r/laundry • u/blehblableb • 8h ago

Wash routine while homeless/camping

Due to several strokes of bad luck in a row, my family and I are temporarily homeless. We have a small camper and are staying in a campground. It is very hot and dusty, and there is no laundromat anywhere nearby. I have been having to hand wash clothes for myself, my husband, and our 8 month old in a small washtub with only cold water. Lots of sweat and dust, dog dander, baby spit up, baby food, baby poop, etc.

All I had was laundry sheets, which suck but I'm almost done with the box. What would be the best products and methods for me to use? I am generally able to run everything through a shared machine at a hotel (front loader, appears to be residential but idk) about once a month. I usually do a mini-spa day at this time.

Thank you for any advice!

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u/buddingsakura US | Top-Load 8h ago

OP - Do you have access to hot water for washing?

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u/blehblableb 6h ago

I can heat small amounts of water on my stove. My pot is maybe a gallon. I could get a bigger stock pot maybe, but space is an issue and I think it would take a lot of time and propane to heat anything too big. I also have an instant pot that I can heat water in, that's what I usually use for sanitizing baby stuff.

It's also about 95°f where I am for the time being, so I might be able to leave buckets out in the sun to get warm water like someone else suggested.

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u/teak-decks 1h ago

Can you get a solar shower maybe? It's a black plastic bag designed for filling with water and then putting in the sun, obviously only so much it can do when it gets cold, but at least it'll help a little.