Non Electric Clothes washers

[jkindredpdx]

Originally Posted by oldragbaggers

A bit of an improvement over just a bucket, we plan to carry one of these onboard.

Kit for hand washing clothes and laundry. Plunger washer and more.

I have the grit guard shown for the bottom of the bucket... Grit Guard® | U.S. Plastic Corp. when cleaning the boat or deck. I've never tried to for laundry. My reason for the gamma seal lid with a hole for the plunger shaft is to keep the soapy wash water from splashing in my face. Leaktite 5-gal. Screw Top Lid-5GAMMA6 - The Home Depot. Unfortunately both items seem a bit expensive, but have multiple uses.

[sy_gilana]

The evolution of wash-day.

When we started cruising in '99 we had bought a "Sputnik" this was a hand cranked sealed drum. We used it once or twice, but it was a PITA, because it took so long...the volume was too small.

We upgraded to 3 x 5 Gal buckets, this way we could cascade the laundry and save a bit of water, where 1st rinse bucket became wash water, and 2nd rinse became 1st rinse, etc so only the dirtiest water was dumped.

We put a padye with swivel onto the Sputnik, with the idea that we would load it with laundry while underway, and tow it as the agitator. That was a failure too....due to volume.

We then went electric, and thats not the OP's question, but, we bought a plastic 99 euro washer only. This lasted a few years, and it only consumed 120w.

Now we use a cheap plastic twin tub electric machine cost $99.95 in Panama and we are saving so much water. We use Ammonia, not soap, this requires NO rinsing, and is the biggest water saving, besides being kinder to the planet as the Hydrogen and Nitrogen occur naturally. We feel better letting the used wash-water run into the sea as we use it to rinse our stainless steel.
The trick is, after the wash, while the spinner is running, the drained water runs into a bucket, and is returned to the washing side.

We would not go back to hand wash. Our solar panels run the washing machine....

[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by oldragbaggers

A bit of an improvement over just a bucket, we plan to carry one of these onboard.

$33 for a bucket and plumber

I'm in the wrong business

[Tayana42]

Originally Posted by Lizzy Belle

$33 for a bucket and plumber



I'm in the wrong business

In the USA the plungers are also known as "plumbers helpers". It seems the helpers are following the billing practices of the plumbers.


S/V B'Shert

[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

It seems the helpers are following the billing practices of the plumbers.

Oops - I meant plunger of course *blush*

Smart marketing tho, selling a bucket and plunger for $33.

I especially love the 'seperator' which will keep the dirty water away from the clean water

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by hamburking

+1 for a good bucket to wash clothes.
Get several that nest inside each other...they are very handy.
And don't forget the clothespins!

Just about every marina and yacht club around here has laundry facilities, in case my bucket is broken.

Nice photo!

[Cheechako]

5 gallon plastic bucket with lid. put in clothes and water/soap hang over the stern by a lanyard so it' just a bit in the water. The wind wave action will slosh and wash.

[AD28]

As for a wringer, I have just received my antique $40 wringer from eBay and I do believe it will do just as fine a job as the $170 wringer that I have seen recommended in various fora

ymmv

[a64pilot]

Back playing Army in the desert we washed our clothes in waterproof bags, think flexible bucket, found that woolite was much easier to rinse out than regular detergent, rinsing all the soap out was the biggest problem.
I plan on a cheap electric washing machine, one that will spin well is my goal for the boat.


Sent from my iPad Pro using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[JPA Cate]

^^^^
A64pilot:
Where on earth will you put it? Will you have a watermaker?

Valhalla360:

I disagree. I think bucket washing gets your stuff cleaner, because there's a tendency to rinse until it's clean, rather just one wash, one rinse. I guess your mileage varied!;-)

Ann

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

5 gallon plastic bucket with lid. put in clothes and water/soap hang over the stern by a lanyard so it' just a bit in the water. The wind wave action will slosh and wash.

At the dock you will likely need a plunger. But out at anchor, with a ripple of wind, the movement of the bucket will probably cycle ~500 times an hour!

[UNCIVILIZED]

This seems like a good one for thinking on, to come up with some DIY type, zero energy soluctions.

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

At the dock you will likely need a plunger.

The word "need" jumps out at me. Not that a plunger is a big deal, but I do see a mind set going on here.

Nothing more than a bucket and my hands do all of the work just fine. Although I do have a plunger aboard that has never been deployed on my laundry. But certainly not a wringer.

Sorry to sound judgy here, but it just seems that some folks are getting a distorted picture of what they think will make life flow easier once they drop the dock lines.

Just soaking your clothes alone can do a lot more cleaning than machines do, without shortening the life of the clothes either. Of course I do a little agitation too. But if you think you need to beat your clothes the way a machine does, then I'm thinking you have been sucked into the push button, gotta have power tools sort of mindset.

When I do soak my clothes, and I can see the residual soap left from the last machine wash, then I can only think that my bucket and I are doing a better job.

If your really going to enjoy digging out the hardware in order to get your clothing any more dry than your hands and a little gravity can do, then ok. Raise your hulls waterline with as much as you want. I'm seeing more work, not less.

One of my least favorite things to do is dig things out, then having to re- bury them for next time. I don't care how much free space I may have aboard. I just cannot imagine bringing the afore mentioned hardware aboard.

[Cheechako]

You make a good point. Especially cruising, what few clothes you have mostly just need soaking a bit and rinsing. unless you are north rather than the lower lattitudes!

[Minggat]

Also a good point.
If I had a bulky clothes to wash, I would go find a laundromat.
Lazy, maybe even hypocritical.