Laundry HE

Spring break travel season is here and no matter what your destination, there's no greater let down than having to cope with piles of laundry when you get home.  I've finally found a great way to keep the good feelings flowing post vacation.  All you need to do is pack smarter and make sure your laundry room is ready for your return!

To make sure your laundry room is ready to handle your post-vacation piles, be sure to stock up on laundry detergent and other supplies to ensure your High Efficiency (HE) washing machine is operating at peak performance and believe me, using the right detergent can make a huge difference.  If you have an HE machine you definitely need to use HE laundry detergent, which is specially formulated to work in the HE machine’s low water levels.  Using the wrong, non-HE detergent could cause oversudsing which not only hinders an optimal rinse for your clothes, but can also ultimately cause bacteria and mold build-up in the machine itself…not exactly the situation you want to face post beach, slopes, lake, urban escape, etc.

I also found thinking about how to minimize my post-vacation laundry load has helped to make me a better packer.  First, I make a list of the essentials I need to bring.  I try to choose only the items I love and select versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create multiple outfits.  Next, I lay out my clothing choices so I can experiment with different looks.  Then, I check all clothing for spots, stains, missing buttons and broken zippers.  Finally, when it's time to pack, I roll garments instead of folding them to minimize wrinkles and maximize space.  I also always pack two extra-large resealable plastic bags to hold dirty laundry (that way I can sort lights and darks before I re-pack my suitcase for the trip home). 

When my sister heads to the slopes for spring skiing, she typically rents or borrows equipment to lighten her load.  If not, she has to pack skis, boots, poles, goggles, hats, gloves, ski pants, ski jacket, sunglasses, socks and thermal underwear.  And depending on where she’s staying, she also needs to pack tops, pants, and a dressy outfit for dinners out.  If you can lighten your load by relying on your destination a bit, go for it.   Personally, I like to rely on the hotel’s amenities once I get there to save room in by bag. Sure, I may love my regular, everyday shampoo, but using a different kind for a few days isn’t going to kill me! Same goes for body lotion and soap. 

Some people prefer a vacation in a new city.  If that’s more your speed, I’d advise packing clothes that can do double duty, day and night.  Go heavy on tops and light on bottoms (one pair of black pants or jeans goes a long way).  My city staple is a black wrap dress – easy to pack, easy to dress up and easy to hide any signs from dinner a few nights ago. And don't forget to include exercise clothes so you can take advantage of the hotel's fitness center!

If you're planning a beach getaway (like yours truly) you should include an extra bathing suit, cover up (a T-shirt if fine for guys, sundress or a wrap for women), hats for everyone, and plenty of sunscreen.  Sometimes I find myself packing outfits that might be perfect for a possible morning stroll on the beach or a potential afternoon of sailing. When it comes to the beach, though, I usually stick to one outfit most days – part of which is my bathing suit. So, instead of dreaming up potential scenarios for your clothes, be realistic on what you’ll actually need and wear.

And if your method of travel is flying, be sure to check out this travel-packed page from RealSimple.com which features a video on how to pack a suitcase effectively, must-have travel gadgets, a great article on airplane etiquette and other cool travel tips.

Anyone headed somewhere fun for spring break? What are your packing tips?

And don’t forget to enter our contest for a chance to win a FREE, professionally-styled laundry room makeover and the chance to star on TV’s Designing Spaces…we’d love to hear why you deserve a laundry room makeover!

Cheers!
Kristen