How to Look After Your Clothes When Travelling
One major challenge we all face as travellers is keeping our clothes fresh, clean, and wrinkle-free. Whether it’s a short business trip, a casual family holiday or a formal trip like a wedding, the care we give to our clothes while travelling plays a huge role in our comfort and appearance.
This blog will cover everything you need to know on how to look after your clothes when travelling. From smart packing techniques to some really simple tips on what you can do to keep your clothes fresh and clean while on the go. So, read on for the best practical tips and hacks on looking after your clothes when travelling.
Why Caring for Your Clothes Is Worth the Effort
Ensuring your clothes stay in good condition while traveling saves you time, reducing the need for extra ironing, and also prevents unnecessary expenses on additional laundry services when you’re away.
Whether you’re shaking hands in a boardroom or capturing memories at a scenic destination, well-maintained clothing plays a key role in presenting the best version of yourself.
Packing Smartly to Protect Your Clothes
The first thing you need to do is to pack smartly. Use the following smart packing tips to help minimise wrinkles and keep your clothes fresh and ready to wear when you reach your destination.
Packing Cubes, Garment Folders / Garment Bags
Always use packing cubes when going away. Packing cubes are a true game-changer for maintaining your clothes while travelling. These lightweight, rectangular organisers firstly allow you to separate and categorise your clothing, making it easy to find everything you need without tearing through your suitcase. For instance, you can have one cube for tops, another for bottoms, a third for undergarments, and so on.
However, and more importantly packing cubes keeps your clothes compressed and snug in place, which helps minimise wrinkles caused by shifting garments. This is key to arriving at your destination with clothes that look fresh and ready to wear, saving you the hassle of last minute ironing.
Garment folders, on the other hand, are essential if you’re travelling with formal or delicate clothes. Unlike packing cubes, which are great for everyday or casual clothes, garment folders are designed for items that require added care, such as smart trousers, shirts and dresses.
Garment folders aim to keep your clothes flat and securely in place, so reducing friction, which causes creases in clothes. Garment folders easily fit into most suitcases and come various sizes. Check out garment folders on Amazon for more information. They really are a great purchase.
Master the Art of Rolling & Flat Packing
Rolling your clothes when packing not only saves space but also reduces wrinkles. So pairing this method specifically with packing cubes keeps your clothes well organised and protected during travel.
Use garment folders to flat pack trousers and shirts. Garment folders come specifically with a folding board and instructions on how to best fold each clothing item – so all the clothes are packed correctly to fit the garment folder.
Garment bags are another option when travelling with formal wear or delicate fabrics that need extra care, like suits, dresses, or silk garments. They’re designed to keep your clothes hanging, minimising wrinkles and ensuring your outfit is ready to wear straight from the bag.
However, they’re not without drawbacks. Their bulkiness can make them less practical as the take up a lot of space; which means you may need additional bags or baggage allowance.
Opt For Wrinkle Free Fabrics & Darker Clothes
When packing, select clothes made from wrinkle-resistant fabric. Materials like wool, and synthetic blends are less likely to crease, which means your outfits will look more presentable straight out of your suitcase.
Additionally, opting for darker clothes provides a practical advantage, as they are better at concealing minor stains or dirt that may occur during your trip. This makes them a reliable choice, especially for longer journeys or when laundry facilities are limited. By choosing wrinkle-resistant and darker clothing, you can enjoy a low-maintenance travel wardrobe.
Use Dryer Sheets
Another highly effective trick to keep your clothes fresh is to use dryer sheets. By placing a couple of dryer sheets in your suitcase lets you add a subtle freshness to your packed items, eliminating any stale odours that can develop during a long trip. Plus, they take up hardly any space, making them a no-brainer addition to your packing strategy. I add one to the top and bottom of my packing cube before zipping it up.
Store Dirty Clothes & Shoes Separately
Equally important is managing your dirty clothes and shoes to maintain a clean and odour-free suitcase environment. Using separate bags or compartments for laundry is key to preventing smells and any lingering stains from spreading onto your clean clothes. A dedicated laundry bag ensures your dirty items stay contained.
For shoes, use separate shoe bags, pouches, or reusable shopping bags to isolate dirt, mud, or odours. Also, lining your shoes with a dryer sheet is a great tip for adding a layer of freshness.
