I don't exactly run a marathon on each travel day, but with hours and hours of walking, my clothing is generally a bit too worn at the end of the day to want to wear over again without washing. The possible exception would be some types of trousers, depending on the fabric.

I have only used a laundromat once and that was on a four month trip. I carefully plan what I bring. I can wash out almost everything in the sink. I actually nver bring anything larger than a 24" case and almost always something smaller. I must admit if I am in S.E. Asia or Africa I use local laundries (usually hotel) liberally.

Intrepid -

Well - I never have done laundry by hand - other than rinsing out a bra - and can;t imagine how it can get as clean as being in a washer. A shirt - perhaps. But undies - ick!

It's true the hotel charges for laundry - but it's a vacation after all.

As for ironing - I have found the ironing board is very useful as a place to cool off the trays of Christmas cookies. And I'm sure there must be an iron in the closet somewhere - but haven't seen it in years.

Howard:
"Our encounter with the French instructions at a Paris laundromat and the two non-English-speaking Sorbonne students was indeed a joyous and memorable experience."

I had the same thing happen to me! I went in the laundramat and couldn't even figure out how to put money in the machines. Two cute college boys came over and showed me that I had to buy these funny token things. Then I thought I was all set, when they walked by and pointed out that I had the machine set on "wool" and I had black jeans in it. When I was all done it was SO satisfying to have clean clothes.