Tracee Ellis Ross unpacks her 'delicate' secrets to effortless solo travel packing

When it comes to packing for a getaway, one would typically think of layering the suitcase with a veritable buffet of clothing options; however, "Black-ish" star Tracee Ellis Ross has a refreshingly minimalist approach.

The 52-year-old shared her quirky travel essentials in front of a curious audience at the Travel + Leisure's World's Best Summit in New York City, making jaws drop with her packing philosophy: "There’s always one bathing suit, a flip flop and one little dress I can roll up. And there’s always two undies," she said.

"Travel + Leisure" editor-in-chief Jacqui Gifford wasn’t shy about probing further, asking: "Two undies, that’s it?" To which Ross responded that she often takes matters into her own hands, literally.

"I use a hotel sink and a bar of soap to hand-wash my undergarments. You can’t pack a month’s worth of underwear. They take up a lot of space," Ross explained.

But wait, there’s more!

Just days after her onstage appearance, Ross took to Instagram to clarify her packing strategy: "This is hilarious. I pack two pairs in my carry-on in case my luggage doesn’t make it." 

Her openness came just ahead of the premiere of her new travel show, "Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross", which is set to premiere on the Roku Channel on Friday, July 25.

Mixing her love for travel with the joys of self-exploration, Ross describes herself as "a solo travelling broad" looking to take her audience on a fun-filled journey of culture, cuisine and, of course, hotel pools.

Back in 2023, Ross championed the power of solo travel, encouraging others to embrace the experience, starting with a simple dinner for one.

"See if you can do that. You might find you can’t! Then you’re not ready for a solo trip," she said in her feature with Travel + Leisure’s The Best in Class Issue 2023.

Back to the delicates, Ross posted a TikTok video showcasing her practical approach to laundry while on holiday.

She broke down the process, saying that she uses shower gel, a bar of soap and two sinks to hand wash her underwear before she rings them out, rolls them into a towel and then hangs them up to dry. 

Viewers appreciated her down-to-earth wisdom, praising her for being "so relatable" despite her star status.

"This is why we love you, Tracee! So relatable!" gushed one fan, while others expressed admiration for her throwback laundry skills.

South Africans rushed to the comments to add their voices.

@user9199855113634 said: "Don't you wash everything after bathing? That's what we do in South Africa."

@Moyakazi commented: "Are we the only nation that washes one at a time every day?"

Whether it is one at a time or all at once, sometimes you have to get your hands dirty, or at least your undies clean!