# If I bring a bag of laundry detergent on a plane... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 13, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900 "2004-07-13T15:14:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/21 "2004-07-14T13:53:43Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > I was recently in a plane that was delayed for about 45 minutes because one woman had baking powder in her luggage. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/22 "2004-07-14T19:24:01Z")
She probably used it as an antacid. Baking soda works well mixed with a little water an injested. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/23 "2004-07-14T20:18:53Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > She probably used it as an antacid. Baking soda works well mixed with a little water an injested. Or to brush her teeth. Or as a natural deodorant. My sister uses a combination of baking soda and cornstarch in place of Shower to Shower or baby powder. There are a lot of uses for baking soda beyond baking. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/24 "2004-07-15T15:20:46Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > There’s no principle involved in my not wanting to buy detergent, it’s just that it would seem silly to do so when I have so much at home (especially since I might have to buy a whole box full of it … and I’m not sure I’ll be able to read the label to know exactly what I’m buying!). > > I think I’ll stick it in my carry on bag and that way if there’s any questions it can be resolved straightaway while I’m standing there, sure they can open up the bag and smell it. > > Thanks guys 🙂 :: furrows his brows in confusion :: Why? What do you get out of it, besides filling up your suitcase, chancing a spill, and potentially getting in trouble? Is this, like, really, really expensive detergent or something? If you do take it, though, I recommend tying it in a baggie and swallowing it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/25 "2004-07-15T15:49:39Z")
Well, I’ve been doing some research-by-Google, with the following results: Travel-related sites including “laundry detergent” on the list of things to remember to pack: lots Sites mentioning a security problem with bringing powdered detergent: 0. So between that and the advice (above) of an actual airport security guy, **3.885AM** , it looks to me like I was just being paranoid. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/26 "2004-07-15T15:53:43Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > … will they think it’s cocaine and stop and search me? > > I’m going away for two weeks and will have to do laundry at least once so I thought I’d just scoop a bit of detergent into a Ziploc baggy. But then I thought the X-Ray guys might get suspicious. Am I just being paranoid? > > I know I could just buy some detergent there, but it seems kind of silly since I have a Costco size box full of it at home. They’ll probably confiscate your travel stash anyway, so you may as well just buy some when you get to your destination. It’s not like the Costco box is going to go to waste. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/27 "2004-07-15T15:58:42Z")
Also, IME the security guys in European airports don’t search you as thoroughly as they do in American airports these days. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/28 "2004-07-16T21:07:33Z")
Magellan’s website and Travelsmith’s website probably both have small sealed packets of detergent designed especially for travel for sale. Also, fairly small boxes of detergent are available at many stores and certainly at laundromats. Why not just buy it there though? ---
**Author:** ![SylverOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SylverOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SylverOne)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/29 "2004-07-16T21:38:17Z")
What Zoe said. I’d go down to the local laundromat, and buy a couple of single size boxes of detergent. Dryer sheets too, if you use them. That way, the boxes are clearly labeled and are sealed too. When (if) security looks through your bags, it won’t cause any problems. That couldn’t possibly cost more than a couple of bucks. Those boxes are only $.50 here. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/30 "2004-07-17T01:13:00Z")
Why not just go to the store and buy a small bottle of liquid detergent. Put it in your bag and go to the airport without any problems. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/31 "2004-08-01T09:46:21Z")
Brought the detergent in my backpack through security at Dublin and Heathrow Airports without so much as a second glance. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/32 "2004-08-01T10:24:29Z")
Sorry I got here late. I do this all the time when I travel. You need a bag to separate soiled clothes from clean, so I chuck a cupfull of detergent powder in a leaf litter bag. I then use that bag as my laundry bag (the detergent also keeps the smell down in small hotel rooms). When wash day arrives I just go to a laundromat and dump it all in. If I’m going long enough for two loads I keep the second lot of powder in a lunch bag and now add it to the empty garbage bag. Never been asked even if luggage was searched (that has happened twice - my turn I guess). ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/33 "2004-08-01T11:02:02Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > Brought the detergent in my backpack through security at Dublin and Heathrow Airports without so much as a second glance. Ha. So the trial run went ok? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/34 "2004-08-01T13:30:31Z")
Suggestion? Go to your nearest laundromat and buy one (or more) of the single-size packets of detergent from the vending machine. This way, when and if some agent runs across it, at least it looks more innocuous that some white powder in a baggie. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/35 "2004-08-01T14:07:22Z")
I’ve never actually seen any detergent vending machines in Ireland, but thanks for the suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/36 "2004-08-01T14:15:29Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > I’ve never actually seen any detergent vending machines in Ireland, but thanks for the suggestion. Hmmm…do I smell a business venture begging to be exploited?..CHA-CHING!!! ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900/37 "2004-08-01T16:07:01Z")
Haven’t heard back from **ruadh** about the detergent caper. Suppose he’s in Gitmo? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-bring-a-bag-of-laundry-detergent-on-a-plane/254900.md?page=1)