Laundry & ironing help!

[clemsondisneyfan]

We are going from April 8th - 18th. With 4 of us, that means a LOT of clothes unless I plan to do a few loads of laundry in the middle of the trip.

Wouldn't it be best to take 5 or 6 outfits for each of us and then wash in the middle of the vacation? We are flying, so everything we take has to fit in suitcases.

I was just thinking about the socks and underwear for 4 people for 11 days. It is overwhelming!

If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

And, should I bother to iron before or just wait and iron as needed. When we travel by plane, our clothes are a wrinkled mess when we get to our destination. What am I doing wrong??

Thanks!
3 nights at the Swan Hotel
7 nights at the Contemporary Resort

 

[minnie mum]

Not sure which resort you're staying at, but if you're on site there will be laundry facilities available. I used to have a film cannister full of quarters for just that purpose, but I think now you use your KTTW card (?). We scheduled a day away from the parks midway thru the stay. While DH went golfing I did the laundry, caught up on my travel journal, read, and had a swim. Lovely relaxing morning, and clean clothes for the rest of the trip.
I never iron anything if I can help it. But I find with most things if i pack everything carefully folded or rolled, and REALLY fill the suitcase (so things don't shift around), things arrive not too badly creased. Hanging shirts or slacks in the bathroom and letting the shower steam some of the creases out helps too. All the rooms will have irons and ironing boards if you need them. But hey: you''re on vacation too, and who really cares if your kids Tshirts have a few wrinkles?

 

[Lumiere Lover]

I always try to do laundry once on our Disney vacations. Take some dryer sheets and laundry detergent, it will be cheaper than buying it when you get down there. I always bring a couple of extra trash bags, so I bring the clothes back to the room in a clean bag, not one that was holding the dirty clothes (ick).

Disney is great at placing the laundry near the pools. When you go swimming, just do some laundry. Take lots of quarters with you, you usually need to dry the clothes more than 1 dryer session.

Also, think about doing laundry the night before you leave. I try to do this each trip, then when we get home all the clothes go from the suitcases to the closets, no large dirty laundry piles that need to be washed right away!! (Can you tell I'm a clean freak?)

Have a fantastic trip!!

 

[ZoZo]

I always do laundry mid-trip! It's a nice break from the parks, and only takes a couple of hours. I throw my laundry in a couple of machines, take a break by the pool - easy peasy! I can pack half of the clothes I would normally take by planning to do laundry - great for a chronic over-packer like me.

Regarding ironing: I never could figure out why people iron stuff before they put their items in their suitcases! I always do a little "touch up" ironing when I'm unpacking at my resort. I do roll most of my clothes in the suitcases, which minimizes wrinkles, but sometimes do some spot-ironing as needed.

 

[Jenn]

Another who does laundry on vacation! We pack 3 outfits each that we can mix and match. I do laundry at least once, but if we end up w/ extra free time at the resort I will do more so we come home with very little dirty. I bring those Purex sheets that have detergent and fabric softener in them We are DVC members so the machines are free - added bonus!

 

[clemsondisneyfan]

Thank you all for your replies!

Sounds like the best thing will be to take about 5 outfits and then wash them midway through the vacaction. Wish they had a fluff and fold drop off so I would not have to do it! Sending it all for dry cleaning would probably equal the cost of a hotel night!

I am going to try rolling some of the clothes - maybe they will wrinkle less. I don't mind some wrinkles, I just hate looking like we slept in them or something!

I've got 12 days to get ready. Wow. The time is going by way too fast!!

Thanks again everyone!!

3 nights at the Swan
7 nights at the Contemporary
April 8th - 18th

 

[Pink Flamingo]

Another tip for wrinkled clothes: bring a little squirt bottle (Dollar Tree & Walmart sell them for $1); hang your wrinkled clothes on a hanger & spray them with water the night before; in the morning all your wrinkles will be gone .

I do this even when not on vacation & rarely have to haul out the iron.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I don't iron before packing. When I am in the shower DH irons his clothes and when he is in the shower I iron mine.
I couple doing laundry with spending time at the pool. Most laundry rooms are by the pool so I through in a load of whites and a load of darks head to the pool and wait 25 - 30 minutes. Head back put clothes in the dryer and grab lunch. So with as little as and hour and half clothes are done. I also do clothes the last night we are there so I go home with clean clothes.
I use the purex laundry sheets that go from the washer to the dryer. Easy to pack.
Remember if you are staying at a DVC resort you can do laundry for free! That is one reason why I like doing laundry before we go home its free and less work when we get home!

Remember if you do laundry while hanging out at the pool/or having lunch the time will fly and it won't seem like a chore.

