Does anyone manage without a washing machine?

Taadaa

I came across a website selling washboards, and this got me thinking - does anyone manage without a washing machine, and use the old fashioned board and mangle method instead?

It's not something that I would do all the time, but I think I would give it a go once a week to save money. Eepecially for more delicate things.

Pink.

Hi Taadaa,

This thread has some advice that may help:

No washing machine - advice needed

I'll add your thread to it later to keep the replies together.

Pink

HappyMJ

Taadaa wrote: »

I came across a website selling washboards, and this got me thinking - does anyone manage without a washing machine, and use the old fashioned board and mangle method instead?

It's not something that I would do all the time, but I think I would give it a go once a week to save money. Eepecially for more delicate things.

It won't save you money. You still need to heat the water and unless you have a source of free fuel that will probably be electricity or gas. The extra energy you use in washing the clothes will need to be replaced with food energy (unless you need to lose a bit of weight:)but a bit of gardening or housework would be better) which is more costly than the energy the machine uses agitating and spinning your clothes.

Delicate things should always be handwashed anyway.

anguk

I've gone without a washing machine temporarily for a couple of weeks and the novelty soon wears off! I don't mind the actual washing but I hate doing the rinsing and wringing things out is difficult. I've got a washing machine now but I do have an old fashioned spin dryer that I bought for a few pounds on Ebay, it's kept in a cupboard for back-up if my washer ever dies and I have to wait for a replacement. It also comes in handy in the winter to give things like sheets and towels an extra spin, it's spin speed is so much faster than a washing machine and the stuff comes out almost dry so it's much easier to dry on airers (I don't have a tumbler).

Even though I've got a washing machine I do still hand wash a few bits when it's good drying weather and I'm able to get them straight on the line. But I don't think I'd ever want to go back to the days of wash-boards and mangles! :eek:

snowleopard61

I haven't, for any significant length of time, done my washing by hand, although for the eight years between marrying and having our first child we managed very happily just using a launderette once a week. But the cost of launderettes now is absolutely appalling, as I've discovered when my machine has broken down, although a single male friend with a water meter has calculated that doing his washing in the launderette and bringing it home wet is cheaper for him. I can't bear bringing it all home wet though, and would have to do so on foot as I don't drive, which isn't practical.

My mother, however, managed for about 18 years washing everything by hand when we came back to live in the UK after living abroad - although I often offered to buy her a washing machine. She had been used to a much bigger kitchen and said that she would rather have the task of washing by hand than give up the space she would need for a machine. I did find this strange, especially as it's very difficult to wring things out as thoroughly as a machine would spin them (she didn't even have a mangle) but she did a pretty good job of it!

PlutoinCapricorn

I have managed without a washing machine all my life: launderettes and hand washing have been my choice for decades.

However, I am seriously considering getting a machine now, just for convenience and because launderettes keep closing down and putting their prices up.

marleyboy

My Brother lives in a towerblock - there is no room or facilities in the kitchen for a washing machine. Although the tower does have a launderette, it closes at 3pm, long before he gets home from work.

Washing clothes in the bath and hanging them from the balcony windows is quite a common sight at the block.

Taadaa

Thank you for all the replies so far!

It's not just about saving money, I was also thinking of the environment ie not using electricity. But on that front I think I would need to do more investigating before deciding whether it saves money, bearing in mind our machine is 9 years old so is less efficient, and taking into account wear and tear on parts etc. I wouldn't be able to use water that is the same temperature as the washing machine gets it safely, so there is a potential saving there.

In terms of spinning, I think the faster you spin the more your clothes wrinkle. This would be an issue for a gal that doesn't iron anything. Ever.

We are planning on installing a wood burner before the winter comes around again, and might get one with a back boiler to heat water. We'll see!

Taadaa

I remember my nan washing sheets in the bath. She had a pair of enormous wooden tongs! Well, they seemed enormous to a 5 year old anyway!

SailorSam

You don't need washing machines, that's what mothers are for.
Put everything in a binbag until you pay her a visit.

aliasojo

Good Lord no.

Whilst there are a lot of things in society that that are not an improvement,a washing machine is most definitely not one of them.

And as for saving money/electricity etc, what about your time?

I remember turning the handle of the wringer at my Nan's house when I was a kid, I remember lugging baskets full of heavy washing from the bath to the kitchen where the wringer was. I remember stiff clothes.

*shudder*