Scrubba

[Former member 21738]

For those who have used Scrubba to wash clothes, would you recommend it?

 

[Drifter]

I was SHOCKED at the price, $55 US dollars. Umm...no.
I'll just wash out my clothes in the sink.

 

[Frankybaby66]

For those who have used Scrubba to wash clothes, would you recommend it?

Hiya, pretty much all sinks in Albergues that are provided for hand-washing have a built in washboard.
Alternatively, washing machines are available in lots of albergues. These, on the face of it, seem an expensive option at €3/€4 a wash.
Fear not! I've never had a problem finding 3 or 4 other pilgrims eager to share the washer (and the cost).
There is also the added bonus of making new friends ( as an ice-breaker, watching 3 strangers' underwear dancing with your own is right up there!)
Buen Camino/Bom Caminho

 

[trecile]

I use a 12 liter lightweight dry bag from Osprey to accomplish the same thing. The Osprey dry bag only weighs 1.2 ounces,band costs far less.

 

[Kirkie]

It is possible to take a super lightweight mesh bag costing next to nothing to hold your own laundry in the same load as that of others. My mesh bag is still good, cost about 30 cent, euro.

 

[domigee]

For those who have used Scrubba to wash clothes, would you recommend it?

Totally unnecessary, don’t bother

 

[Former member 21738]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all your input.

 

[MesaWalker]

I took a Scrubba bag to walk from SJPP to Finisterre two years ago. I used it a few times (and it worked just fine) but ditched it less than halfway through because of the weight. I agree with the other posts on this thread.

 

[trecile]

Here's a post describing my method for washing clothes in a dry bag.

I use the same washing method whether I'm in an albergue or a room with a private bath.

Here's my method:

I use a ultralight 12 liter Osprey dry bag (weighs 1.2 oz/34 gm) as my portable washing machine.

I put my clothes in it as I'm getting into the shower with water from the shower as it's warming up. Then I add half of a laundry detergent sheet (some brands are Breezeo and Tru Earth)
Then I seal it up and give it a few shakes. I set it aside for everything to soak while I shower and dress.
Then I shake it a bit more to agitate the clothes in the bag before dumping it out in the laundry sink and rinsing. If I'm in a private room with my own bathroom I use the tub or shower. The detergent sheets don't make a lot of suds, but get the clothes clean and it's easy to rinse out.

It's a good idea to rinse out your socks before putting them in the bag as they can be really dirty.

After wringing the clothes out as best I can I wrap them in my towel and twist it to get out more water before hanging them to dry.

Because of the long soaking time method gets my clothes cleaner with less effort than when I used just the laundry sinks or tubs.

 

[ShellToucher]

For those who have used Scrubba to wash clothes, would you recommend it?

Hola!
I brought it with me on my first Camino and then sent it home a few days later! Just use a sink or shower. No muss, no fuss…and no extra, unnecessary weight!

 

[Former member 21738]

Thanks again for your advice! Awesome

 

[Christine Leneghan]

For those who have used Scrubba to wash clothes, would you recommend it?

We found it way too heavy and and time consuming.

 

[David Tallan]

For those who have used Scrubba to wash clothes, would you recommend it?

I brought one on my 2016 Camino and rarely used it. I didn't take it on any subsequent Caminos. It didn't seem worth the weight.

 

[arfajajc]

I was thinking about camino-clothes-washing strategies the other day (as you do ) and wondered about getting into the shower wearing your dirty clothes, get them soaking wet and all soaped up (I plan to use my body soap for clothes as well), rub the soap in/scrub with your hands for a minute or two, then take clothes off and leave to soak in the shower as you now wash your <naked> self. Then rinse clothes after you've rinsed yourself, wring out, and voilà, clean clothes and body! There's gotta be a catch somewhere - it seems too easy . Thoughts?

 

[trecile]

I was thinking about camino-clothes-washing strategies the other day (as you do ) and wondered about getting into the shower wearing your dirty clothes, get them soaking wet and all soaped up (I plan to use my body soap for clothes as well), rub the soap in/scrub with your hands for a minute or two, then take clothes off and leave to soak in the shower as you now wash your <naked> self. Then rinse clothes after you've rinsed yourself, wring out, and voilà, clean clothes and body! There's gotta be a catch somewhere - it seems too easy . Thoughts?

People do do that, but it does monopolize the shower for a longer time than you need to shower. The way that I do it putting all my clothes in a dry bag with water and detergent at the beginning of my shower gives the clothes a good long soak, which helps them to get clean with less effort on my part.

 

[arfajajc]

People do do that, but it does monopolize the shower for a longer time than you need to shower. The way that I do it putting all my clothes in a dry bag with water and detergent at the beginning of my shower gives the clothes a good long soak, which helps them to get clean with less effort on my part.

Yes, I'm thinking your approach will be better - easier and less "weird".

 

[Purple Backpack]

I use a gallon zip lock. Don’t like the thought of washing undies in the same sink people spit toothpaste into.

 

[Former member 94614]

For those who have used Scrubba to wash clothes, would you recommend it?

no not worth the extra weight

 

[trecile]

I use a gallon zip lock. Don’t like the thought of washing undies in the same sink people spit toothpaste into.

There is often a sign in the bathrooms not to wash clothes in the sinks there. Most albergues have laundry sinks.

 

[Robo]

I use a 12 liter lightweight dry bag from Osprey to accomplish the same thing. The Osprey dry bag only weighs 1.2 ounces,band costs far less.

