6 Ways to keep clothes clean on the road

We’ve all been there. Just as you’re about to leave your hotel to go shopping or sightseeing, you stain your clothes by spilling your coffee or dribble toothpaste down the front of your dress or abaya. At home it’s simply a matter of changing your outfit, but on a family getaway it’s not so easy. Follow our simple tips and your laundry will be the last thing you need to worry about on your next getaway.

Know your options. Before you leave home, find out what laundry services, including dry cleaning, are available at your hotel. If you’re traveling with kids, consider an extended-stay or all-suite hotel that has a washer and dryer in each room.

Skip natural fibres. Cotton and wool can take forever to dry. Instead, choose quick-drying clothes made from travel-friendly fabrics, including microfiber and polyester/spandex blends. Bonus: Garments made specifically for travel are often lightweight, so your luggage will be lighter too.

Pack a portable laundry room. Transform any hotel bathroom into command central with a flat rubber sink stopper, a few clothes pegs, and a travel-size laundry detergent, conveniently premeasured for washing small batches of clothing.

Brush with caution. The titanium-dioxide powder that makes toothpaste white can leave unsightly residue on clothing. Water and detergent can easily remove the mark, but you can save time and energy—and avoid walking around with a wet spot on your abaya—by brushing your teeth before getting dressed.

Don’t delay: Treat small stains right away. The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove, so soak it with Ariel Automatic Power Gel Original before washing as normal. That way your stains will rise right off the fabric.

Tuck a laundry bag into your luggage. Use it to separate dirty laundry from clean clothes. Keep things smelling fresh by using Ariel Automatic 3in1 PODS Touch of Downy, Ariel Automatic Power Gel Touch of Downy or for hand washing or regular machines Ariel Powder Touch of Downy Original.