Three days into a caravan trip, the swimmers are damp, the tea towels have somehow multiplied and someone is asking whether they really need clean socks. Laundry is never the exciting part of caravanning, but on a longer trip it quickly becomes one of those little jobs that can take over the van if you don't have a system.
The good news is, there is no single right way to do caravan laundry. What works for a family travelling full-time may be completely unnecessary for a couple heading away for a week. The trick is working out the simplest setup for the way you travel.
So, What Is the Best Way to Wash Clothes in a Caravan?
For most travellers, the answer is actually a combination of a few different options.
- Use caravan park laundries when they are convenient.
- Use an onboard or portable washing machine for regular small loads if your van is set up for one.
- Hand wash the odd shirt, underwear or pair of swimmers rather than waiting for a full load.
- Save bulky towels and bedding for a decent-size machine when you can.
You don't need to recreate your laundry at home inside your caravan. In fact, trying to do that can make things harder. Space, water, weight and drying room all matter much more once you're on the road.
Using Caravan Park Laundries
For plenty of caravanners, the humble caravan park laundry is still the easiest option.
You can throw through a decent-size load, wash your sheets and towels properly and get everything done without using the water stored in your van. If you're moving between powered caravan parks regularly, you may decide an onboard washing machine simply isn't worth giving up the space for.
The downside is obvious to anyone who has arrived at the laundry carrying a basket only to discover every machine is already running. You are working around someone else's timetable, and not every park has the same facilities.
It pays to keep your laundry supplies together so you can grab them and go. A small bag with detergent, your laundry bag and whatever else you use means you're not making three trips back to the caravan because you forgot something.
Is a Caravan Washing Machine Worth It?
This is one of those questions where caravanners tend to sit firmly in one camp or the other.
If you travel for long periods, have kids, regularly free camp or simply like being able to wash whenever you want, a caravan washing machine can be brilliant. Small loads of T-shirts, underwear, socks, tea towels and everyday clothes can be dealt with before they turn into one enormous washing pile.
But before adding one to the van, think beyond whether it physically fits.
- How much weight will it add?
- Where will you store or install it?
- How much water does your setup allow you to comfortably use?
- Do you usually have access to power?
- Where will the water drain?
- Will the machine actually handle the type of washing you generate?
A small caravan washing machine can be fantastic for everyday clothes, but you may still find yourself heading to a caravan park laundry or laundromat for bedding, heavy towels and bigger loads.
And if you only caravan for a few weekends and one longer holiday each year, there is absolutely nothing wrong with deciding that cupboard space is more valuable than a washing machine.
Hand Washing Clothes in a Caravan
Hand washing sounds very old-school until you realise you only need tomorrow's shirt, two pairs of socks and the swimmers the kids have worn for three days straight.
For small amounts of washing, it can be the quickest option.
A sink, bucket or purpose-made wash bag can be enough. Use a small amount of detergent, give everything time to soak if needed, rinse it well and squeeze out as much water as you can before hanging it up.
The mistake is trying to hand wash an entire week's worth of family washing at once. Hand washing works best as a little-and-often solution, not as punishment for ignoring the laundry bag for nine days.
Washing Clothes When You Are Camping Off-Grid
Off-grid laundry changes the priorities completely.
When you're carrying your own water, suddenly that extra rinse cycle matters. Instead of asking, "How much washing can I get done?", it often makes more sense to ask, "What actually needs washing today?"
Underwear, socks, swimmers and a favourite shirt can be dealt with in a small load. Towels and bedding might be better left until your next stop with easier access to water and a larger machine.
You also need to think about where your wash water is going. Laundry water is grey water, so don't simply empty it onto the ground without checking what is permitted where you are staying. Campground requirements and local rules can vary.
If you're planning longer trips away from towns, our caravan accessories range is worth a look before you leave. There are some genuinely clever space-saving products now that make everyday jobs in the van much easier.
What Laundry Detergent Works Best in a Caravan?
You don't need a completely different detergent just because you're in a caravan, but compact and easy-to-store options make a lot of sense when space is limited.
Big bottles of liquid detergent are heavy, they take up valuable cupboard space and, as many travellers eventually discover, lids and corrugated roads are not always a great combination.
We like laundry sheets for travelling because they take up very little room and are easy to portion for smaller loads or hand washing. Whatever detergent you choose, use the amount recommended for your machine and load rather than assuming more detergent means cleaner clothes.
If your trip isn't specifically a caravan holiday, we have a separate guide to doing laundry while travelling, including road trips, cruising and overseas holidays.
The Part Everyone Underestimates: Drying the Washing
Getting clothes clean is usually the easy part. Getting them dry before you need to pack up camp again can be trickier.