 

[clemsondisneyfan]

Everyone has so many great tips! I had no idea that a little water bottle could help so much! We used to live in a college town and I could come back from a trip and throw ALL of our laundry into several machines and do it all in less than 2 hours. But, not anymore since we are not anywhere near a laundromat! I'll just have to catch up when I get home.

We are definately going to doing a couple of loads during the trip though. I just cannot pack 10 or 11 outfits for each of us. That is absurd!

Hope everyone is having fun getting ready for their upcoming trips! Thanks again for the great advice!

3 nights at The Swan
7 nights at The Contemporary (MKV, 14th fl, 1 BR suite)

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

I do laundry constantly at home, so I refuse to do it on vacation if I can help it! We managed to pack everything we needed in October in our carry-on bags even though there are seven of us and nine in our travelling party! We are going for eleven days this time, and I already have our bags mostly packed since it's still cold in Ohio, and it can get VERY confusing packing seven bags! We are using ziploc bags this time, and I have been able to pack eleven outfits in each bag bc I roll them and squeeze the air out. Plus, the added bonus is that the stuff I ironed a month ago is still wrinkle free bc of how I put them in the bags. They don't wrinkle bc if they shift around, the bags with the air squeezed out keep them from squishing. I am bringing the Purex 3 in 1 just in case though. I do like the idea of having the laundry clean when we get home, but tend to want to just veg out on vacation. We shall see! I am also stoked about using the bags this way bc if the kids get into the suitcases, they can't mix the outfits up. Any unworn clothes will just stay in the bags until we get home! Super easy when the time comes to repack! Yay! I guess I am childproofing my luggage!

 

[clemsondisneyfan]

We are using ziploc bags this time, and I have been able to pack eleven outfits in each bag bc I roll them and squeeze the air out. Plus, the added bonus is that the stuff I ironed a month ago is still wrinkle free bc of how I put them in the bags.

OK...please explain the ziplock bag idea! We are in SC, so for the last week we have already been wearing our shorts and t-shirts! But, I could at least get half of the outfits packed this week and work on the others right before we leave.

What size ziplocks? Do you roll the outfits and put them into the bags and then squeeze the air out?

I am so serious!! If it saves room in the luggage and my clothes will not be totally wrinkled, I am willing to try this. I am a SAHM and wife....so I do laundry all of the time like you do! It would be wonderful if I got a vacation from that as well!

Do you mind giving me easy instructions??

3 nights at The Swan
7 nights at The Contemporary

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

OK...please explain the ziplock bag idea! We are in SC, so for the last week we have already been wearing our shorts and t-shirts! But, I could at least get half of the outfits packed this week and work on the others right before we leave.

What size ziplocks? Do you roll the outfits and put them into the bags and then squeeze the air out?

I am so serious!! If it saves room in the luggage and my clothes will not be totally wrinkled, I am willing to try this. I am a SAHM and wife....so I do laundry all of the time like you do! It would be wonderful if I got a vacation from that as well!

Do you mind giving me easy instructions??

3 nights at The Swan
7 nights at The Contemporary

Not a problem! My homeschooled children and I are working on them right now! I use gallon size ziplocs. I put one whole outfit flat in the bag. U can even put undies and socks in (I will do undies but leave the socks separate as they may not wear them every day). Anyway, lay the outfits as flat as possible, with as many wrinkles pulled out as possible. Then zip the bag almost all the way closed. I leave about an inch. Start at the bottom and roll to squeeze all the air out. Hold it in the rolled position, zip the bag all the way, and then unroll. They lay really flat. Good luck! Everything has stayed pretty unwrinkled, but if u get there and have a couple wrinkles. U can do the spray bottle. I mist lightly, shake the clothes out hard, and hang to dry. Hope it works for u!

 

[clemsondisneyfan]

Hope it works for u!

I am going to the store right now!!

it! Can't wait to try it. You might have given me the BEST Disney trip tip EVER!!!

THANK YOU!!!


Leaving in 9 days....so excited, but so many things to do in a week!!!



3 nights at the Swan
7 nights at the Contemporary

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

I am going to the store right now!!

it! Can't wait to try it. You might have given me the BEST Disney trip tip EVER!!!

THANK YOU!!!


Leaving in 9 days....so excited, but so many things to do in a week!!!



3 nights at the Swan
7 nights at the Contemporary

Haha! And to think...I almost didn't post my tips! I got pretty beat up on another thread, so I am leary of posting. Anyway, I imagine u r stressed! We leave in 54 days and I am up to my ears in Disney projects. My latest ones are cutting off pants for my girls that fit in the waist but not the length, or the knees are blown out. I sew them up at the bottom, and they look like store bought jean shorts. We also have Star Wars weekends shirts to complete! Stressed! I should probably take some time to clean the house too! Disney is priority though!

