Does anyone manage without a washing machine?

adelight

Taadaa wrote: »

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.

Really? My wm has an "easy iron" function which consists of an extra five mins dry spin at thend which I always used. It takes half a day off indoor drying time and I never noticed things being more wrinkly. Hmmm.

I can deal with washing by hand when something is delicate or I need to wash a work uniform for the next day, but I couldn't do it on a permanent basis :eek:

marleyboy

I would say the Front loader is nowhere near a developmental improvement on the traditional, top loading twin tub.

HappyMJ

marleyboy wrote: »

I would say the Front loader is nowhere near a developmental improvement on the traditional, top loading twin tub.

Now there is a money saving device. Using the soap suds twice. Wash whites first (hot water) then wash the darks next in the same water that has cooled a bit.

BitterAndTwisted

I had to do without a washing-machine for nearly two years before I could afford to buy another one. It was hell. Sheer, miserable hell. The walk to the nearest launderette is 20 minutes away and it's very expensive especially for the dryer. Trying to get hand-washed items dry in the winter was purgatory. I'd rather sell the cat into slavery than do without one again.

I'd be prepared to have a washing machine in the bathroom, bedroom, hallway, anywhere if I had to rather than do without one.

FrugalFranny

Haven't had a washing machine for ten years, I use the bath tub and elbow grease . It goes 'soak with all in one bio powder/washing mix in hot water'(just enough to cover the clothing by about 3 inches once 'sunk' (I let them sink on there own in layers, takes about 10-20 mins). Let soak for half hour, swirl around with vigor, scrub with hard bristle brush/small amount of soap (I use a nail brush). Swirl around again and let them sit for about 10 minutes. Come back, swirl again, wring out by hand, pile in basket, wash out/refill bath (I never fill it more than 1/3 for the rinse). Rinse each bit of clothing out until you're happy with it. Done.
Rinse again is you aren't happy with the level of clean, water is usually a bit murky now matter how many rinses, really dirty items should be washed on their own.
For the delicates, kitchen sink.

[EDIT] Computer died!
This method is pretty time consuming, I have a 'wash day'. But no leccy used, just some gas for the water, if things are washed once a week the rinse can be done using cold water.
Work/church/special clothes are best washed in the kitchen sink individually.
Very dirty cloths (half a football field) will make other cloths dirtyer so best done on their own.
Things like socks and pants do well in the sink with a good splash softener to avoid the 'cardboard effect'.

If you really must clean a large duva it can be done with the bath tub method, but you need to to walk on it/rinse it a fair bit, better to use a dry cleaners really if you can. 'Can be done' is usually a lot of hard work.
If you just don't have the time and/or you have a large family I'd use a washing machine just because it's quick.

Hermia

I don't have a washing machine because I live in a rented flat that doesn't have any space or plumbing suitable for a washing machine. I would LOVE a washing machine. I have one of these things:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Caravan-Washing-Machine-Capacity/dp/B005FK2IAU/ref=pd_sim_sbs_la_4

You fill it with hot water and it agitates the clothes more than you could do with hand washing. It's quite hard work filling it with litres of water, but it does work better than hand washing. When I have a big batch of towels and bed linen I suddenly decide that's a good time to visit my mum!

squiggles

There is a clip on youtube showing you how to do laundry with a kitchen salad spinner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDzqP40sWFQ

j.e.j.

I live quite happily without a dishwasher, but a washing machine, no!

For more than 10 years I had to make do with using a launderette and washing by hand. Having experienced the joys of queueing for a machine, paying £3-4 per wash, (and a further couple of quid for tumble-drying:eek:), then scrambling for a tumble drier (there are always fewer driers than machines in a launderette??) then lugging it all home again, I would definitely make it priority now to get a washing machine!

If you wanted to hand wash stuff at home it would help a lot if you have a spinner. I found that it's not so much the washing and rinsing, but actually getting the clothes dry enough to hang up that was the problem, and especially with heavy items like denim or towels.

gibson123

NO THANK YOU - I remember when I was small spending what felt like hours stomping up and down sheets in the bath and then standing in the back green with my sisters twisting and twisting the sheets to wring them, my poor hands and feet were all wrinkly and sore by the end of it.

dasophster

I used to, I wouldn't even attempt to wash bedding etc but would wash my normal clothes and smalls at home using whatever washing powder the pound shop had, wringing them well and drying on radiator airers. Any large items I'd take to my mums. It was annoying but the nearest laundrette was a good 1/2 to 3/4 miles away and cost a fortune. In the end I got quite used to washing by hand and started to find it quite theraputic. xx