When you travel with just carry-on luggage, particularly on longer trips, you have to find ways to keep things clean so you can use them multiple times.
We shared our best tips on ABC-TV’s The Daily Refresh for keeping your laundry, your tech, and your surroundings clean no matter where your adventures may take you. Click to watch the segment, then read on for more details and links to our favorite cleaning gear.
Keeping Yourself Clean
Our favorite on-the-spot hygiene items are portable and can be used anywhere under any circumstances.
You’ve heard us say time and again that one of the best ways to save money while you travel is to carry a reusable water bottle. Of course, that means you need to find a way to clean the water and the bottle. A UV light pen allows you to sterilize and safely drink tap water from any source.
We keep our water bottles clean by adding a drop of dish soap to small squares of cellulose kitchen sponge, allowing the soap to dry, and then storing the sponges in a plastic bag until we’re ready to use them. Preparing these in advance means you don’t have to fit a bottle of dish soap into your bag while still staying under TSA limits for carryon liquid allowances.
Keeping Your Space Clean
Whether it’s an airplane, train, rental car, or hotel room, it’s important to sanitize your own spaces so you know they’re actually clean. We carry individually-wrapped Clorox wipes and use them as soon as we enter new transportation or accommodations. Much like the dried soap on your sponges, wipes don’t count toward your liquid limits for carryon luggage, so you can bring plenty of them.
When you’re in a hotel room or vacation rental, pay particular attention to anything that will touch your lips, like glassware or silverware that might just be wiped off rather than washed. And be sure to sanitize things like ice buckets and coffee pots that may not be cleaned at all between uses. This is another great use for your pre-soaped kitchen sponges.
If you’re traveling with children, consider asking housekeeping to provide you with an extra blanket or bed sheet to spread over upholstered furniture like sofas and chairs. Furniture is rarely sanitized, which means it definitely isn’t clean enough for little mouths and hands.
Keeping Your Clothes Clean
We shared a Sink Laundry 101 lesson during the TV segment, and our favorite travel laundry gear has been used to keep our clothes clean on all seven continents! Many of these items are particularly useful on cruises, when you have limited space and a tiny bathroom sink.
- Travel Clothesline
- Laundry Detergent Sheets
- Flat Suction Sink Stopper
- Universal Sink Plug
- Zero Odor Pro Commercial Strength Spray
- TSA-Approved Travel Size Spray Bottles
- Removable Suction Cup Wall Hooks
- Magnetic Hooks
- Single Clip Hangers
- Lightweight Folding Travel Hangers
- Microfiber Towel
- Folding Duffle Bag
Keeping Your Tech Clean
For cell phones, laptops, and e-readers, most manufacturers recommend you use alcohol-based wipes to keep them germ-free. We follow up with a microfiber cloth to remove any residue the wet wipes might leave behind, particularly on camera lenses.
Check your device’s user guide for more specific advice on cleaning delicate areas like speakers, microphones, and charging ports.
Have more tips for keeping things clean while you travel? We’d love for you to share them with us!
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