Travel laundry wash and stain removers

A travel wash is a concentrated laundry gel in a small tube, made for washing a few clothes by hand in a sink. A stain remover is a separate, targeted product for a specific kind of mark, such as ink, grease or fruit juice. Together they cover most small laundry problems away from a washing machine, which is why they suit hotel sundries, travel retail, office pantries and convenience counters.

What a travel wash does

The Dr Beckmann Travel Wash in our range is a 100ml tube. The brand describes it as "a concentrated gel for general garment washing and spot stain removal", and lists these points on the pack:

• Suitable for whites and coloured laundry
• Non-bio formula
• Easy-to-use gel format
• Each tube provides up to 20 hand washes

The listing says the non-bio formula is "suitable for all types of washable and colourfast fabrics". In everyday terms, that means a traveller can rinse out socks, underwear, a shirt or swimwear in a hotel basin and hang them to dry overnight.

There is a practical packing tip on the listing too: make sure the cap is tight and put the tube in a plastic bag before it goes in a suitcase. That is worth passing on to customers, because a leaking gel in a bag is nobody's idea of a good start to a holiday.

Bio and non-bio, briefly

Laundry products are often labelled "bio" or "non-bio". Bio detergents contain enzymes that help break down certain stains, while non-bio ones do not. Some people with sensitive skin prefer non-bio products. The Dr Beckmann Travel Wash is labelled non-bio, so if a customer asks, you can tell them that from the pack.

Stain removers: match the stain to the product

Stain removers work best when they are matched to the type of stain. The Dr Beckmann Stain Devils range comes in 50ml bottles in four types, and the brand's descriptions are specific:

• Pens & Ink. Described as using a "colour-particle remover" for stains from ballpoint or highlighter pens, glue, wax crayons, finger paints and watercolours.
• Fats & Sauces. Described as a "multi-fat remover formula" for barbecue sauce, butter, chocolate, cooking fat or tomato ketchup.
• Lubricants & Oils. Described as aimed at industrial and DIY greases and lubricants, and also for resin, candle wax, grease, oil, tar and shoe polish.
• Fruits & Drinks. The fourth type in the range, for food and drink spills.

That level of detail is useful for a shop, because it makes the products easy to explain. A parent with a crayon stain on a school shirt and a cyclist with chain oil on their trousers need different bottles.

As with any stain remover, it is sensible to tell customers to read the instructions on the pack and test on a hidden area first, especially on delicate or unusual fabrics.

Who buys these

Small laundry products sell in more places than you might expect:

• Hotels and serviced apartments. A travel wash tube makes an easy front-desk item for guests on longer stays, and a pen and ink remover is handy for business travellers. Our guide to guest amenities for hotels and serviced apartments covers this in more depth.
• Offices. A stain remover in the pantry drawer saves a shirt after a lunchtime curry or a leaking pen.
• Travel and convenience retail. Customers about to fly look for compact, ready-to-pack items.
• Schools and childcare suppliers. Ink, crayon and paint stains are a daily event.

Fabric softener after the wash

If a guest or customer is washing larger loads, a fabric softener finishes the job. The Hygiene softener we carry is a Thai-manufactured product with a hand wash dosage on the label: 20ml into 20 litres of water, soak 15 to 20 pieces for 10 to 15 minutes, then wring out and dry. For more on choosing softeners for shared laundries, see choosing a fabric softener for a laundry, hostel or hotel.

Displaying them well

• Group the stain removers together and label them by stain type, so customers can find the right one without reading every bottle.
• Put the travel wash near other travel items, such as mini toiletries and inhalers.
• Keep them away from food on shared shelves.

The full laundry range is in our home category, or go straight to the Travel Wash product page.

When you know which stain types and how many tubes you need, add them to your enquiry list. We will reply with pricing, minimum order and current stock.