"This is the way we wash our clothes . . ."
As great as it feels, 100 % cotton can be the cloth of catastrophe. Cotton takes forever to dry whether it is on you or a hanger. Cotton knit packs like a dream but in terms of dry time save it for Laundromat ventures. Be cautious about wearing cotton if you may be caught in a downpour --- wet cotton knit has a clammy shroud-like effect.
Laundromat lovers need to figure out the location of a Laundromat early on. In lower priced hotels and b & bs, the staff will usually direct you to a Laundromat. Many tourist offices will give you a location before you leave home. If you are going to have a mound of washing it might behoove you to be one of those over-prepared types who knows where the laundry is before leaving home --- you can search for lodging accordingly. Packing a few plastic trash bags and a zip lock bag full of detergent can make the Laundromat ritual easier.
I love looking at all the little wash kits in travel catalogues. I won't buy one --- but gosh they are cute. You don't need any of those cute little packs of cold water wash and tiny little clothespins. Pack a few safety pins, you can use them to pin clothes to hangers or to pin the sleeves together to secure shirts to a shower rod. If you aren't starting in or passing through Canada or the UK, take whatever mild cold water detergent you prefer in a zip-loc. bag. If you are going through Canada or the UK, Boots travel wash--- at less than two pounds a tube is the best stuff on the market.
Sink washing requires patience and a firm grip. Soak the clothes in sudsy water, rub any stained part with extra travel wash, in a pinch you can use shampoo. Then rinse each item under running water until you go into a coma from boredom. It really takes that long to get out suds.
Then twist, wring, bludgeon, torture, harass, and threaten as much water out of your defenseless garment as you can. Following this abuse, shake the poor piece of clothing until most of the wrinkles disappear. Hang it and hope it's dry before you leave. A few plastic bags for packing damp things might come in handy.
Don't waste money on special sink stoppers for clothes washing. Socks do the job.
All this thinking
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