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I shared a pleasant evening after a rainy day with a party of ladies from Germany in an Hostal somewhere in the wilds of Eastern Galicia. The proprietor, a lovely lady, insisted we all bring our "ropa" to be dealt with. After we had had a good supper and a few beers we were still sat around the dining table, as you do, when she appeared with all our clean and dry clothing heaped in one of those plastic lattice work tubs. The German ladies pounced. Their was much laughter as they sorted and compared the various socks, shirts and undergarments. Periodically one would turn to me clutching a something-or-other "Deine?" There was one enormous pair of under-pants that I could not in all honesty claim. The room went silent for a moment, and then the laughter got louder than ever.Tip: combine your laundry with other pilgrims to share costs.
My stays were:Hi everyone,
I leave for my Camino in a few short weeks and am trying to figure out what the washing machine situation is. I will be traveling on the CP from Porto and hoping to take the coastal and spiritual routes. Basically, I am curious if machines are pretty abundant in the albergues? Or do i need to plan out my washing days ahead of time? Is liquid or powder detergent preferred?
Thank you
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.
We are currently partway through the Camino Frances. We are just handwashing every day as there have been very few washing machines, but it’s not a problem. We have brought washing sheets which are really thin and paper like, rather than carrying washing detergent. They are amazing for weight and work well. Additionally we have also brought a little Pegless clothesline that’s just a little Elastic coil with a hook on each end, and we have found it very valuable on a number of occasions where there hadn’t been good drying or a close line availableHi everyone,
I leave for my Camino in a few short weeks and am trying to figure out what the washing machine situation is. I will be traveling on the CP from Porto and hoping to take the coastal and spiritual routes. Basically, I am curious if machines are pretty abundant in the albergues? Or do i need to plan out my washing days ahead of time? Is liquid or powder detergent preferred?
Thank you
OK, that is some unusual and impressive record keeping.My stays were:
Vila do Conde, Albergue Santa Clara: handwash
Esposende, Albergue Sleep&Go: handwash
Viana do Castelo, Albergue Sao Joao: handwash
Seixas, Albergue Sao Bento: handwash
Tui, Albergue Pallanes: handwash (machine available)
Redondela, Albergue Santiago de Vilavella: machinewash (Laundromat @ Auga & Xabón)
A Cancela, Albergue Portela: handwash
Valga, Albergue de Peregrinos de o Pino: handwash
Milladoiro, Albergue Miladoiro: handwash
SdC, Rooms A Bar Campaña: machinewash @ Lavandaria da Troia
Conclusion: machines are not as common as on the frances. Many private Albergue do offer that service, most that I used last year don't.
I like liquid in a tightly capped squeeze bottle . It only take a dozen drops to hand wash. 3 to 4 ounces is enough for 3 weeks . You can alway buy more and leave the balance for other pilgrimsHi everyone,
I leave for my Camino in a few short weeks and am trying to figure out what the washing machine situation is. I will be traveling on the CP from Porto and hoping to take the coastal and spiritual routes. Basically, I am curious if machines are pretty abundant in the albergues? Or do i need to plan out my washing days ahead of time? Is liquid or powder detergent preferred?
Thank you
Didn't you write a diary while on a Camino?OK, that is some unusual and impressive record keeping.
I have also seen people hanging up clothes that are dripping wet on the clothesline without making much effort to remove as much water as possible first. I always squeeze as much as I can, then I lay the clothes on my quick dry towel, roll it up and give it a few twists. The towel absorbs a lot of the moisture.It does make sense to learn how to wash your clothing though, and see how long it takes to dry. I have seen people attack their clothes as though they had been working in a coal mine and had to get all the filth out, when in reality you are only washing away some sweat, or possibly mud on your pants.
Yes, that's how I use my dry bag. There is actually a product called a Scrubba specially made to wash clothes, but it's really a glorified dry bag, and is heavier and ore expensive than my dry bag or zip lock bag.You can have your own “portable washing machine” by using a very large ziploc bag (order online), filling it with water and detergent powder, and then moving it back and forth quickly to agitate the clothes. Then empty and fill with plain water to rinse. I haven’t patented this idea yet…..and I haven’t invented a “portable” dryer.
My approach is to do a small handwash each night for the day's clothes, and a machine wash around once a week as the opportunity arises. - saves the angst of trying to find accommodation with laundry faclites.Hi everyone,
I leave for my Camino in a few short weeks and am trying to figure out what the washing machine situation is. I will be traveling on the CP from Porto and hoping to take the coastal and spiritual routes. Basically, I am curious if machines are pretty abundant in the albergues? Or do i need to plan out my washing days ahead of time? Is liquid or powder detergent preferred?
