If you're taking an extended RV road trip, you’ll eventually run out of clean clothes, so taking care of the laundry will come up at some point. While larger RVs can have the capability to handle washers and dryers, that is not always an option. Not to mention you don’t want to be wasting a lot of time on an RV trip doing chores. From going to an off-site laundromat, to using campground facilities, to being able to doing your laundry right inside your RV, there are a number of ways to take care of doing laundry while on the road.
If your camper does not have the capability for a washer and dryer hook-up, never fear. There are other ways to take care of this job. The most obvious is of course to use a local laundromat or the laundry facilities at the campground. Make sure you have enough spare change on hand to make use of the washers and dryers, and try to go during less busy times so you won’t have to wait for an available machine. After all, you don’t want to be spending any more time doing laundry than you need to! You’ll also be able to make use of full-size machines that can hold more clothes, as RV washers and dryers tend to be smaller. Having
laundry bags with you can help to transport your clothes. While most campgrounds don’t allow laundry to be hung outside, hand-washing your laundry and hanging it outside on a clothesline can be an option if you’re boondocking. This is, of course, if you have enough water and you don’t have a lot to wash. If you are at a public campground, hand washing laundry can be done inside, with clothes being hung to dry inside using a retractable clothes line or collapsible clothes rack. Keep in mind hand washing clothes can be a time-consuming option.
Of course, having a washer & dryer right inside your RV is the most convenient way to handle laundry. Whether your RV needs to be equipped with them is another matter. If you boondock often, having your own washer & dryer may not be viable, as you’ll need water and sewer hookups to use them. Not to mention if you don’t use your RV often, or if you don’t tend to take trips longer than a week, it may be better to just use public facilities or wait until you get home. When choosing a washer and dryer for your RV, things like available space, added weight, and available plumbing and wiring inside your camper all need to be taken into account. If space is a concern, using a washer/dryer combo, such as the
Pinnacle Super Combo, can be a helpful option, as both functions are together in a single unit. When using an RV washer & dryer, it’s also a good idea to do smaller loads and do them more frequently. This accommodates the smaller size of the unit and the fact that it won’t take as long, using up less time in your day.
Doing laundry while on an RV trip doesn’t have to be a hassle. With the different options available to you, it doesn’t have to waste too much of your time either. Choosing the one that’s right for you can be based on your preferences, your RV lifestyle, or even the needs of the particular trip. You can even use a combination of options depending on where your trip takes you.
Doing Laundry on the Road