top of page

Search Results

53 items found for ""

  • Washing Clothes in the Shower

    I've experimented with many different methods for washing clothes on the road - washing in the sink, using a portable wash bag, using laundromats, and yes, even "shower washing." I go into the pros and cons of each approach in my post Laundry on the Road, but I wanted to specifically call out this weird yet unique approach to cleaning your clothes. The point of this post isn't to tell you how to clean your clothes in the shower (hopefully that's obvious), but it is to let you know that - while it may feel weird - it's also easy, reliable, effective and... not as weird as you might think! I thought I was crazy for doing this until I read this great post on the REI expert advice blog in regards to packing light; which made me feel slightly better - specifically the part where it says "wash items while you're showering," - so it's nice to know I'm not completely insane. But my sanity aside, there's no way to sugar coat it, so let's just jump in... Washing your clothes in the shower is... weird (ha).. but it's only weird the first time, and then.. if you're already accustomed to hand washing your clothes in some manor.. it becomes one of the easiest ways to wash your clothes, especially if you're only washing a few small items. I wash my socks, shirt and underwear every day, and my shorts and/or pants once every few days, depending on use; this is usually done with a portable wash-bag - which I'd be traveling with regardless of its use, because it makes packing so much easier (see why here). But on some occasions, when I know I won't have a lot of time, I will wash my clothes in the shower. You simply wear your dirty clothes into the shower (that's the weird part), and hand wash them as you undress. It's fast, simple, and no one even knows you're doing it (unless you're putting on a show). Always remember to bring a "clean clothes" bag (or use your portable wash bag) - so you have a place to put them after they've been cleaned. The point of this post isn't to tell you how to clean your clothes in the shower (hopefully that's obvious) - but it is to let you know that - while it may feel weird - it's also easy, reliable, effective and... not as weird as you might think! A couple things to note... 1. I've read conflicting advice on whether or not you should use bathing soap to wash your clothes; in truth, I've used body wash, shampoo and bars of soap to clean my clothes and I've never had an issue; but if you're worried about it, consider packing general purpose or laundry soap bars (for shorter trips), and if those run out, replace with a standard (preferably) unscented bar of soap you can find at any convenience store. Check out this post - https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/6092/is-there-any-reason-not-to-do-laundry-with-bar-soap - if you need a second opinion. 2. If the weather is warm and I'm heading out for the day, I frequently just throw on my semi-wet shirt, it dries quickly from the sun/body heat, and it's never bothered me - and if it's that hot, it feels good. :) I highly encourage you to try this at home if you're planning a big trip and attempting "extreme" minimalist travel for the first time; because once you have the process down, it easily integrates into your normal morning (or afternoon, or evening) routine. Once you get over the hump of wearing your clothes into the shower, you'll start to see that it's often much easier than 1) cleaning out a sink, 2) filling up a wash bag and/or 3) lugging around six days' worth of clothes. Read Next: Drying Clothes on the Road

  • My Packing List (Hint: It's Personal)

