No washing machine - advice needed

[Deleted User]

Hi I am moving into a caravan in a rural location, while looking for property, for a few months, we have no laundrettes, family etc, any advice on how to wash/dry clothes , I think it will be impossible, has any one been in the same situation, just don't know what to do, at the moment (in my house) I do a full load every day, Advice grateful received.

valk_scot

Well, is there a launderette nearbye in a big town? Presumably you have to go somewhere now and again for a big shop. If so, you could hand wash where practical and take a big multiple load in every second week. Yes, not cheap but...

The other solution is to ask a neighbour if you could use her washer for a couple of loads a week. Pay her for the electricity at the very least but you might be able to do a swap (Babysitting? Cleaning?) for the favour. I'd let anyone use my washing machine if they cleaned the bathroom once a week!

Finally, I don't suppose this caravan (Caravan or static???) is on a campsite? Because many campsites actually have laundry blocks nowadays.

Pitlanepiglet

Well.....firstly you probably need to remember that clothes can be worn more than once before needing to be washed....we've forgotten that now we have washing machines to hand.

Re washing, I read a suggestion from some campers that you get hold of an empty marine flare container or any other big plastic tub with a tight fitting lid. Put your clothes, some detergent (don't go overboard on this) and some golf balls (I suppose eco balls might be better and would aid the need to rinse?). You can then drive round with this in the back of your car and the friction will wash the clothes - alternatively if you've used a flare container which is round, get the kids to roll it around for 10 minutes!

I'd then suggest you invest in an old fashioned spin dryer to get rid of as much water from the clothe as you can and you'll need to be able to dry them outside or you're going to end up with a very wet caravan.

Really you need to work on the amount of washing you are doing or its going to be a nightmare.

Good luck!

Oldernotwiser

I second the launderette ever other week idea - you're going to have to do some shopping in a neighbouring town sometimes.

You can rinse through undies every night or so and wring them out in a towel, as well as any lightly soiled tops etc. Are you washing every day at the moment because you have children?

Nordictat2

Have a look at this video.. a little red neckish but still perhaps useful to you?
http://www.videojug.com/webvideo/how-to-wash-clothes-without-a-washing-machine

tori.k

www.worldofcamping.co.uk/.../WonderWash_washing_machine_-_Wonder_Wash__644 -

if you have some spare money have a look at getting a camping washing machine you can pick them up new for about £50, for drying i've pinched the idea from a helpful poster and brought a cheap gazbo for the garden to go over my washing line, havent tried it out yet but cannot see why it wont work,

Caterina

Presumably if you are in a rural location you have a car, no? If so, I hope this tip (which comes from a "soft" survival book I read recently) might help:

You need a bucket with a sealing lid (you can get those at Indian restaurants, sometimes, if you ask nicely - I got one that used to contain yogurt and one that used to contain ghee). You fill the bucket with hot soapy water, add your clothes, seal the bucket, put it in the boot of the car then go for a drive, preferably on a bumpy road! Of course it would be uneconomical to go driving for the sake of the wash only, so it would be best to do it when you have to go somewhere! The author of the book swears by this.

For less soiled things, such as sheets, you can just wash them while you are having a shower. Put a plug in the bottom of the bath/shower tray while showering and while you wash you also energetically trample all over the clothes. Quick rinse, squeeze water, air-dry in the wind. Harder in winter, though.

A mangle is probably a necessary implement if you decide to to this on a long-term basis, unless you decide to use the clothes-wringing exercise as an alternative to the gym, in which case good luck!

Caterina

valk_scot

Oh, top camping tip. Have two sets of clothes...the stuff you wear in and around the campsite and which basically you wear till it gets too wet and muddy to bear, ie sweat and the odd stain doesn't matter. Then the other set of stuff which you wear when you need to look civilized. You change straight out of these as soon as yopu get back to the caravan, hang them up to air and they do another day or two.

I go for long camping holidays of up to a couple of months in the summer and hate paying campsite fees for washing machines, so I do the above, expecially for kids clothes. It really does cut down on the amount of washing needed. And if you remember to air bedding every day it stays fresh longer.

When I have to hand wash on campsite I use a big stacking box, chuck the clothes in it with hot soapy water and either get the kids to jump up and down on it or tread it through myself. Works a treat. (Till you stand on a zip end...)

Minihauk

Another alternative is to soak the clothes in bio washing powder in a big tub and then just rinse them - they shouldn't need too much agitating if they have had a soak.
Drying would be the biggest problem - as others have said, either an old fashioned spin drier or a mangle.

cyclingyorkie

i still have my old fashioned spin drier that i had before i had an automatic washing machine! It proved very useful when i was between machines/awaiting the repair man.

I have the JML dri buddy - could you sit one of these under an awning? I believe they are popular with campers...

Butterfly_Brain

I would either get a camping washing machine or a wonder washer
Here are a few links that may help
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0198541/Trail/searchtext%3ECAMPING.htm
http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/WonderWash_washing_machine_-_Wonder_Wash__644
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=camping+equipment+washing+machine