Laundry on the Road

Hey, it’s wash day! 

Let’s talk laundry and the options for full-time traveling digital nomads. The wash must get done, so you’ve got a few options: laundry service, self-service laundromat, or an onboard washer/dryer—each with its own set of pros and cons. 

Quick Comparison: Laundry Options for Nomads 

Laundry Options for Nomads

Laundry Service 

This one’s the no-fuss, no-mess option. You drop off your bags and come back to fresh, folded laundry. Easy. 

Most services price washing, drying, folding, and bagging by weight. A regular load in a home machine is about ten pounds. On average, expect to pay $2–$3 per pound. The bonus? Detergents and softeners are included—no need to stash bulky bottles in your rig. 

Heads up, though: your clothes will all be washed together, at the same temp, using the same detergent. Not ideal for items that need special care. And while most places use their own machines, it’s smart to look around and make sure you’re comfortable with the cleanliness of the facility. 

In my opinion, laundry service is a great choice for folks who don’t love laundry, are tight on storage, or just can’t squeeze in the time. If that’s you, put this in your budget and thank yourself later. 

Self-Service Laundromat

I actually don’t mind laundry, so a couple of hours reading while everything spins feels like a mini break. In fact, I’ve often looked forward to the downtime. 

Our most expensive loads were in Roswell, NM, but most places we visited were super affordable. On average, we spent about $20 per trip for a full laundry run in under two hours. Washing is usually pricier than drying. In rural areas, many folks skip the dryers altogether and line-dry their clothes in the sunshine. 

That said, we’ve walked out of more than one laundromat due to sketchy cleanliness. We’ve learned to trust online reviews and always check machines before loading our wardrobe into them. Pro tip: you’re sharing those machines with people who work very dirty jobs. 

My flexible schedule lets me go at off-peak times, but even then, I sometimes compete with property managers flipping rentals. The industrial machines can handle up to eight loads in 30 minutes—which is amazing—but the short cycle time means your clothes don’t get the same deep clean as they would in a standard home washer. 

You’ll need to carry and store your own detergent, softeners, and dryer sheets, so plan for that. And let’s talk quarters. Some laundromats have gone high-tech with reloadable cards. Cool idea until you realize you might never use those funds again. We’ve learned to load the exact amount for our wash plus a buffer for drying. Some cards only load in increments, so know what you’re committing to. Hanging up a few towels might beat shelling out five bucks just to dry two more items. 

Overall, laundromats have served us well, especially for big loads like linens. Recently, we hit one that didn’t allow kids. Yep, some of these places have their own quirky rules. Always check reviews and make sure you’re cool with how the place operates. 

Onboard Washer and Dryer 

Plot twist: our RV had washer/dryer hookups the whole time. We’d been using that space for storage, so we had to do a major purge to install our new all-in-one ventless unit. Yes, you can always purge more, even in tiny spaces. This compact unit lets us hang clothes on top and makes good use of the closet. 

Here’s the trick: do separate wash and dry cycles. Otherwise, clothes stick to the drum and come out wrinkled. After the wash, take them out, fluff them up, then pop them back in for drying. We hang quick-dry stuff using a bungee cord clothesline strung across our bedroom or garage.

The downside? We can only use it when we have full hookups, which is less than half the time. And even though the unit is small (2.7 cu. ft.), it eats up about 20 gallons of water per load. That can fill a gray tank fast—so it’s not great for boondocking. 

For quick washes or delicates, we use a collapsible portable washer that barely sips water. It’s great for hats, shoes, and emergencies. It does require power, but it’s been a game-changer for extending laundromat visits. 

👉 Buy the Onboard Washer 

👉 Buy the Portable Tub Washer 

The Clean Truth 

Once laundry isn’t readily available, you’ll notice how your clothing usage changes. We’ve gone as long as three weeks without a wash. We could’ve lasted longer, but we ran out of storage for the overflowing piles. 

Laundry on the road isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether you’re a service-lover, laundromat regular, or tiny washer ninja, there’s a system for you. Keep it clean and keep roaming. 

Share your laundry hacks and join our community of nomads!