RV.
On-board Washing Machine
When we were in our planning stages, we had a list of ‘Must Haves,’ which we armed ourselves with every time we went caravan shopping. For me, a Washing Machine was right at the top of that list! I knew that with living on the road being our lifestyle, rather than a holiday, it was an essential appliance to be able to keep on top of the family’s laundry.
We have a 3kg Sphere (eBay), which is a fully automatic washing machine. It’s brilliant! While a 3kg machine is much smaller than a household washer, I’m able to fit everything I need into it in the way of sheets, clothing, towels and doona covers. The only items that don’t fit in are big blankets and the doona inserts. When we do House Sitting and visit friends/ family, I make the most of their larger washing machines for our bulky blankets!
PROS
- Convenient – put the washing on and make yourself a cuppa!
- ‘Spin’ cycle, making the drying of your clothes quicker
- No need to cart the washing off to a Laundromat or laundry room
- FREE – no need to feed coins into your own machine
- Permanently set-up, making it super convenient
- Do washing anywhere, even out in the bush
CONS
- Smaller machine, which equals more loads
- May need to take into account water usage and power consumption when off-grid
- May need to plug into caravan park facilities if your set-up doesn’t have enough power/ water
- In-built machines can use a lot of water per load, unless you are wise and select your cycles manually (see video below)
NOTE: We don’t use the Rinse Cycle while Free Camping – it uses too much water. If something is visibly dirty, we pre-soak or rinse that item.
When we’re hooked up to mains water or have lots of water left in the tanks and are about to fill up again, I’ll rinse at those times. It all works out in the end.
The trick is to use a detergent with no fillers and crap, plus only use a dash of it – you don’t need much. That way, your clothes aren’t full of suds.
MYTH – On-board Washing Machines can only be used in Caravan Parks.
FACT – On-board Washing Machines can be used ANYWHERE if you’ve got an inverter and 12-volt power and water!
How to Use a Caravan Washing Machine Off-grid:
- POWER – Plug the washing machine into your 12v power supply through an inverter (minimum 250 watts required)
- WATER – Either use your tank water or fill the machine with a bucket of clean creek water
- WASH – Put the clothes through a single Wash cycle (skip the rinse cycles as they use too much water)
- SPIN – Manually select the Spin cycle to spin the clothes dry
- HANG – Hang outside on a washing line to dry
Portable Washing Machine
Many caravans and RVs do not come with built-in Washing Machines for doing your laundry. But don’t freak out, there is another way! With plenty of portable machines (eBay) on the market, you can still have wash days from the comfort of your caravan, camper or RV. It sure makes doing the laundry while travelling super convenient!
Of course, with a portable machine, you have to find somewhere to store the thing. Some people store their portable washers in the back of the car, while others prefer to store them in the shower, tunnel boot or even under the dining table. Each setup is different, so there is no perfect storage place for a standalone washing machine.
You still need to have enough water supply and power supply to run a portable washer. They can use anywhere from 20L – 60L + of water per load. Every electric washing machine will need to be plugged into 240-volt power or an Inverter of at least 350 watts upwards. Be sure to research before you buy!
PROS
- Very handy to have your own machine
- Free – eliminates laundromat fees
- Has a ‘spin’ cycle, which reduces drying time for your laundry
CONS
- Bulky
- Need to allocate space to store the machine
- Inconvenient when not permanently set-up
- Need to make sure you’ve got enough power and water to run it
Laundromat/ Caravan Park Laundry
Although not as convenient, another means of doing laundry on the road is by using Laundromats and public laundries.
Pretty well all Caravan Parks, many Showgrounds and even Transit Centres will have a laundry with coin-operated washing machines and dryers. These are a great way to pump through big loads of washing while on the road, as the machines are generally huge.
One general complaint of public washing machines is that people use them for pet blankets, meaning you could end up with your clothing covered in horse hair!
PROS
- Big machines – ability to wash larger quantities
- Dry your clothes as well – access to clothes dryers
CONS
- Coin operated – which adds to your travel budget
- Sharing machines – sometimes you’ll have to wait until there’s one free
- Inconvenient – you’ll be regularly sourcing out Laundromats on your travels, plus you’ll have to lug all of your washing and detergent in and out
- Time consuming – sitting around, waiting for the washing to finish
Scrubba Wash Bag
Have you ever heard of the Scrubba Wash Bag before? It has revolutionised doing laundry while travelling! The Scrubba Wash Bag is basically a strong wash bag with an internal wash board. It folds down to nothing and only needs a couple of litres of water. Doing laundry on the road is really made easy with this guy.
