Before a long trip, buy new underwear. Then pack the old underwear. Also pack, or buy at destination a bottle of concentrated laundry soap or cold water wash. Wash out and hang undies each night, hang near a/c if necessary so it's dry in the morning. Or use a coin op machine for a load of wash on a long trip if possible.
But the key to the tip is that if you have six pair of underwear, then on the fifth to the last day, you wear one, and then throw it away. Same thing next day, and so on, till the last day of the trip, you should have one clean pair left to wear on your way home. HOME. Where you have all that new underwear.

Even Rick Steves was not the first to come up with this "brilliant" idea.

Don't you have enough "old" underwear to last the trip? Why bother washing underwear you plan to toss?

I, personally, cannot imagine leaving dirty underwear in the trash basket for the maid to have to dump.

And, here's hoping your flights home are not delayed.

djkbooks needs to know: Don't you have enough "old" underwear to last the trip? Why bother washing underwear you plan to toss?


First time I did this tip, it was a 100 day trip. So, the answer is NO.

Your choice, for a month long trip carry 30 pair of drawers or 5 pair and some cold water wash.
But the point was to not bring the old stuff home.
I'm sorry if my tip wasn't 'brilliant' enough for you, and that you can't imagine it, but it has been used by many friends and fellow travelers since I first started using this tip about eleven years ago. I thought it could be of some value to readers here. And it probably will be, to some of them.
You have a real nice day now, djkboo

I usually bring about a week's worth of underwear on trips and hand wash them as I go along. I don't bring the old underwear and toss them out as I go along though. It is basically a cost/benefit thing for me. The underwear doesn't take up much space, so I wouldn't gain enough by tossing it out along the way to justify spending my vacation wearing old underwear.

If it works for others, then I think it is a fine idea, and I certainly wouldn't worry about leaving dirty underwear in the trash for the maid to throw away - you know, considering what else goes into the trash on a regular basis. Dirty underwear is pretty tame - LOL.

I'm not insulting your tip but I do the opposite, because I wouldn't want to be wearing old underwear that is ready to be thrown out on my vacation! I take the nicest newest ones (5 pairs is plenty) and wash them out in the sink with shampoo. They certainly don't take up enough room in my suitcase that tossing them would bring any particular space benefit.

We've been doing the same thing for 30 years--we even call the underwear we're ready to pitch "vacation underwear". But it's not raggedy or full of holes--I'm the only one who can tell it's on it's last wearing. I don't want to waste time doing laundry on vacation.

All's well and good, until your flight home gets canceled at the last minute and your vacation is one day longer than anticipated

I've never had enough "vacation underwear" for an entire vacation, so I wouldn't be stranded going commando. And I always pack one extra pair and an extra day's medications for just such an emergency.

we even call the underwear we're ready to pitch "vacation underwear". But it's not raggedy or full of holes--I'm the only one who can tell it's on it's last wearing. abram

```````````
Exactly, abram! Glad someone understands, I really didn't think it would be so controversial, was just a tip that has helped me and others I know.

Sounds like either you wear out your underwear real fast, or you don't travel very often!

MsE, I also think this is a most excellent idea. I carry it even further, and take along clothing I'm done with for any reason --

In an earlier post, I said:
<i>Does anyone else like to come back from Europe with less than they took? I check one inexpensive duffel bag on the way over, discard things as I use them, and leave the bag itself. All I bring back is my carry-on.
Tremendous feeling of lightness, not to mention the thrill of coming home to brand new underthings! Just curious, as so many posters seem concerned with &quot;bags within bags...&quot;</i>

Needless to say, the concept was attacked by those who can't conceive of packing any differently than they do!

(And, yes, the keeper items in my carry-on cover me in any emergency.)

Controversial? Just because a couple people give a few reasons why they don't use your tip does not make it controversial

I agree, there's certainly nothing &quot;controversial&quot; about not wanting to wear old underwear and leave it scattered in hotel waste baskets across Europe!

I know this is a time honored travel &quot;tip&quot; but I still think it is bizarre.

As Abram so succinctly put it:
<b>I don't want to waste time doing laundry on vacation.</b>

But Suze, I absolutely defend your right to think differently and do not think your decision is bizarre!

No matter how long my trip will be, I only pack no more than 3 pairs of panties. I do take, however, many many panty liners. I use the same pair of panties for two days (with fresh liners of course), switch on the third day and use for two days, then back to the original pair. After doing this for 2 or 3 rotations, I wash them out in the sink.

Glad to hear it's OK for me to wear clean new underwear on my trip. and sorry but that pantiliner trick is just gross.

I don't know how big everyone's underwear is, or how long their trip is, but it's easy enough to pack a clean pair per day for the duration of a trip, if you feel strongly about not washing a few things out now &amp; then. Taking old underwear doesn't save any room packing for the way over, and only the smallest amount of space freed up for the return trip.

And some would consider it <i>gross</i> to carry home a week's worth of worn underwear.....

But the beauty of a forum like this is that ideas can be presented freely and advice sifted and gathered. I'm grateful to all who post and are so generous with their expertise and experience!

&quot;I don't know how big everyone's underwear is, or how long their trip is, but it's easy enough to pack a clean pair per day for the duration of a trip&quot;.

Well, no, suze, it really does depend on the length of the trip, lol! My most recent trip was five weeks, and my longest ten months: if I packed enough underwear for every day there'd be no room for anything else. I have no problem doing a little laundry every couple of days.

True true Thursdaysd, obviously neither of the plans (throwing out or bringing enough) works for a trip of more than a couple weeks.

nyse~ I'm wondering now, if it is &quot;gross&quot; to bring home worn underthings, is it also gross to bring home your clothing that is dirty from the trip?
;-)

I have a ziplock bag for dirty socks and underwear in order to keep them seperated from my clean things. And the zip lock bag allows them to be squished down small so they don't take up much space. Works really well for me.

I don't think I'd do the pantyliner thing - my panties aren't that big, so I don't think I'd save much space (if any) by packing fewer panties and bringing liners instead. Plus, I do not like to wear liners unless I have to. I can't imagine wearing them everyday by choice for a couple weeks.

Regarding the throwing out of other clothing while on a trip - anybody who does that must not use their clothing as long as I do. I hardly ever throw anything away that is still useful. If it is presentable, but I no longer want it - it gets donated. Other things become work clothing or rags. It is really rare that I just toss clothing.