 

[clemsondisneyfan]

Haha! And to think...I almost didn't post my tips! I got pretty beat up on another thread, so I am leary of posting. Anyway, I imagine u r stressed! We leave in 54 days and I am up to my ears in Disney projects. My latest ones are cutting off pants for my girls that fit in the waist but not the length, or the knees are blown out. I sew them up at the bottom, and they look like store bought jean shorts. We also have Star Wars weekends shirts to complete! Stressed! I should probably take some time to clean the house too! Disney is priority though!

I am glad you were brave enough to post! I got 2 gallon ziplock bags - my boys are probably much bigger than your kids! The Dollar Tree had them here in packs of 5! I am going to "practice" tomorrow morning!

I can't sew, but my neighbor can! She is always hemming up our older boys' pants for the younger one. I need to learn to do it myself!

You are staying at the Coronado? We have stayed there 2 times before. I love it there! It is such a pretty and relaxing resort. Have fun!!

I will have to remember to post and let you know how my 2 gallon ziplocks worked!

Thanks a million!!

 

[The Hendies]

ummmm What's an iron? Isn't that an element on the periodic table?

Yeah, I HATE to iron, so I try to do pretty much wash 'n wear for vacations. But I agree with the idea of running a few loads just before coming home. I love to unpack from the suitcase right to the dresser! A few times in New Orleans we took the clothes to a Laundromat that would wash, dried and folded for us. It was wonderful!

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

I am glad you were brave enough to post! I got 2 gallon ziplock bags - my boys are probably much bigger than your kids! The Dollar Tree had them here in packs of 5! I am going to "practice" tomorrow morning!

I can't sew, but my neighbor can! She is always hemming up our older boys' pants for the younger one. I need to learn to do it myself!

You are staying at the Coronado? We have stayed there 2 times before. I love it there! It is such a pretty and relaxing resort. Have fun!!

I will have to remember to post and let you know how my 2 gallon ziplocks worked!

Thanks a million!!

I will probably need that size for my son. He has so few items I may just not bag his though. He wears only shorts with rock shirts. That's all. He fought me hard on all the Disney shirts I made, but I won! It's still a small wardrobe tho!

Sewing really is a great skill to have. It's nice your neighbor helps! I learned young and will be teaching my girls next year. My son will learn basic mending whether he likes it or not! Heehee. It actually makes me money too! I sew patches on gi's at the karate studio I teach at, and it pays for the kids' gear.

So glad u said u love Coronado! I was so nervous I chose wrong, but I think we'll luv it. Let e know how the bags work, and how your trip goes!

 

[aubriee]

Another tip for wrinkled clothes: bring a little squirt bottle (Dollar Tree & Walmart sell them for $1); hang your wrinkled clothes on a hanger & spray them with water the night before; in the morning all your wrinkles will be gone .

This is what I do also, except I spray them down, then hang them in the bathroom and take a hot bath or shower. The heat and humidity from the hot bath helps the wrinkles to fall out. I also carry a travel size spray bottle of Downey wrinkle releaser just in case.

I do laundry constantly at home, so I refuse to do it on vacation if I can help it!

Same here. I don't do laundry on vacation! I pack enough clothes for my entire trip, plus one extra outfit. I used to use the zip lock bags, but several years ago a fellow DISer here on the boards turned me onto packing folders and packing cubes. I love them. Using the packing guide that comes with them I can get a full week's worth of tshirts, shorts, and capris into one 18" packing folder which then easily fits into one side of my carry on and I'm pooh sized. As long as the velcro will catch, those things will stay closed, so you can really stuff them. I then pack nine days worth of panties and a nightgown in a slim packing cube and a week's worth of bras in another slim packing cube. If I need socks for the trip I'll pack nine pairs into a third slim cube. I use a Vera Bradley toiletry bag for travel size toiletries, a Vera Bradley trip kit for several cans of sunscreen, a Vera Bradly Kiss and Make up bag for makeup brushes and tiny travel size makeup items, a VB tech case for phone and battery chargers, another VB tech case for my camera, a VB coin purse for my MP3 player and charger, and a small packing cube for miscellaneous items that I don't want loose in my bag. I then fold any extra clothes I might want to carry into a 20" packing folder that I drop into the bottom of my checked bag. I keep a dryer sheet in both packing folders and in each suitcase to keep everything smelling fresh. Every night when I get back from the parks I repack my clothes (including underclothes), back into the 20" folder using the packing guide to do so. That way at the end of the week everything is already repacked (and squished nice and flat) and all I have to do is drop the empty 18" packing folder and the empty slim cubes into the bottom of my checked bag, with the 20" packing folder which is full of dirty clothes on top. My carry on will now have room to bring back any souvineers and when I get home all I have to do is drop the 20" packing folder full of dirty clothes into the laundry basket, wash off the packing folders and replace the laundry sheet with a new one, to wait until my next trip. I also replace the stuff in the toiletry bag and rehang it in the closet to be ready for the next trip. It makes packing and unpacking a breeze. I like that using the 18" packing folder I can easily carry a week's worth of outfits, plus my underclothes, camera, MP3 player, and cell phone in my carry on. My checked bag will have very little in it going down there, but will be full (but still underweight) coming home, leaving my carry on almost empty for souvineers.