How a Scrubba Wash Bag Works:
- Put a small amount of laundry in the Scrubba Wash Bag
- Add water up to the appropriate line marked on the side
- Add a dash of laundry detergent
- Remove air from the bag, roll the top down and close with the clip
- Twist the valve to deflate any excess air in the bag
- Press down and rub the clothes along the internal wash board
- Continue for 30 seconds (quick wash) or 3 minutes (full wash)
- Unclip & unroll the seal, remove dirty water & laundry from the bag
- Rinse laundry if necessary with fresh water in the bag or under a tap
- Hang laundry to dry
PROS
- Compact
- Uses only a few litres of water
- Off-grid – requires no power
- Free – no coins necessary
CONS
- Requires manual washing
- No option for ‘spinning’ the clothes – hand ringing required
- Only small, so will take quite a few loads to get through a pile of washing
Bucket & Plunger
Back when we first hit the road, I had no idea that our washing machine would run through our inverter. I can tell you, it was a joyous day when I realised it could! So, before that time came, I was washing our clothes the old-fashioned way in a bucket.
My method was to use a 20L bucket with a lid. I’d put my clothes in, then a dash of detergent, then fill the bucket almost to the top with water. Then I’d pop the lid on and roll it back and forth on the ground until I’d had enough (about 2-3 minutes). I’d hand ring each item, then hang them on the line to dry.
Another way to wash laundry in a bucket is by using a plunger to agitate the items. You can stop the water spillage by drilling a hole in the lid, which sits on top of the bucket with the plunger handle poking out the top.
This method is effective, and I didn’t mind doing it at first, but it did get pretty old, pretty quickly! Doing laundry on the road needs to be simple, whether in a caravan or not.
PROS
- Takes up less space than a washing machine
- Off-grid – can use it anywhere without power
- Free – no need for coins here!
CONS
- Manual washing
- Can’t ‘spin dry’ your laundry, which makes for longer drying time
Agitation Barrel
Another really great way to do laundry on the road is to get yourself a Laundry Barrel. There are no specific products for this that I know of, but it’s basically a big bucket or barrel that is used to agitate your washing as you travel. Some people have a spot on their drawer bar or in the back of the car for the barrel to live.
Before you hit the road in the morning, put your washing, detergent and some water into a barrel or bucket with a lid. As you’re driving along, the movement of the vehicle agitates the washing. When you arrive at your destination, you’ve just got to remember to empty the water and hang the washing up to dry.
PROS
- Cheaper than a washing machine
- Can be convenient if there’s a permanent spot for your bucket/ barrel
- Free to do your laundry
- Off-grid
- No manual washing required
- A big barrel will hold more washing than a small bucket
CONS
- No ‘spin’ option for the drying
- Can be heavy or awkward to empty out the water
- Need to find a space to store it
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DRYING Laundry On The Road
The easiest way to dry laundry on the road or in a caravan is by using the free sun and wind power, which are available for free all around us most days.
Be aware that if you’re drying towels and clothing inside your caravan, you will have to keep an eye on humidity and condensation in the van, which can breed mould.
There is a range of different contraptions available on the market these days for actually hanging up your clothes to dry. Here are some handy options for those of us who are travelling around in caravans, campers and RVs.
Clothes Horse/ Airer
The good old Clothes Airers (eBay) are really easy to find from discount stores, departments stores and hardwares. You can usually pick one up from around $30 and they even fold flat.
PROS
- Folds flat
- Cheap to buy
- Easy to set-up
CONS
- Not stable in the wind – often topple over
- The flat, rectangular shape is sometimes difficult to store
- Not permanently set up
Portable Camping Clothesline
There’s a lot to like about these portable ‘Hills Hoist’ (eBay) style clotheslines, purposely designed for camping. They are readily available at camping stores like BCF and Anaconda, and even Aldi has them from time to time.
PROS
- Portable
- Easy to set-up
- Ability to peg the corners down on a windy day
CONS
- A bit clunky to cart around and store, depending on your storage space
- Have to set it up every time you do washing
Permanent Awning Clothesline
Many Caravaners are opting for a really basic, permanent clothesline these days. It’s very simple, with a few eyelets and some wire, which is attached to the awning arms, making doing laundry on the road so easy.
This is the style of clothesline that we’ve opted for as it’s permanently set up (provided the awning is out). It’s super handy and requires no space to store, as it’s simply attached to the awning arms.
