Whether you’re coming home from a long vacation or a wrapping up a weekend away, packing your dirty laundry alongside your clean clothes can lead to a smelly laundry pile. The dirty clothes are typically filled with all the icks: perspiration, body oils, dirt, and skin cells that attract bacteria, and with it, funky smells. But those remaining clothes are still clean, and might still need to be worn on your trip.
We asked laundry and travel pros how to avoid contaminating your clean clothes in your suitcase. Here's what we learned.
How to Keep Clothes Fresh in Your Suitcase
“Clothes easily absorb odors,” says Scott Schrader, a cleaning expert at CottageCare. He suggests washing everything when you get home. The suitcase is a humid environment, and bacteria easily transfers to clean clothes here. “This is the perfect time to reset your wardrobe and keep mildew from settling into your fabrics,” he adds.
While doing extra laundry might be inevitable, there are methods and products that minimize the spread of bacteria and make packing up a better experience.
1. Plan Early
Before you leave home, consider the return trip. These travel products help reduce the spread of smells in your suitcase.
- An antimicrobial or odor-blocking laundry bag can hold all of your dirty clothes until you make it home.
- Packing cubes are designed with one side for clean clothes and the other for the clothes you’ve worn, keeping clothes separated.
- A compression or dry bag seals in moisture and odor until you can do laundry.
- Tuck a foldable, nylon duffle in your suitcase. When empty, some of these nylon bags weigh just a few ounces so it won't add any weight or bulk. Then put all your clean clothes in it for the return trip. If you’re flying, this could be your personal item.
2. Wash on the Go
If your dirty or foul clothes simply can’t wait, try these options for washing on the go. If you'll be in one place for a while, use a local laundromat or ask the hotel about laundry service. You could also consider investing in a product like the Scrubba, a portable “washing machine” that cleans clothes in a small bag with water and a detergent sheet.
Handwashing select items is also an easy solution: Bring laundry detergent in a travel-size container and wash any necessary items by hand in a sink or bathtub. Be sure you allow time to dry everything before you need to pack for the return trip.
3. Designate a Dirty Zone
Solutions don't need to be fancy! Plan to place all your dirty clothes in one place, and keep them separate from your clean items.
Use common and available items like plastic grocery sacks, large zipper plastic bags, or even a laundry sack from your hotel to separate dirty clothes. Or, consider packing your suitcase so that your dirty clothes are at the bottom, and clean clothes are at the top—separated by your toiletries bag. It’s not perfect, but it helps. And, always pack your shoes in a separate bag.
4. Let Go of the Stress
Megan Daniels, founder at Journey Currencies, says it’s okay to pack your dirty clothes with your clean clothes, on one condition. “Don’t worry about putting them together, and plan to wash them all when you return.”
Source: Barnes, K. (2025c, August 18). 4 tricks to keep your clothes smelling fresh (and fight the suitcase ick) while you’re traveling. Better Homes & Gardens. https://www.bhg.com/how-to-pack-dirty-clothes-in-suitcase-11772122