We have done laundry on each of our 4 cruises, multiple times.
Our first cruise I brought laundry pods (All Free & Clear Mighty pods), but when I used them I discovered that they have WAY too much detergent for the small washers on ship (well, and probably any front load washer, to be honest). It took four full wash cycles to get the rinse water running non-soapy. Lessons learned: no more pods (we also have stopped using them at home for a similar reason -- too much detergent; check cycle BEFORE it is done so you can see how the rinse is going.
For the rest of our cruises I brought a 250 mL Nalgene container (leakproof) with a narrow opening (on the last cruise I brough some extra in a wide mouth Nalgene and discovered how hard it is to pour without making a mess; narrow-mouth it is) (this is the one I prefer, in 4 oz size:
http://www.containerstore.com/s/tra...ound-leakproof-bottles/12d?productId=10000243 as opposed to the wide-mouth version which was messy for pouring into a small mouth bottle:
http://www.containerstore.com/s/tra...47&green=43DD7379-9892-55A2-952A-1606B5E0F13B ) filled with the liquid detergent we use at home (All Free & Clear concentrated).
I have a nice small plastic measure that measures 1 tsp and 1 tbsp in the same measure. I use one at home and I have one for traveling. I also bring an extra of the normal measuring cap for the liquid (again, the lines = too much detergent). On ship I use just over 1 TEASPOON of detergent.
Because our household had sensitivites to any detergent but the one we use, and to even it if left in clothing, laundry when traveling is an expensive proposition. But I still do it.
I do one wash cycle with a couple towels to reduce the amount of other people's detergent/detergent fragrance left in the washer. The towels are then run through the dryer too.
On our last trip on the Dream it usually took 3 wash cycles to get the detergent out. Then into the dryer or back to the stateroom.
I have a mesh pop-up hamper that is used for folded clean clothes and for draping things that cannot go in the dryer (think bras).
On a WDW trip many years ago we discovered some really nice laundry bags with mickey on them and use those for dirty clothes. Those bags I will then usually carry inside the popup hamper to the laundry room. the bags get washed with the clothes.
In our room on our last trip I brought my own clothesline and hung it in the shower. It worked GREAT for letting bathing suits to hang dry from it, saving them from the dryer most of the time. Attached is a pic of what it looked like in action. If anyone is interested I can post info about what I used to make it.
I brought some small plastic clothespins but have never in the end used them; will still prolly bring on the next trip as they don't take up much space.
For washing some things I prefer to do it in a mesh bag (lingerie bag), so I have a couple that I bring for them.
I also bring a Scrubba wash bag (
http://thescrubba.com/ ) and use it in lieu of the washer for some things. Sometimes.
Finally, PP have noted that the nearest laundry room may be above or below you. On our first cruise on the Dream we were going to go to the washer on deck 6 i think it was (we were on deck 5). I ran into our stateroom host on the way to laundry and he asked which room I was going to, I told him and he explained i should instead use the laundry room on deck two as it was actually a shorter trip (down the hall down the elevator and right there, vs down the hall up the stairs or elevator then down the hall again). It is SO MUCH easier using the deck 2 one and I am so glad I saw him when I did. On the Dream for our recent B2B the laundry room was on the same floor as us and really close to our room, which made it even easier to use.
I should add that I usually do the laundry in the wee hours of the morning so there is almost always nobody else around. I set the timer on my smartphone for a few minutes before the cycle will end. The coupel times I have done laundry during the day or evening I have been lucky that there has not been too many others doing the same thing.
SW