Thank you
I use EcoBreeze detergent sheets, cut them into small portions for washing in a sink. Keep whole to do a full load. Also, very light weight.Hi everyone,
I leave for my Camino in a few short weeks and am trying to figure out what the washing machine situation is. I will be traveling on the CP from Porto and hoping to take the coastal and spiritual routes. Basically, I am curious if machines are pretty abundant in the albergues? Or do i need to plan out my washing days ahead of time? Is liquid or powder detergent preferred?
Thank you
+1 for thisI have also seen people hanging up clothes that are dripping wet on the clothesline without making much effort to remove as much water as possible first. I always squeeze as much as I can, then I lay the clothes on my quick dry towel, roll it up and give it a few twists. The towel absorbs a lot of the moisture.
This works in hotel rooms, especially since you won't have access to a wash tub, but can be a problem in a hostel with limited amounts of hot water. If the first pilgrims use the hot water for clothes then the rest may get cold showers. (no flames intended)One novel wrinkle is that I am thinking of standing under the shower still wearing everything I want to wash and soap up over the wet clothes. Then I will disrobe, putting the soapy wet clothes into an empty ’dry bag’ with a laundry detergent leaf already in there and top up with shower water. After finishing my shower, I will dress from a second dry bag containing clothes washed the previous day and rinse/dry the clothes in the normal way. I am hoping for small savings in time and detergent while getting a more thorough wash. It may be a crazy idea but, if so, I expect to told so very quickly and very directly in this forum. Flame suit on!
Was thinking the same thing!OK, that is some unusual and impressive record keeping.
You don't need a washing machine!! Every evening wash the clothes, by hand, that you wore that day and then you'll never have a need a washing machine. That's what everyone else does!!Hi everyone,
I leave for my Camino in a few short weeks and am trying to figure out what the washing machine situation is. I will be traveling on the CP from Porto and hoping to take the coastal and spiritual routes. Basically, I am curious if machines are pretty abundant in the albergues? Or do i need to plan out my washing days ahead of time? Is liquid or powder detergent preferred?
Thank you
I think that suggestion to minimise hassle is a wise approach to all aspects of doing a Camino, and travel, and probably life in general.Sometimes it's more of a hassle to
If you're in a hotel room or a practically empty Albergue that's one thing. Otherwise this method is going to take longer, and you may hold up the next Pilgrim.One novel wrinkle is that I am thinking of standing under the shower still wearing everything I want to wash and soap up over the wet clothes. Then I will disrobe, putting the soapy wet clothes into an empty ’dry bag’ with a laundry detergent leaf already in there and top up with shower water. After finishing my shower, I will dress from a second dry bag containing clothes washed the previous day and rinse/dry the clothes in the normal way. I am hoping for small savings in time and detergent while getting a more thorough wash. It may be a crazy idea but, if so, I expect to told so very quickly and very directly in this forum. Flame suit on!
This is how I also do it, but with a 16 L bag (and a different brand). The only difference is that sometimes I also rinse the clothes in the same bag.Plan on hand washing daily, and using machines every few days.
You might be interested in the method that I use to hand wash my clothes:
That does a poor job , but mostly uses up time and hot water that other Pilgrim are waiting for .I will be reluctant to use laundry services on my first CF starting in just 2 weeks time. Pretty much everything except the hiking pants is merino wool and needs to be washed on a cool delicate cycle. Otherwise I might suddenly find things are two sizes too small. I’m afraid I don’t trust anybody else to reliably keep to that regime for me so I will wash daily myself.
I am another proponent of laundry detergent in sheet form and I plan to use a dry bag as a washing machine.
One novel wrinkle is that I am thinking of standing under the shower still wearing everything I want to wash and soap up over the wet clothes. Then I will disrobe, putting the soapy wet clothes into an empty ’dry bag’ with a laundry detergent leaf already in there and top up with shower water. After finishing my shower, I will dress from a second dry bag containing clothes washed the previous day and rinse/dry the clothes in the normal way. I am hoping for small savings in time and detergent while getting a more thorough wash. It may be a crazy idea but, if so, I expect to told so very quickly and very directly in this forum. Flame suit on!