 

[ellenor]

I also love love love ziploc bags! I iron first (I like to iron, it's therapeutic), bag and press the air out. I try not to iron on vaca and it works like a charm! I do laundry on vaca as we have a machine in our room (1 bdr @ SSR) and come home with clean clothes. I am intrigued by the packing cubes and may investigate them.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

This is what I do also, except I spray them down, then hang them in the bathroom and take a hot bath or shower. The heat and humidity from the hot bath helps the wrinkles to fall out. I also carry a travel size spray bottle of Downey wrinkle releaser just in case.
Same here. I don't do laundry on vacation! I pack enough clothes for my entire trip, plus one extra outfit. I used to use the zip lock bags, but several years ago a fellow DISer here on the boards turned me onto packing folders and packing cubes. I love them. Using the packing guide that comes with them I can get a full week's worth of tshirts, shorts, and capris into one 18" packing folder which then easily fits into one side of my carry on and I'm pooh sized. As long as the velcro will catch, those things will stay closed, so you can really stuff them. I then pack nine days worth of panties and a nightgown in a slim packing cube and a week's worth of bras in another slim packing cube. If I need socks for the trip I'll pack nine pairs into a third slim cube. I use a Vera Bradley toiletry bag for travel size toiletries, a Vera Bradley trip kit for several cans of sunscreen, a Vera Bradly Kiss and Make up bag for makeup brushes and tiny travel size makeup items, a VB tech case for phone and battery chargers, another VB tech case for my camera, a VB coin purse for my MP3 player and charger, and a small packing cube for miscellaneous items that I don't want loose in my bag. I then fold any extra clothes I might want to carry into a 20" packing folder that I drop into the bottom of my checked bag. I keep a dryer sheet in both packing folders and in each suitcase to keep everything smelling fresh. Every night when I get back from the parks I repack my clothes (including underclothes), back into the 20" folder using the packing guide to do so. That way at the end of the week everything is already repacked (and squished nice and flat) and all I have to do is drop the empty 18" packing folder and the empty slim cubes into the bottom of my checked bag, with the 20" packing folder which is full of dirty clothes on top. My carry on will now have room to bring back any souvineers and when I get home all I have to do is drop the 20" packing folder full of dirty clothes into the laundry basket, wash off the packing folders and replace the laundry sheet with a new one, to wait until my next trip. I also replace the stuff in the toiletry bag and rehang it in the closet to be ready for the next trip. It makes packing and unpacking a breeze. I like that using the 18" packing folder I can easily carry a week's worth of outfits, plus my underclothes, camera, MP3 player, and cell phone in my carry on. My checked bag will have very little in it going down there, but will be full (but still underweight) coming home, leaving my carry on almost empty for souvineers.

I liked the idea of the cubes and folders. I looked into them, but couldn't justify the price for seven people. We can afford them, but I have built a business around extreme couponing where I buy cheap or get items free, then sell the excess. It's been very lucrative, and has resulted in my liking to save money on everything. That way when we go to Disney, we are able to spend freely. It lessens the guilt factor of spending the amount of money a new car would cost on Disney! Anyway, I thought mayne I would buy one here and there until I have all of them I need, or not- we'll see! I got my ziplocs for almost free, so I REALLY enjoy using them! Plus, my kids tore everything out of their suitcases looking for certain outfits last year, and then couldn't figure out what went with what! Argh! The ziplocs are ideal for this issue as they can see wht is in them, pull it out, or put it back, and it stays folded! Maybe I will do the folders for me tho.

I also love love love ziploc bags! I iron first (I like to iron, it's therapeutic), bag and press the air out. I try not to iron on vaca and it works like a charm! I do laundry on vaca as we have a machine in our room (1 bdr @ SSR) and come home with clean clothes. I am intrigued by the packing cubes and may investigate them.

I am doing my ironing today! All my capris and shorts need it! I would probably do a couple loads if I had a machine in my room too. We almost stayed in a villa at AK kidani village, and would've had one there. Decided to extend our stay and go to POR instead. Lookimg into DVC, so I would maybe do laundry then!