5 Best Dirty Laundry Bag Ideas For Travelers
Nothing is more annoying or stinky than mixing your dirty laundry with your clean stuff when you are traveling. We have all been there, and the solution is usually a simple plastic bag, right?
Well, after years of traveling and suffering the same problems as you with my dirty undies getting mixed up with my clean t-shirts, I thought it was time to find the best dirty laundry bag ideas out there!
Our Top Picks
Check out the options and pick the one that best suits you. Don’t dismiss one on first impressions though, some solutions are far more useful and creative than you might imagine.
Below is a quick table to compare features and help you decide what kind of laundry bag to go for.
The first 3 are all simple laundry bags with drawstring closure, water resistance (don’t expect 100%) and some of them are also backpacks (handy if you are traveling and need to carry it a distance to a laundromat).
Below that are a couple of multi-purpose options including a bag that you can also use as a hand-washing machine and a suitcase with a built-in laundry bag.
Top Product Overview
 | Value For Money
| SEE ON AMAZON → |
 |
| SEE ON AMAZON → |
 |
| SEE ON AMAZON → |
 | Best Sealed
| SEE ON AMAZON → |
 | Best Washing Bag
| SEE ON AMAZON → |
 |
| SEE ON AMAZON → |
EzPacking Travel Laundry Bag
Perhaps the simplest and most compact option out of the choices here, the Ezpacking laundry bag is a solid choice for any traveler.
With a strong and durable nylon bag, you can usually never go wrong. It also comes with a simple drawstring to help keep the smell/odors in. Although, unlike the ziplock option further down, it cannot do that 100% (warning smelly sock owners, like me :>).
Another strong point of this dirty laundry bag is that it is focused on folding and packing well. That means you can easily throw it into a carry-on or large suitcase and it will take almost no room. Just don’t lose it!
It is also a nice blue color, which may suit people more than some of the other options below which are a little more boring.
Pros
- Turns into a backpack for easy transport of your dirty clothes
- Strong and water-resistant
- Packs easily (fold or crumple)
Cons
- Not fully closed so the smell may get out
- Some extra space will be taken by the straps and drawstring
Product Information
- Size: 22 x 1 x 16 inches
- Weight: 1.8 ounces
Smooth Trip Travel Laundry Bag (Antimicrobial)
This is a set of 2 dirty laundry bags. So you can choose if you going on a longer trip, or with more people. On top of that, it is made from an antimicrobial material so that really dirty clothes won’t have a chance to ruin the bag or make a stink!
Other points worth noting are that it is very strong (ripstop polyester) and durable, and it cinches closed so you won’t have to worry about the smell leaking out. It’s also water-resistant, which is not a big thing, but handy.
These are not huge bags, just keep that in mind, but for most people, they are more than enough for a week away, and the small bag makes a great place to put shoes, especially when they get a little dirty.
Pros
- Turns into a backpack for easy transport of your dirty clothes
- Strong and water-resistant
- Two size options
Cons
- May not be large enough for long trips or families
Product Information
- Size: (Small) 11.5" x 15" (Large) 16" x 24"
- Weight: Overall - 4.8 ounces
Waterproof Travel Bags (4 pieces)
This is probably the simplest and cheapest choice with the most options.
You get 4 different bags, so you can choose to bring just a few or use them for other purposes, such as a shoe bag.
Keep in mind, these bags are quite small, so although you get the option of many bags, the other two simple bags/backpacks above are bigger than the biggest of these.
So, they are great for small/weekend trips OR shoes/underwear or perhaps your swim gear (although I would use the ziplock below for that – in case it’s wet).
Pros
- 4 different sizes
- Strong and water-resistant
- Packs easily (fold or crumple)
Cons
- Small bags, so only useful for short trips or shoes, underwear, etc.