Pack A Few Travel Essential
Finally, pack a mini sewing kit and a travel-sized wrinkle-free spray.
A compact sewing kit is invaluable for quick fixes like reattaching a loose button or repairing a small tear. Helping you avoid wardrobe malfunctions in unexpected moments and again hardly taking up any space in your luggage.
Meanwhile, a travel-sized wrinkle-free spray is perfect for refreshing clothes and smoothing out minor wrinkles.
Caring For Your Clothes On The Go
The following tips offer practical solutions to help look after your clothes when you are at your destination.
Hang Your Clothes ASAP
The moment you arrive at your destination, unpack and hang up clothes prone to wrinkling. This simple step allows maximum time to let the creases in the clothing fall out naturally and also prevents odours from settling into the fabric.
Use Steam From The Shower To Remove Wrinkles
If any of your clothes needs some extra help with wrinkles then use the simple shower steam trick. Hang your wrinkled garments on a hanger in the bathroom, ensuring they’re not close to the water and closing the bathroom door. Then, turn on the shower and run it hot enough to create steam. The steamy atmosphere will help relax the fabric fibres, smoothing out those wrinkles. You can even do this while you shower.
Spot Clean Stains Immediately
Accidents happen, the key is to address stains as soon as they occur. Use cold water to tackle the problem before it sets. For grease stains, gently blotting with soap often works wonders.
Making the Most Of Local Laundry Services
If you’re away and need to use professional laundry services, here are some tips to help you out.
Explore Hotel Laundry Options
Many hotels provide laundry services, which can be particularly convenient especially during extended trips. However, these services can be expensive. Before making a commitment to using the laundry services, check the prices (including any small print) and turnaround times, as they can vary significantly from hotel to hotel.
Also, if possible, ask the hotel staff for recommendations on local laundry services that they may know of.
Hit The Local Laundromat
Using a laundromat while travelling can be a practical and cost-effective solution for keeping your clothes clean. They provide a quick and convenient way to take care of laundry without relying on often more expensive hotel services. With access to multiple machines, you can wash and dry several items at once, saving both time and effort.
Additionally, some laundromats provide laundry and ironing services, making it convenient to drop off and pick up your clothes.
Hand Wash Small Items
Hand washing a few small items regularly in your hotel room or accommodation while travelling is a smart and practical habit.
Small items like socks, underwear, and T-shirts that you use daily can be kept clean if you wash them as you use them.
The convenience of hand washing a few small items can’t be overstated. With a little travel detergent or soap, you can easily clean your essentials in the sink.
To make this process more effective, try to buy clothing made of quick dry materials, such as polyester or nylon. After hand washing in the sink, gently wring out excess water and roll the item in a towel to soak up extra moisture. Then, hang them up somewhere in the bathroom or even the back of a chair near a window for quicker drying. With a bit of planning and these simple steps, you can keep your travel wardrobe fresh and save laundry bills.
Bonus Hacks for Clothes Longevity When Travelling
Finally, a few more tips on extending the life of your travel wardrobe…
Choose Travel-Friendly Fabrics
Certain fabrics hold up better during travel than others. When it comes to low-maintenance and wrinkle-resistant travel clothes, look for items made from materials such as polyester, nylon and merino wool.
Merino wool, particularly is an excellent choice for travel clothing thanks to its impressive natural properties. It offers breathability and moisture-wicking capabilities, keeping you cool in hot climates and warm in colder ones, making it perfect for a variety of destinations.
One of its standout features is its natural odour resistance, allowing you to wear items several times without the need for frequent washing — ideal for long trips or when laundry access is limited. Lightweight and easy to pack, merino wool helps you also save precious luggage space. Beyond its practicality, it’s also incredibly soft and comfortable against the skin, making it versatile enough for both active adventures and relaxed travel days.
Rotate Your Outfits
Rotating your clothes while travelling is a smart way to keep your wardrobe fresh and extend their life. By alternating between items, you allow each piece to air out and recover between wears, which helps prevent odours and fabric wear caused by overuse.
So To Wrap Up On How to Look After Your Clothes When Travelling…
So, next time you travel, use these tips to ensure your clothes stay fresh, pressed and clean throughout your trip. Whether you’re going on a business trip or a tropical getaway, packing wisely and taking care of your clothing will make your travel experience even better.
For some more great travel hacks, head to our dedicated Travel Hacks page.