If the forecast is good, wash early rather than putting a load on late in the afternoon. Spread heavier items out properly and give towels as much airflow as possible. If you've got wet swimmers or towels after a beach day, don't bury them in the dirty washing and deal with them tomorrow. Hang them straight away.
A compact clothesline is one of those little things that earns its place very quickly. Our Australian Made pegless clotheslines were designed for exactly this sort of travel, but this article isn't going to turn into another clothesline lecture.
If drying is the problem you're actually trying to solve, we have already gone right into the different options in our guide to the best pegless clothesline for camping and caravanning.
What About Towels and Caravan Bedding?
Bulky washing is where a little planning makes a big difference.
Sheets, mattress protectors and bath towels take up more machine space, use more water and take longer to dry than everyday clothes. Rather than trying to squeeze them into a tiny caravan washer, it can be much easier to save them for the next caravan park or laundromat with full-size machines.
If you know a hot, windy day is coming, make that bedding day. There is nothing worse than washing every sheet in the van and then watching rain roll in while you're trying to work out where on earth to hang it all.
For longer trips, carrying a spare sheet set can also take the pressure off. You can remake the bed immediately and wash the other set when it suits your travel day rather than when the bed says you have to.
Where Do You Put Dirty Washing in a Caravan?
This sounds like a tiny detail until four people are living in a small space.
Give dirty washing one designated home from day one. A collapsible or lightweight laundry bag works well because it can be tucked away when empty and moved easily when it's time to wash.
The important bit is separating genuinely wet things from ordinary dirty clothes. Damp towels and swimmers shoved into the bottom of a full laundry bag are a very efficient way to make the entire contents smell awful.
Hang wet gear first. Once it's dry, it can join the normal washing pile.
A Caravan Laundry Routine That Actually Works
The easiest caravan laundry routine is generally the one that stops washing from becoming an event.
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Deal with wet things immediately. Hang towels and swimmers rather than throwing them into the laundry bag.
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Wash small loads regularly. If you have an onboard machine or you're hand washing, don't wait until every clean sock has disappeared.
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Use bigger machines for bigger jobs. Save bedding and heavy towels for a caravan park or laundromat when that makes more sense.
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Check the weather before washing. Sunshine and airflow are worth taking advantage of.
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Keep your laundry gear together. Detergent, laundry bag and clothesline all having their own spot makes the whole job easier.
It doesn't need to be complicated. The whole point of having a system is to spend less time thinking about washing and more time actually enjoying the trip.
Your Setup Will Change Depending on How You Travel
Weekend caravanners: You can probably keep it very simple. Pack enough clothes, deal with wet towels and swimmers as you go, and bring most of the washing home.
Caravan park travellers: Park laundries may do nearly everything you need. A simple hand-washing option is handy for the odd emergency.
Families: Small, regular loads are usually much easier than letting everything pile up. Kids seem to have a special talent for creating washing.
Long-term and Big Lap travellers: This is where an onboard or portable machine starts to make more sense, particularly if you're frequently away from caravan parks.
Off-grid campers: Water, power and grey-water management come first. Your laundry routine may need to wait until the next suitable stop, and that's perfectly okay.
There is no gold medal for having the fanciest caravan laundry setup. If a park washing machine, a bucket and a good clothesline work for you, you've solved the problem.
Caravan Laundry FAQs
Can you put a washing machine in a caravan?
Yes, many caravans have compact washing machines installed or carried onboard. Before adding one, consider available space, weight, water, power, drainage and the type of loads you actually need to wash.
Is a caravan washing machine worth having?
For families, long-term travellers and people who spend a lot of time away from caravan parks, it can be extremely handy. For occasional travellers who regularly stay in parks, using communal laundries may be simpler.
How do you wash clothes when caravanning off-grid?
Keep loads small and prioritise the clothes you actually need. Hand washing or a compact machine may work, but your available water, power and grey-water arrangements need to come first.
How do you dry clothes while caravanning?
Wash early in the day when possible and maximise airflow around clothes. A compact portable or pegless clothesline is useful because it can be set up around the campsite without taking up much storage space when packed.
How do you wash caravan sheets and towels?
If your onboard machine is small, it is often easier to use a full-size caravan park or laundromat machine for bulky bedding and towels. Choose a good drying day where possible.
What should I pack for doing laundry in a caravan?
At minimum, pack detergent, somewhere to keep dirty washing and a way to dry clothes. Depending on how you travel, you may also want a small wash bag or bucket and a few supplies for using caravan park laundries.
The Bottom Line
Washing clothes in a caravan isn't difficult once you've worked out a routine that suits the way you travel. You don't necessarily need an onboard washing machine, and you certainly don't need to carry half the laundry cupboard from home.
Wash small loads when it makes sense, use the big machines when you need them, deal with wet gear quickly and make sure you have somewhere practical to dry everything. Then shut the laundry cupboard and get back to the good part of caravanning.