- Not fully closed so the smell may get out
Product Information
- Sizes: 15x11cm (5.9 x 4.3"), 22 x 15cm(8.6 x 5.9"), 30 x 22cm(11.8 x 8.6"),
- 44 x 30cm(17.3 x 11.8")
- Weight: 2.4 ounces
aLOKSAK - Dirty Laundry Bag
This is in essence just a simple plastic bag with a ziplock. Or is it?
These guys are intended as almost industrial-grade waterproof bags. They are certified down to 60 meters (180ft) and can stay down that deep for over 2 weeks.
What does that mean? The plastic and the seals are very strong and durable. Strong enough to keep the smell in for your dirty clothes!
Another thing about this bag is that you can use it for other things if you need to. Like waterproofing things when you do water sport, or just want to keep the sand off at the beach.
The uses are almost endless.
And it’s quite cheap, comes in a few sizes and usually in a 4 pack!
Pros
- Simple and cheap
- Multiple uses - seeing as it is super water/air proof
- Could double as a sink if you need to wash
Cons
- Not very attractive
- Ziplock seals can be fiddly
Scrubba Portable Laundry System Wash Bag
The Scrubba Bag is a bit more of a solid solution to the dirty laundry bag/washing machine combo idea that is possible using the aLOKSAC ziplock bag above.
It is kind of a dry bag (used for keeping things dry while kayaking etc) used as a laundry wash bag – if you want to keep it simple.
So, with this bag, you can be sure it is going to last as well as solve your dirty laundry and washing machine issues while traveling.
If all you do is go to hotels and give in your laundry for cleaning, this option is probably not for you. But, for the more independent traveler who often is stuck with a week’s worth of clothes and suddenly no laundry in sight (or maybe you are camping?). This is great.
How does it work? It’s best if you watch the video below, but basically, you put in the right proportions of detergent and water and then scrub like your grandma used to do on the old washboards!
Pros
- Doubles as a dirty laundry bag and washing machine
- Extremely durable and waterproof (so a long-lasting solution)
- Easy to keep the smell of your dirty laundry away from your clothes
Cons
- Not going to clean your laundry like a machine
- Hard work! (more of an emergency solution I would think)
- A simple laundry bag might be enough for most people
Genius Pack Luggage G3 22" Carry On Spinner (With Laundry Pocket)
Doesn’t look like a dirty laundry bag?
You are right. The team at genius has realized that we always have dirty laundry when we travel. So, why not build a dirty laundry bag into our luggage!
Awesome idea, right?
Now, instead of having to worry about a separate bag, you just have to take your luggage.
How does it work? Well, it is a separate compartment in the bag, and on top of that, it is compressible, so it’s easy to get all your dirty stuff in. And, avoid the bloated, not well packed, dirty laundry bag problem we all have!
Want to see how it works? Check out the video below.
This bag also has a bunch of other useful features with the frequent traveler in mind (at last).
Such as:
- Mobile charging unit (sold separately) and a handy spot to put it.
- Jacket holder hook, to stop you from losing your jacket when you sling it over your carry-on
- Zip-out water bottle holder, so you can slide in your water bottle while walking to the plane.
- A handy spot for an umbrella (sold separately) – useful for travelers who end up in wet locations!
This is really an all-in-one solution for the frequent traveler who hates all those fiddling things we have to deal with!
Pros
- Compress laundry contents through a built-in valve
- Secluded laundry compartment (completely separate from your other clothes)
- Removable laundry bag – easy to remove and clean
- Lots of added features for the frequent traveler and an overall useful carry on
Cons
- All the extra features might be over the top for most people
- Not as durable as some of the more premium brand carry-ons (Samsonite etc)
- A simple laundry bag might be enough for most people
Conclusion
No matter what your specific needs when it comes to travel, there is an ideal dirty laundry travel bag solution for you.
Whether it is a simple ziplock (instead of the crappy plastic bag) or a complete carry-on bag with a dirty laundry compartment, you have a lot to choose from.
Take a detailed look at all the ideas and let us know which one you found the best for you!
Always open to new ideas too :> So if I have missed something cool, let me know in the comments or via the contact page.
