"Seriously even if you want two pair a day, how much room can a dozen pairs of undies take up?"

For sure. Unless they are the size of Queen Vicotira's you should be able to take doezens without them taking up any room at all. ;)

Stuff them inside shoes, in corners of the suitcase where there are gaps. They should make no difference in the amount of room you have when done packing.

Stuff them inside shoes? PU! ;)

Once when we were traveling around South America for a few weeks, I went to a grocery store in Brazil and bought the smallest possible package of laundry detergent I could find. I do not speak Portuguese -- other than tourist phrases -- and the package had an attractive picture of clothes on a line drying in a breeze.

That night, I washed underwear. The soap didn't suds much, but I figured maybe it was that biodegradable stuff. Anyway, when my husband put on his shorts the next morning, he said, "What the hey?" I'd used starch, not soap.

LOL Isle!

Bring the 6 - 12 pair of undies to last your trip.

For short trips like yours, bring a seperate undies only quart or bigger ziplock bag to put the ones needing to be washed back home.

I also use the plastic draw string laundry bag in the hotel closet to put my "dirty" clothes in so they don't mix with my clean clothes on the trip home.

Forgot to ask: are you staying all nights in the same hotel? If yes, then what are you worried about? Not like you have to pack up damp undies in the morning to move to the next hotel. THAT can be yucky.

Six days?

OMG! I thought you were going to be gone for months.

I can fit 12 pair of skivvies in my handbag.

Take balloons . . . they are small, lightweight, take up no room.

After washing and rolling your undies in a towel, blow up a balloon and put it inside, then hang up. Undies will dry overnight, as you won't have two wet piece of material touching.

This works great for shirts, pants, anything you need to dry fast. Also, leave the bathroom light on, it will help heat up and dry.

Works for me!
Sandy (in Denton)

I bought some quick-drying briefs for an 21-day escorted trip I took a few years ago, anticipating that I might have to rush out in the morning before my "regular" briefs would be dry. It was a good idea.

This inquiry reminded me of a line from "Beyond the Fringe," starring Jonathan Miller and Dudley Moore (1962)--something about doing less laundry by buying "paper underwear and an eraser." It got a big laugh, but that was more than 45 years ago.

Islebethere, I am laughing about your starch story! thanks!

My wife actually has bought disposable panties before. She takes those if we are at a themepark with a log water ride or something similar to that. They are a one time use. LOL. I say if that it is that big a deal, heck, just go Comando Style and skip them altogether

Well - frankly, I don;t think panties washed by hand are clean - and wouldn;t wear them. I want them to go through a whole wash cycle before I wear them again.

But panties are tiny - and take up practically no room - you can pack 10 or 12 pair in the space of one top or pair of pants.

Just bring enough with you.

I want to yell (in a nice way) THIS TRIP IS ONLY SIX DAYS.

I think there's lots of good tips here if you are traveling for weeks or months on end, but I see absolutely no reason to be washing out underwear on a six day stay.

Cira, Because you admitted you are a problem packer, look at the other things... like trying to take the perfect pieces that pack well, wear well, layer nicely, colors that mix and match. And appropriate shoes. Downsize your toiletries and cosmetics and take just enough for the week. THAT's where people go wrong packing too much... NOT by taking 6-12 pairs of cotton underwear.

Trust me ;-)

amen to nytraveler.

Who needs panties in Vegas?

1) Take one less pair of shoes and you will have enough room.
or

2) Use the laundry service at the hotel.
or

3) go to a laundromat
or

4) take your wet undies out for a walk - maybe have lunch al fresco at Mon Ami Gabi. Arrange the wet undies on a chair at your table, or on the table. By the time you are finished with lunch the undies will be dry, having been in the hot/dry Vegas sun.

If you really want to know how quickly you undergarments will dry, do a test run at home. Wash a pair, and see how long it takes. If they don't dry fast enough, either adjust what you're taking or try some of the methods given here.


Mine don't take too long to dry. I can usually count on washing them before dinner and having them ready before breakfast. DH is another story - his briefs take longer to dry (and I doubt I could ever get him to change to something different). I just have to plan accordingly.

I bought a travel clothesline from Magellans - Flexoline - that works like a charm for hanging. Plus, you can find somewhere not in the bathroom to hang it - like near an open window or a heater - to help the drying process.


Even though the OP is only going for a few days, the suggestions are valid for other travellers on other trips. I certainly don't take two weeks' worth of underclothes when I travel for two weeks, so I know that I'm going to be washing some out during the trip.

The original post is from August. I'm not sure why this thread was topped, but I bet the OP's undies are dry by now...

Lee Ann

Heehee - yeah, I certainly hope the panties are dry by now.

I did want to say though that you CAN get panties clean washing them by hand and that no one with sensitive skin should ever consider sending their panties out for laundry - don't want to take a chance of having a reaction to the laundry detergent - LOL.