PROS
- Permanently set-up
- Takes up no space
- Always under cover if the weather turns bad
CONS
- The awning needs to be out for this to be useful
Rope/ Pegless Clothesline
There’s a lot to be said about the good old rope tied to a tree (or whatever else is handy). A rope tucked in a drawer or cupboard takes up very little space and can be set up easily by anyone, anywhere! This old-fashioned way of doing laundry on the road is still just as timeless today.
A more modern version of the ‘rope to a tree’ is the Pegless Clothesline, which folds up very small and doesn’t require extra pegs on top of the clothesline.
PROS
- Very compact
- Can hang washing anywhere – even inside your van if need be
- Easy to set up
CONS
- Not permanently set-up
- Can’t always rely on a tree being in the right spot for attaching the rope
Smalls Hanger
These little smalls hangers (eBay) are so handy for hanging up all of those little items, like socks and underwear. Hanging out all of the little stuff takes up a lot of precious space on your clothesline, but this little guy saves heaps of space.
We recommend the metal ones, as they don’t perish in the sun like the plastic ones. Make sure it’s stainless steel so you don’t have to worry about rust.
PROS
- Saves space on your washing line
- Can easily hang them anywhere, even inside the van
CONS
- Can be a bit bulky to store
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TIPS For Reducing Laundry
- Ditch the PJ’s – sleep in your clothing for the next day
- Wash small loads, often
- Wear items more than once (unless visibly dirty or smelly)
- Put non-dirty items back in the drawer to save them ending up on the floor or in the dirty pile
- Use items of clothing that have a longer wear-life (example, jeans and skirts)
- Spot clean items that are only dirty on a small patch
- Air out items that don’t need a wash yet
Conclusion
– Onboard Washing Machine
– Portable Washing Machine
– Laundromat
– Caravan Park Laundry
– Scrubba Wash Bag
– Bucket & Plunger
– Agitation Barrel
– Clothes Horse/ Airer
– Portable Camping Clothesline
– Permanent Awning Clothesline
– Tie Rope to a Tree
– Portable Smalls Hanger
More Caravan Laundry Articles
Travel Planning Tools
Another popular way to do your laundry while RVing, is to wash your clothes by hand and then hang everything on a portable clothesline. Other than a little manual labor and some patience as your clothes dangle in the wind. This is a completely feasible, cheap, and effective method of cleaning your clothes.
Absolutely. For one or two people, hand washing is relatively simple and free. For a family, it would get a bit tiresome after a while.
Love your tips,You see, I love the idea of camping in order to be closer to nature and have that sense of total freedom… But the Not being able to have everything I need or change clothes everyday… I’m impressed that there are so many ways to do laundry on the way, I thought you could only rely on laundromats…
Being closer to nature is definitely one of the best perks of camping and caravanning. I used to stress about how I’d keep on top of the washing, so it’s nice to know that I can now.
I didn’t realize there were so many portable options for washing clothes. That would come in handy if you are camping for a while and not near washing facilities. Hangers or a clothesline is essential for on the road and at home. I have clips for my house as I like to hang more delicate items and not dry them.
I have used Scrubba Wash Bag and it is such a great utility while on the road. All of the others are great compilations for washing and drying – many I didn’t know of. Such a cool article!
Oh that’s really great feedback, thank you.
Long road trips can be so much fun but laundry can be a real pain when on the road. The scrubba wash bag really caught my eye. Seems to be very useful!
It’s a great little invention.
Hi Emma. We have had 3 vans to date our latest van we brought 5yrs ago & we do lots of kilometres a yr we have a gas bottle holder on the back with a Bunnings blue barrel in it as we say our top loader washing machine we use eucalyptus wash in the washing that there’s no need to rinse & we have a permanent cloths line every time we free camp each night & if something is not dry we have a towel rail under cupboards in the van while we travel, we have a hills hoist style dryer but only used once & once every three weeks we mite stop in a van park while we do some site seeing but otherwise it’s free camps & camp fires & we have been using WikiCamps all the time & to find cheap fuel we use PetrolSpy app it’s more reliable than the others. That’s enough from me. Great website
Hi Phlip, thanks for sharing your caravan laundry setup. That might help others with some ideas for their own van. Sounds like you’ve got a good system happening. I know many people use the barrel for easy off-grid washing, so whatever works I reckon.
I’ve never seen the Scrubba Wash Bag! It looks so convenient as it’s portable and small. I think it’s a great alternative if you must handwash your clothes on the go.
I actually use an IKEA drying rack (at home) for my clothes after I wash them as the fabric lasts longer this way.
Yeah aren’t they great! I agree, I rarely use a dryer myself. In this sunny country (Australia), we really don’t need to that often.
