Interpreter
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Francés
How often do you get to a place where you can wash your clothes? Do you hang it to dry?
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Thank you!Every albergue on the Camino Frances has a place where you can wash your clothes by hand and also some washing lines where you can hang them. Many also have coin operated washing machines / dryers that you can share with others to keep costs down. Buen Camino, SY
I agree -- cost, high heat, everything mixed together in one load, static electricity..... April was pretty muddy so we did reach times when I just couldn't get our socks and pants clean and they went in the washer. And one time, I slipped and was covered in mud from head to foot -- in my fleece, etc. I think in 35 days we washed in the washer 4 times. Really -- hand washing with a decent soap (I like Dr. Bronners in a bar) works great. LNot to mention the crazy cost of using washing and drying machines. It's 5 to 9 euros for a load of wash and sometimes 1 euros for 10 minutes of drying time. Equals the cost of an albergue for one night for a load of smelly clothes. After a week or so you will be smelling like a pilgrim (aka homeless bum) so why worry about the laundry?
Stamping on your clothes whilst in the shower saves water and soap...
My top tip would be don't take bright red pants (proper Bridget Jones ones) as they are SO visual hanging from your backpack/pannier!
We didn't have any problem with this. Most stuff dried most of the time. If it didn't, it hung on the pack during our walk. Or we packed it slightly damp and then got it out first thing to dry the rest of the way. I will say that other than my husband's tightly whities, we had mostly quick dry clothing -- either synthetic or merino. LDo clothes start to smell because they are mildew from not drying or because of the natural oils that accumulate? Here at home I've been using vinegar to soak my training clothes and I've avoided odors. Also have heard that backing soda will help keep the odor down. Have considered bringing along a small amount of sports detergent to use.
Not too sure I would do this. I came home with a fungal infection under a toenail, and even though I was careful and wore thongs in every shower you don't know what others are doing! We had a routine after a couple of days- book in, shower, wash clothes, relax! If the weather was bad we generally found our clothes dried hanging on our bed, plus I enjoyed the chatter and camaraderie that went on around the wash troughs in the albergues.Stamping on your clothes whilst in the shower saves water and soap...
My top tip would be don't take bright red pants (proper Bridget Jones ones) as they are SO visual hanging from your backpack/pannier!
Have you tried it yet? How much trouble is it to rinse? Amazon says it weighs only 5 oz. "Only" is relative.I saw a suggestion back a few months ago from someone in this forum regarding the "Scrubba" wash bag. I ordered one from Amazon.com (I've pasted the link below) and it arrived in a very timely manner. It's pricey, but doesn't weigh much (I don't have the exact weight), but I'm planning to bring it on my Camino in August/September. It has an internal washboard-type surface that gently helps get the clothes clean. Anyway, thought I'd pass the idea along in case anyone is interested and didn't see the original posting.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BUI7HFC/?tag=casaivar02-20
I haven't tried it yet, but here's a link to the actual website where they give a step-by-step explanation about how it's used plus a video demonstration. And you're right, "only" is definitely a relative term! Having done quite a bit cycle touring in the past, I know wash basins aren't always the best. I'm also planning to hike the Appalachian Trail in the future where there won't be wash basins, so I think the device will be a good investment. I'll post something after I've actually used it!Have you tried it yet? How much trouble is it to rinse? Amazon says it weighs only 5 oz. "Only" is relative.
I am on the Camino Frances right now and love my Scrubba. It gets the clothes really clean( if they're really dirty, I might wash/rinse again before hanging up) the key to getting it to work is getting as much air as possible out if the bag, first before you roll the top to close and then use the valve to get the rest out ( BTW, you have to squeeze the valve while pushing the air out, otherwise it won't work). I quite like the rolling, scrubbing motion, sort of like kneading bread. Took a few tries to get the hang of it but like it a lot.I haven't tried it yet, but here's a link to the actual website where they give a step-by-step explanation about how it's used plus a video demonstration. And you're right, "only" is definitely a relative term! Having done quite a bit cycle touring in the past, I know wash basins aren't always the best. I'm also planning to hike the Appalachian Trail in the future where there won't be wash basins, so I think the device will be a good investment. I'll post something after I've actually used it!
Here's the link:
http://thescrubba.com/pages/using-your-scrubba
As you have experienced not all items dry well overnight, especially the thicker socks, or those made of merino. That is why you see people walking off in the morning with their items of clothing attached to their backpack so they finish drying during the day. When it rains a lot in the afternoon I now sometimes opt not to wash items I will need the next day and may not dry. But I have been lucky, that have never happened on those days when I walked in the albergue at the end of the day with clothes whose smell I cannot stand. And there are those days. Eurk! So quite normal. Since these are small items, bring an extra pair, or change your socks for lighter ones.Do your clothes actually dry overnight? I've decided to try a little experiment and washed my hiking clothes by hand. My pants and shirt dried off quickly. But the sports undies and coolmax socks are still damp almost 10 hours later. And wearing damp socks/undies is so much worse than wearing damp pants/shirt... Wrong choice of fabric? Or is this normal... (I know you can dry them over your bag, just trying to figure out the best way to do this)
Do your clothes actually dry overnight? I've decided to try a little experiment and washed my hiking clothes by hand. My pants and shirt dried off quickly. But the sports undies and coolmax socks are still damp almost 10 hours later. And wearing damp socks/undies is so much worse than wearing damp pants/shirt... Wrong choice of fabric? Or is this normal... (I know you can dry them over your bag, just trying to figure out the best way to do this)
Wow! ahem, in the UK 'thongs' are VERY skimpy knickers that show off your bum.... are they something else too?!I was careful and wore thongs in every shower you don't know what others are doing!
We build 'em tough here in Aus, don't we??!!I suggest a bit of relaxation, this is a Camino, not a fine French or New York Cafe. The difference between damp and dry undies is about 10 minutes.
Oh it will make me cringe, can't even imagine what it must be like to walk the camino in a thong!!!!!!!! (Or thongs for that matter!)Ah - flip-flops - now it makes sense! It will still make me giggle the next time I enter an albergue shower...
Do you lay them out and roll them up on your towel first, to squeeze out as much water as possible before hanging to dry?...undies and coolmax socks are still damp almost 10 hours later...