Whether at camp, on vacation, or at home, sometimes you just need to wash one item of clothing. It doesn’t have to be a big deal.
With our kids heading off to camp and some summer travel plans, we figured this is a good time to share some basic instructions on how to wash an item or two in the sink when necessary.
While this might not work for tough dirt and stains, it can definitely get that swimsuit or sports bra fresh for another use before laundry day.
When packing for camp or travel, there’s no need to take along a big bottle of detergent. Just fill a little travel squeeze bottle with some detergent. You just need a tiny drop for each “sink load”.
Start by filling the sink with water. For delicates, keep the water cold but for sweatier and dirtier items, use warm water. Add that drop of detergent while the water is filling and then place the item into the water. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes.
Agitate the clothing by rubbing it together all over for a minute or two.
Drain the water from the sink and then rinse the item in cold water thoroughly to remove all the detergent.
Gently wring out the excess water and then roll the item up in a towel for a few minutes to absorb some more of the water. (You can skip this step if you have plenty of time for the item to dry.)
Hang the item to dry. (Make sure it’s not bunched together with other items or it won’t dry and might get mildewy in a camp environment. Ideally, hang the item on a clothing line outdoors.)
(Don’t want to use the camp sink? We get it. This collapsible laundry basin folds flat for storage.)
I use this method all the time when I need a clean uniform shirt for my girls and dont want to put in a load late at night and have to wait up for it… by the morning it’s dry and they have a fresh shirt!