Laundry. It’s not many people’s favorite chore, but a very important one. No one wants to be the stinky person. Truck drivers face a unique challenge as you spend most of your time on the road and don’t have access to a washer and dryer to do your laundry on a regular basis like at home. Luckily there are ways to limit the amount and frequency that you have to do laundry so you can focus on driving and reaching your business goals.
Buy the Right Clothes
Buying clothes made with the appropriate fabric is important in remaining stink-free over your long-hauls. Most people will gravitate towards Polyester or Poly-blend shirts as they are often marketed as being better than cotton shirts. Sure, they may absorb sweat faster, but poly shirts tend to hold their stink longer. Plain cotton is the way to go. Brands like Carhartt are built to last longer between washes so pay attention to labels and quality when buying clothes for the road. Also, dark colored shirts tend to hid dirt better than lighter colored clothing.
Wear Your Clothes Longer
Yes, you can wear your shirt or pants longer than one day. You should probably change your socks and underwear once per day though, but other clothing items such as shirt, sweaters, and jeans can be worn more than once. Unless you get grease or oil all over your jeans then you can go several days or even weeks before needing to wash your jeans. If anything, you can always spot clean your jeans with a little water and soap. By wearing clothes slightly longer you don’t have to pack your cab full with clothes. No one will know the difference either.
Dealing with Dirty Laundry
Nothing is worse than mixing up all your clean clothes with your dirty clothes. Keep dirty cleans separate by purchasing a laundry bag that can be hung in the back of your cab. Laundry bags are inexpensive and can be purchased almost anywhere.
Doing Laundry on the Road
Unfortunately trucks don’t come with their own personal washer and dryer inside the cab. Laundry will need to be done at a Laundromat, which may make you shutter in fear a little. Most truck stops today have laundry facilities. Throw your laundry in the washer and go do other errands and chores. Laundry can be done while multitasking to ensure you’re being efficient and getting all your chores done before hitting the road again. If you don’t have any chores to do, I’m sure you’ll love a nap during your downtime!
If you need to clean something while on the road you can always spot clean a garment in the sink of a rest stop and hang it to dry in your cab. Dawn dish detergent does wonders on grease stains. Just rub Dawn into the spot, leave it overnight and wash the clothes with water in the morning.
Laundry doesn’t have to be a major chore for trucker drivers. By packing the right clothes and wearing your clothes a little longer than you would at home, you can extend the frequency that you need to do laundry. Your clean clothes will remain fresher if you keep your dirty clothes in a separate bag and don’t be afraid to spot clean and air dry items. As truck drivers you have too many other important things to think about so make laundry one of those necessary, but bottom of the list chores with these simple tips.
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