Access to soap/detergent/etc.

[RWheeler]

When thru-hiking, how does one get access to things like detergents for washing clothing, and shampoo/soap for showering? Do you just buy new stuff each time you're about to do that washing, and ditch the rest somewhere, or is it easy to come across smaller "single use" quantities?

[Spokes]

Wait till you do laundry in town then buy. No worries.

If I stayed in a hostel I would always buy and leave some extra stuff like toilet paper, new shampoo, body wash for other hikers. You know, pay it forward.

[Tuckahoe64]

Most all public laundries have vending machines selling single use detergent. For all other soap uses I just carry a 2 ounce bottle of Palmolive. Of course I am not a through hiker.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Sometime you can yogi detergent off a kind stranger or give someone .50 for a capful as well. If not, most laundomats have vending machines for single use packets. Most all motels have complimentary soap and shampoo in the rooms. Not sure about hostels but I'd imagine some do as well.

[swjohnsey]

I carry a bar of Ivory. Most laundromats will have a coin vending maching for detergent. Hostels that have laundry facilities usually have detergent available. Occassionally you will find a motel that doesn't have detergent available. I try to yogi it off the housekeeping staff.