I used to be a ‘smelly backpacker’ and always made excuses to delay laundry. I’m planning a long trip soon and that Scrubba looks like it could be a worthy purchase! Thanks for sharing and, now, I have no excuses!!
Nope, no excuse now!
Wow – who knew there were so many options? I’d be absolutely hopeless at the practicalities of living out of a campervan! How do you manage if it rains? We don’t have a dryer at home and my last few washes I’ve had to run to rescue the airer from the balcony – can’t imagine trying to then hang everything inside a van.
Haha it’s a life adjustment, that’s for sure. If it rains I just don’t bother washing. We reuse what clothing we can, to reduce the laundry pile. If need be, I can hang things inside the van all over the place.
Your on-board washing machine definitely seems like the best option. I would much prefer that to the more labour-intensive options, and I did not like using laundromats when I was a student. It’s interesting to see how everything old still works today. As you say, the Scrubba bag is basically a washboard, and a rope tied to a tree is still effective technology!
That’s it, we don’t always need to get fancier. Sometimes the best options are the most basic.
Lots of really important advice here. I didn’t know about the scrubba wash bag! I think that is very handy for washing smaller items on the go. I could use one of those.
I reckon they’d be great for backpackers and people travelling abroad.
It looks like you have invested in a sustainable lifestyle that we could all take a couple of takeaways, especially when traveling. Thank you for sharing this information.
We did spend the time in the beginning setting up for a low-impact, self-sufficient lifestyle. It’s been worth all of the blood, sweat and tears.
This post is so helpful – especially for long-term travelers who pack light! I’ve been thinking about buying a scrubba. I know you recommend it … anything else I should know about it before purchasing?
I know a few people who use the Scrubba and totally recommend it. I reckon it’d be worth giving it a go. They only use a small amount of water and roll up tight to slip into a backpack.
We installed a washing machine/dryer stack-up combo to make everything easy and simple. Every four days we ran them! And use laundromats for blankets and other bulky stuff.
Yeah definitely. We always intended to use Laudromats for the bulky stuff, but so far we’ve been able to keep on top of washing those items while doing House Sits and staying with friends and family.
I really love this post as it is very helpful for everyone who didn’t know this yet and have the same lifestyle as you do. It is also very helpful for people who love to do this lifestyle and not on the road yet! Thanks for sharing very informative!
Yeah, hopefully people find the info helpful.
A road trip is fun but then thinking about laundry makes me think twice. The tips and laundry options you have shared are really helpful. I haven’t been on the road in a caravan before, but if I ever travel in one this post will really come in good use. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading Karie.
Woah! I had no idea it is even possible to get on board washing machines!!
We normally bring some handwashing soap for emergencies, then just visit a laundromat if we need to wash clothes. You have far more economical ways!!
Thankfully onboard Washing Machines are a thing in this day in age. There’s nothing wrong with washing in the sink or using Laundromats. Being full-time on the road with kids though, I think it would get on top of me without a machine.
It is a good idea, but still thinking about weight and water loose. I will prefer to stop by and use pay as you go washing machines. It will save me space while travelling in the caravan or camper.
Laundromats are perfectly good travelling laundry options 🙂
Great list of ideas for washing on the road. I like the scrubba bag and the drying stands. And they’re so easy to carry and stack in the boot.
Yeah, really easy solutions for even a small set-up.
You see, I love the idea of camping in order to be closer to nature and have that sense of total freedom… But the practicalities of life really get to me… Not being able to have everything I need or change clothes everyday… I’m impressed that there are so many ways to do laundry on the way, I thought you could only rely on laundromats…
I totally agree. Before we hit the road I really stressed about how I was going to keep on top of the family’s washing pile. But with lots of trial and error, we’ve got it nailed!
I use automatic washer on rinse cycle only instead of wash and rinse to save water use wool wash liquid so no need to rinse
Love your tips, yes we live permanently in our van & when we free camp can still do washing, for a start I don’t use our tank water for free camp washing, if I know we will be free camping I make sure our 4 x 20ltr jerry cans are full, 1 J can = 1 load of washing, single wash then spin, have a 600wt inverter, 2 x 100amp batteries, 2 x 120wt solar panels plus 1 x 120wt panel on top of the Dmax if needed, I fitted a double permanent clothes line on our awning or I can run a line to a tree… we are in forced retirement & on DSP so have to be very careful with our coin, also do a lot of house/small property sitting which saves us a lot….love this life, should have done it sooner……feel free to google my name….
Thanks David. Sounds like you’ve got plenty of resources for your lifestyle – it really helps to save the budget. We also do House Sitting, which saves money as well and offers many great experiences.