How To Keep Clothes Clean & Chic On Your Travels

Clean & Chic: Navigating Your Fashion Care On-the-go

Travel is a glamorous affair, a story woven with different cultures, sights, and people. But let’s be honest, we all spill that spaghetti sauce, we all drip the custard from our pastry, get crumpled clothes from packing or sweat through on our power walk tour of the city. It happens to the best of us. But armed with the right tips, you can keep your travel style pristine, no matter where the journey takes you and how many times you repeat your outfit.

Power of Packing Cubes - Packing cubes and compression bags are your secret weapon for organized and efficient packing. They not only maximize luggage space but also help keep your clean and dirty clothes separate, reducing the risk of your favorite white shirt ending up with muddy streaks.

Stain-Fighting Superheroes - It's Murphy's law; the moment you slip into your favorite dress, you're bound to spill something on it, especially while traveling. But you can save the day by packing travel-sized stain removers or wipes to tackle those stubborn stains before they have a chance to settle in. An extra little tip is that after you use the stain remover always dab with water after. The stain remover can sometimes discolor or attract more dirt. So erring on the side of caution (my middle name), I always give a little water rinse or dab.

Laundry To-Go - A portable laundry kit is a lifesaver when you're on the road. A tiny bottle of travel laundry detergent or sheets and a pocket clothesline or drying rack is all you need to transform any sink into a makeshift laundry station. Half the time I hand wash my clothes and air dry anyways. So why not do it while you travel. However, if you do plan to outfit repeat you may want to bring at least 2 outfits to repeat just in case you need to wash because of the dry time.

Layered and Dark - Wearing layers and opting for darker colors can help your outfits last longer between washes. Layers let you mix and match, giving you multiple outfits with fewer pieces. Dark colors, like black, navy, or gray, are better at hiding dirt and wrinkles, helping you stay chic on the move.

Laundry Day Planning - These days a lot of the time we’re staying in Air BnB’s or Vrbo’s. So if you can, try to prioritize one with a washer. If you’re in a hotel ask the front desk about if they offer a laundry service or have facilities you can use. Planning your laundry days ensures a constant supply of clean clothes throughout your journey.

Keep it Fresh - There is nothing worse than smelly clothes before you even get a chance to wear them. One old school trick is place a dryer sheet in your luggage to keep your clothes smelling fresh. Or an eco friendly way is to keep a black charcoal sachet in their for purifying and extracting those inevitable musty odors. Another fresh friend I always keep around is an eco friendly fabric spray. This works wonders for refreshing your clothes. Just give them a spritz at the end of the day and let them get some air over night and you’ll be good as gold. Or should I say good as fresh daisies.

Take A Steam - Now I know I speak to outfit repeating so that you can pack minimally. So bringing a steamer may seem a bit counterintuitive. But these days you’d be surprised by the little cutie steamers you can find (one linked below). It will still be more packer friendly than additional clothes. Steamers not only help with getting rid of those wrinkles but also great for sanitizing your clothes.