Washing machines when available and at multiple day intervals. Hand wash mostly everyday as part of ritual. I found the pictured detergent that worked well and found at most stores large and tiny. Please note rubberband to guard against accidental opening in backpack.Hi everyone,
I leave for my Camino in a few short weeks and am trying to figure out what the washing machine situation is. I will be traveling on the CP from Porto and hoping to take the coastal and spiritual routes. Basically, I am curious if machines are pretty abundant in the albergues? Or do i need to plan out my washing days ahead of time? Is liquid or powder detergent preferred?
Thank you
Well, have walked 6 Caminos and wearing cotton blouses hasn't killed me yet. They work for me. If they don't work for you, don't wear them.
Come on! Understanding the reasons and situations where cotton can be a problem will allow the more astute among us to discern when it is appropriate and when it might be a risk to our lives.Wearing non-cotton clothes while hiking is just like seat belts! It's small price to pay for something that might save your life someday.
I'm sorry that you have been in accidents where you have been protected by your seat belt. I hope you haven't suffered too many long term effects.I always wear a seat belt even though most times I don't need it. I wear it because when I do need it, I won't have time to put it on. Wearing non-cotton clothes while hiking is just like seat belts! It's small price to pay for something that might save your life someday.
Knit cotton fabrics (such as the jersey used to make t-shirts) will usually take longer to dry than woven fabric of the same weight.All of my blouses are cotton and they dry in a jiffy. Blouses are different than t-shirts, which do take a long time to dry.
It does make sense to learn how to wash your clothing though, and see how long it takes to dry. I have seen people attack their clothes as though they had been working in a coal mine and had to get all the filth out, when in reality you are only washing away some sweat, or possibly mud on your pants.
For what it's worth, on my Camino last year I took merino shirts and occasionally used laundry services and they never shrank. One did develop holes the first time it went into a washing machine, though. I got different merino shirts for this year's Camino which were more durable.I will be reluctant to use laundry services on my first CF starting in just 2 weeks time. Pretty much everything except the hiking pants is merino wool and needs to be washed on a cool delicate cycle. Otherwise I might suddenly find things are two sizes too small. I’m afraid I don’t trust anybody else to reliably keep to that regime for me so I will wash daily myself.
I am another proponent of laundry detergent in sheet form and I plan to use a dry bag as a washing machine.
One novel wrinkle is that I am thinking of standing under the shower still wearing everything I want to wash and soap up over the wet clothes. Then I will disrobe, putting the soapy wet clothes into an empty ’dry bag’ with a laundry detergent leaf already in there and top up with shower water. After finishing my shower, I will dress from a second dry bag containing clothes washed the previous day and rinse/dry the clothes in the normal way. I am hoping for small savings in time and detergent while getting a more thorough wash. It may be a crazy idea but, if so, I expect to told so very quickly and very directly in this forum. Flame suit on!
Last 2 Caminos I took a lightweight cotton shirt, I dont usually walk in it, but its a good evening item for later (tends to be hot later in the day and cotton is nice and cool). I walk in a quick dry synthetic Tshirt which does its job, but doesn't feel as nice on the skin.Well, have walked 6 Caminos and wearing cotton blouses hasn't killed me yet. They work for me. If they don't work for you, don't wear them.
Oh, I'm so glad you asked this! We are starting our walk on the 13th...flying out on the 11th.Hi everyone,
I leave for my Camino in a few short weeks and am trying to figure out what the washing machine situation is. I will be traveling on the CP from Porto and hoping to take the coastal and spiritual routes. Basically, I am curious if machines are pretty abundant in the albergues? Or do i need to plan out my washing days ahead of time? Is liquid or powder detergent preferred?
Thank you
Plan to do your wash by hand and be pleasantly surprised if you encounter an available machine. You can get little packets of liquid tide that are easy to carry and good for one load.Hi everyone,
I leave for my Camino in a few short weeks and am trying to figure out what the washing machine situation is. I will be traveling on the CP from Porto and hoping to take the coastal and spiritual routes. Basically, I am curious if machines are pretty abundant in the albergues? Or do i need to plan out my washing days ahead of time? Is liquid or powder detergent preferred?
Thank you
Plan on washing your clothing yourself. Almost everywhere has clotheslines, and for where there's not, you can buy a compact, lightweight braided clothesline where you loop the ends around something handy, and tuck your clothes up into the braided rubbery/elastic line without needing clothespins.Hi everyone,
I leave for my Camino in a few short weeks and am trying to figure out what the washing machine situation is. I will be traveling on the CP from Porto and hoping to take the coastal and spiritual routes. Basically, I am curious if machines are pretty abundant in the albergues? Or do i need to plan out my washing days ahead of time? Is liquid or powder detergent preferred?