    I fall into the mostly minimalist category.. I pack 2-3 days worth of multi-use clothes, along with some tools to make life a little easier, and I wash my clothes daily - i.e. every time I shower. If you're not sure where you fit, check out the examples and packing guides in What YOU Should Pack. Here's a list of everything I'm currently packing (clothes and gear) - subject to change. Clothes 1x generic hiking/trail-running shows - see Oh My God, Shoes! 1x convertible hiking shorts/pants - see Shorts, Pants and Trunks 3x quick-dry t-shirts (Amazon Essentials Quick-Dry shirts) 2x multi-use, zippered pocket shorts (search here on Amazon) 4x boxers/underwear (Exofficio) 4x pairs generic socks 1x minimalist or barefoot sandals (Xero) Essential Gear 1x 22L backpack, butterfly opening (Mystery Ranch butterfly-open backpack) or check out Bags N Backpacks for my thoughts on minimalist travel bags. 1x hanging toiletry bag (Sierra Sun) 1x universal travel adapter (Kikkerland) 2x portable wash-bags (Scrubba Portable Wash Bag)* 1x portable charger (Tometc Portable Solar Charger) 1x small towel (Nomadic) - I don't recommend micro-fiber, they suck for drying Optional Gear 1x floating/water-proof phone case (search options here on Amazon) 1x Nano Puff jacket for cooler climates - see Jackets, Coats and Ponchos 1x pair of thermal underwear, also for cooler climates As you can see, my personal list of "must-haves" is small - who would have thought! - and since we're packing so little, the total cost for all everything is fairly minimal. Clothes = $100 (shoes) + $80 (convertible pants) + $30 (shirts) + $20x4=100 (socks/underwear) + $30x2=60 (gym/swim shorts) = $370 for clothing. Gear = $100 (backpack) + $15 (toiletry bag) + $10 (travel adapter) + $70 (wash bags) + $25 (waterproof bag) + $20 (portable charger) = $240 for everything else. You can, of course, spend much less than this, but it gives you an idea of how little you actually need. *Why two wash-bags? Instead of using compression packs, I found that wash bags work even better for compressing packed clothes into the smallest footprint possible; this is because they have a built in air/water release valve that effectively allows you to squeeze every bit of air out of the bag. (insert video) The waterproof electronics bag is also great for day trips involving water, but beyond that, it's always nice to know your stuff is safe in the event of a sudden monsoon. (insert new pic here) More Information Check out Cleaning Clothes / Laundry and Portable Dryers to see how I handle washing clothes. Check out my Essential Gear post for a full list of (personally essential) non-clothing items. Check out my Convenient Extras for a list of nice-to-have items. Check out the Gear page for all posts related to hardware.

  • The everlasting magic of Mediterranean seaside villages

    Edit exactly how your blog looks on your website from the Settings panel. Wix Blogs lets you hide or display the author name and picture, date and reading time, views, comments and likes counter. Toggle between the options and view your changes in real time. If your blog is connected to a Members Area, you’ll want to make sure the Login button is visible to users. To send automatic email notifications to subscribers every time there’s a post, turn on the email notification option on your Settings panel. Start managing your blog posts from your dashboard by clicking on Manage Posts. From the Dashboard, you can create, edit and delete posts and update your SEO settings. You can also duplicate or draft posts, turn off commenting, or delete a post altogether by clicking (...) on each blog post. Once you’re happy with your blog, make sure to publish your posts from the Dashboard and go live with your site by clicking Publish.

  • Japan for beginners: 5 things you must do

    To edit the way your blog feed looks on your site, hover over your blog feed and click on Design. Here, you can pick from different layouts. If you add a blog feed section to a different page on your website, you can pick a design that’s different from your main blog page. Edit what info and details your blog feed displays by clicking on Settings (look for the 3 dot icon). From the Settings panel, Wix Blog lets you hide or display the author name and picture, date and reading time, views, comments and likes counter. Toggle between the options and view your changes in real time. If your blog is connected to a Members Area, you’ll want to make sure the Login button is visible to users. To send automatic email notifications to blog subscribers every time there’s a new post, turn on the email notification option on your Settings panel. Start managing your blog posts by clicking on Manage Posts once you’re happy with your blog settings.

  • Breathtaking examples of architecture around the world

    To create and manage your own content, open the Blog Manager by hovering over your blog feed and clicking Manage. Here you can create, edit and delete posts and manage categories. You can also update your post settings and SEO, duplicate or draft posts, turn off commenting, or delete a post altogether by clicking Edit on each blog post. To delete or edit an existing image or video in each post, click on the media to reveal a toolbar, which also allows you to customize the size and layout of your visuals. Add more elements to your post by clicking on each of the symbols at the bottom of your post. Insert an image or gallery, embed HTML, or add a GIF to spice up your content. Add a cover photo to your post before publishing by clicking Settings on the left sidebar. Your cover photo is visible to all users who browse the blog on your site. Edit how your posts show up on search results and make them more discoverable by editing the SEO for each post. Add categories to your posts so users can navigate your blog pages by topic. Once you’re satisfied with your post, go live by clicking Publish.

bottom of page