Yep! I do the same. I tried the scrubba. Nice idea but just extra weight.
Now 'if' I need such a thing, which is very rare, I just use one of my dry bags used for carrying spare clothes..

 

[C clearly]

There's gotta be a catch somewhere - it seems too easy . Thoughts?

Aside from occupying the shower longer, it seems a lot harder to peel off wet clothes, than to remove the dry clothes before the shower and wash in the sink. Peel off, perhaps two layers on top, trousers, socks, underwear - all wet and clingy, removing them without dragging on the slimy shower floor? Not easy at all, in my mind!

 

[arfajajc]

Aside from occupying the shower longer, it seems a lot harder to peel off wet clothes, than to remove the dry clothes before the shower and wash in the sink. Peel off, perhaps two layers on top, trousers, socks, underwear - all wet and clingy, removing them without dragging on the slimy shower floor? Not easy at all, in my mind!

Yes, it sounded easy in principle, but you make very good points. I was only thinking of tshirt, shorts, undies (other clothes I'd wash separately) but I'm going to take @trecile's advice and use the dry bag approach.

 

[Frankybaby66]

I use a gallon zip lock. Don’t like the thought of washing undies in the same sink people spit toothpaste into.

Sinks for hand-washing clothes in Albergues are, in my experience, separate to the general bathroom facilities.
(Plus, if you stay in Albergues, you might need to suspend your 'Yuk!' reflex . )

 

[lovelyshell]

I have the Scrubba and brought it on two Caminos. I don’t think it weighs much so that’s not an issue but I do think it’s kind of a hassle to use and honestly the little scrub board inside doesn’t do much. If you really want a Scrubba, they are expensive and I’d recommend buying a cheap dry bag on Amazon and using that instead. Or use nothing but water and the laundry sink because in all honesty, between two Caminos, I maybe only used my Scrubba 5-6 times.

 

[Purple Backpack]

Sinks for hand-washing clothes in Albergues are, in my experience, separate to the general bathroom facilities.
(Plus, if you stay in Albergues, you might need to suspend your 'Yuk!' reflex . )

Ew, no way.

 

[TapasFiend]

Just to add one more data point of the same. I took a brand new Scrubba Mini on the CF last year; as others have said, it was only used 3 or 4 times.

As it was the Mini version it didn't bother me, and I ended up turning it into a wet/dry bag, quite usefully carrying my soap, laundry detergent, and a wet sock or dirty undies if needed. Ironically, if I had to walk out of the house today I'd definitely carry it with me, because I don't have another dry bag like the Osprey ones mentioned above!

There's no point in me buying a new, even cheap dry-bag, as I have the Scrubba, but for its original purpose, no, it's not necessary.

 

[Suzanne H]

between two Caminos, I maybe only used my Scrubba 5-6 times

…. Me too. It’s useful if the albergue you’re in is particularly busy or the facilities are in poor shape. Or if you’re not in an albergue. Or on a less-frequented Camino. The dry bag method is a decent alternative —both are good for giving your clothes a good soak. But the extra cost isn’t necessary. Sharing a washer every few days became my preferred method on the Frances.

 

[SusanH]

For those who have used Scrubba to wash clothes, would you recommend it?

I have used one, bit not on the Camino. Honestly, there are enough “tubs” or “sinks” to wash your clothing in. You may have to wait for a few minutes - but that is all!

 

[SusanH]

Ew, no way. View attachment 161703

Wait until you have to poop on the trail!

 

[Purple Backpack]

Wait until you have to poop on the trail!

Many, many years of finding the most scenic outside bush!

 

[CarlMC]

I can't believe im the only one who likes Scrubba. Im a big fan.
At the end of the day, I soak all my clothing for 30 minutes with hot water (or placed it in the sunny spot) and detergent inside the Scrubba. "Massage" the bag for a minute and rinse. Takes no effort at all, and my clothes are always clean, even muddy clothes. I carry it on all my travels overseas.
I'm an "ultralight" hiker that carry a base weight of under 3kg and Scrubba is alway in my pack. It's multifunctional.

 

[trecile]

I can't believe im the only one who likes Scrubba. Im a big fan.
At the end of the day, I soak all my clothing for 30 minutes with hot water (or placed it in the sunny spot) and detergent inside the Scrubba. "Massage" the bag for a minute and rinse. Takes no effort at all, and my clothes are always clean, even muddy clothes. I carry it on all my travels overseas.
I'm an "ultralight" hiker that carry a base weight of under 3kg and Scrubba is alway in my pack. It's multifunctional.

I do exactly the same thing in a lighter weight dry bag.

 

[arfajajc]

I can't believe im the only one who likes Scrubba. Im a big fan.
At the end of the day, I soak all my clothing for 30 minutes with hot water (or placed it in the sunny spot) and detergent inside the Scrubba. "Massage" the bag for a minute and rinse. Takes no effort at all, and my clothes are always clean, even muddy clothes. I carry it on all my travels overseas.
I'm an "ultralight" hiker that carry a base weight of under 3kg and Scrubba is alway in my pack. It's multifunctional.

Which size Scrubba do you use?

 

[CarlMC]

Which size Scrubba do you use?

The normal size 54cm x 32cm.
I had the mini 36cm x 23cm before but I could not wash my long pants or jeans together with my other clothing. I like doing all my washing in one go.

 

[CarlMC]

I do exactly the same thing in a lighter weight dry bag.

I use to do this but the dry bag doesn't last long for me. It develops holes. I needed more durability.