Thank you
Good input... I was going to toss this into the discussion but you beat me to it! This technique is commonly used by backpackers in the U.S. Easy to do and lightweight. I've used a standard gallon bag and just did multiple "cycles" for socks, underwear, shirt, shorts. (fwiw)You can have your own “portable washing machine” by using a very large ziploc bag (order online), filling it with water and detergent powder, and then moving it back and forth quickly to agitate the clothes. Then empty and fill with plain water to rinse. I haven’t patented this idea yet…..and I haven’t invented a “portable” dryer.
we started to use a Scrubba, its amazing and its foladable and take just a pinch of soap..Google for pricingHi everyone,
I leave for my Camino in a few short weeks and am trying to figure out what the washing machine situation is. I will be traveling on the CP from Porto and hoping to take the coastal and spiritual routes. Basically, I am curious if machines are pretty abundant in the albergues? Or do i need to plan out my washing days ahead of time? Is liquid or powder detergent preferred?
Thank you
I got the idea for washing in a dry bag from reading about the Scrubba. My dry bag weighs and costs quite a bit less.we started to use a Scrubba, its amazing and its foladable and take just a pinch of soap..Google for pricing
dry bag works, we did that however found that the little nobbies in the bad make a huge difference for the washI got the idea for washing in a dry bag from reading about the Scrubba. My dry bag weighs and costs quite a bit less.
Looks like your username is absolutely fittingYou can have your own “portable washing machine” by using a very large ziploc bag (order online), filling it with water and detergent powder, and then moving it back and forth quickly to agitate the clothes. Then empty and fill with plain water to rinse. I haven’t patented this idea yet…..and I haven’t invented a “portable” dryer.
I took one with me on my 2016 Camino. I bought it just for the Camino. We walked for 41 days and I might have used it twice. I never took it again on subsequent Caminos. Different strokes for different folks.we started to use a Scrubba, its amazing and its foladable and take just a pinch of soap..Google for pricing
It’s a perfectly reasonable proposition - although I’d have to write the process down or else I’d end day 1 with two bags of wet clothes.I will be reluctant to use laundry services on my first CF starting in just 2 weeks time. Pretty much everything except the hiking pants is merino wool and needs to be washed on a cool delicate cycle. Otherwise I might suddenly find things are two sizes too small. I’m afraid I don’t trust anybody else to reliably keep to that regime for me so I will wash daily myself.
I am another proponent of laundry detergent in sheet form and I plan to use a dry bag as a washing machine.
One novel wrinkle is that I am thinking of standing under the shower still wearing everything I want to wash and soap up over the wet clothes. Then I will disrobe, putting the soapy wet clothes into an empty ’dry bag’ with a laundry detergent leaf already in there and top up with shower water. After finishing my shower, I will dress from a second dry bag containing clothes washed the previous day and rinse/dry the clothes in the normal way. I am hoping for small savings in time and detergent while getting a more thorough wash. It may be a crazy idea but, if so, I expect to told so very quickly and very directly in this forum. Flame suit on!
Yes, that's how I use my dry bag. There is actually a product called a Scrubba specially made to wash clothes, but it's really a glorified dry bag, and is heavier and ore expensive than my dry bag or zip lock bag.
I have the small Scrubba that gets used as a stuff sack/dry bag. I cannot remember now how much it cost, but having bought it, I see little point leaving it at home. If you don't have one, that might be a consideration, but I wouldn't leave it behind because it was expensive.I have a Scrubba. I agree. Too heavy and expensive.
A dry bag works just as well.
The reason it gets left home, is that it’s too heavyI have the small Scrubba that gets used as a stuff sack/dry bag. I cannot remember now how much it cost, but having bought it, I see little point leaving it at home. If you don't have one, that might be a consideration, but I wouldn't leave it behind because it was expensive.
On the Norte the washing machine is free to use at the municipal albergue in Liendo.There's one albergue on the Primitivo where the machines are free, the owner couldn't be bothered with coin operated machines.
I don't leave it behind because it is expensive. I leave it behind because it is too rarely used for its weight.I have the small Scrubba that gets used as a stuff sack/dry bag. I cannot remember now how much it cost, but having bought it, I see little point leaving it at home. If you don't have one, that might be a consideration, but I wouldn't leave it behind because it was expensive.
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