Last spring, I indirectly confessed one of my long-held beliefs about laundry: You can get away with doing far less of it than most people think.
As I explained to a colleague, I don't put clothes into the to-wash pile just because I've worn them. They have to actively get dirty for me not to rewear them, and because of a few hacks I regularly employ, they almost never do.
Here's a look at my best practices for the laundry-averse and how they make packing for trips as long as two weeks totally doable in a carry-on.
Stay clean
When I was in middle school, I came across a quote in a teen magazine from a member of Eve 6 describing the band's frontman. "Max has the best personal hygiene I've ever seen," he said. "His idea is, if you shower all the time, then you can wear the same clothes every day."
Little did I know, that quote would eventually define my packing philosophy. I typically shower two to three times a day, even when traveling, which usually keeps me from feeling too gross at any given point.
Those showers are also always timed before getting dressed for the day or changing into a second outfit for the evening. If I'm clean when I put the clothes on, to me, they're not automatically dirty when I take them off unless I've subsequently sweat through them or stained them.
Keeping garments in rotation throughout a trip lets me mix and match them to create different outfits, dramatically reducing the suitcase space I need.
Stay cool
I know what you're thinking: "But what if I do sweat through them while I'm out and about?"
This is where one of my personal mantras really comes in handy: No sleeves over 70.
That's right. When the temperature rises above 70 degrees, it's sleeveless or bust for me. Given that 70 doesn't actually feel all that warm most of the time, this rule ensures that a) I don't ever get too hot and uncomfortable, and b) I don't sweat through sleeves, rendering my top unusable for the remainder of my trip.
Of course, it is possible to sweat through even a sleeveless shirt in a warm enough climate. But in that kind of heat, I'd better be at the pool instead of out seeing the sights.
Leaning on sleeveless tops has another benefit, too: They typically pack down easily, preserving real estate in your suitcase. They also layer well under jackets, sweaters or blazers that you can bring along in case you get cold.
Up your stain game
As the mom of a 1-year-old, I'm religiously devoted to this stain spray, which I apply to my daughter's clothing pretty much every day after day care (not to mention our white couches and various other impractically colored household linens).
But it wasn't until one of my child-free friends showed up to a girls trip to Vegas with the same product that a lightbulb went off for me: I should be using it on my clothes, too, particularly when I don't have access to a washing machine.
I quickly purchased it in pen form and haven't looked back since. Trust me when I tell you this stuff is pure magic. You can literally watch a stain disappear before your eyes after treating. If anything, it almost works too well: If you douse a garment, it can fade, so don't go overboard.
(This may go without saying, but wearing black is another great way to avoid visible stains taking a piece of clothing out of commission. And since you're going sleeveless over 70, you don't have to worry about your black clothes making you too hot. Bam.)
But what about socks and underwear?
Relax — no off-the-wall recommendations here. I change these items out every time I take them off, which is a lot when you shower two to three times a day. The good thing is, they don't take up much room in your luggage, and they can be conveniently shoved inside shoes or purses to help them maintain their shape.
My one key tip: Pack one more pair than you think you'll need, in case your itinerary goes awry or you decide to stay an extra day. (But don't overdo it with "just-in-case" extras: One pair in reserve is enough to buy you the time to get to the store and purchase more if needed.)
Bottom line
I recognize that these tips may not be for everyone, and if, for whatever reason, you're not ready to completely stop adding to your laundry pile on vacation, that's OK. Instead, consider which articles of clothing actually need to be washed — is your sweater dirty, or just the white T-shirt you wore underneath it? — and that practice alone will save you suitcase space.
Happy packing!
