Does anyone manage without a washing machine?

Austin_Allegro

Saver0811 wrote: »

From a recent spreadsheet of mine.

14p per wash, everything included.

I'm assuming though that doesn't include depreciation and the cost of possible repairs?

PolishBigSpender

aliasojo wrote: »

I bet the majority of UK bathrooms just aren't big enough to fit a washing machine in.

I also think a steamy atmosphere would not do the machine any favours over time.

Polish bathrooms in commie blocks are not exactly huge either, yet the washing machine fits somehow. Kitchens tend to be small too, I wouldn't fit a washing machine into mine. The atmosphere doesn't do any harm to it.
I think it's cultural, I can't imagine having it in a kitchen (after all, I undress in a bathroom, do you also keep dirty clothes in a kitchen? :eek:). My husband, on the other hand, argued with me for ages that it should go into the kitchen, though recently he admitted I was right and it should be in a bathroom.

BitterAndTwisted

I had friends who were lucky enough to have a tiny Peabody Trust flat on Grays Inn Road. The only minus was that the kitchen and bathroom were too tiny for a washing-machine to go in. It lived in their bedroom. I'd have done then same

Popperwell

Judi wrote: »

Sorry for your loss Popperwell

Thank you Judi,
It's appreciated...early days yet so it's still raw, not sure I'll ever get over it but perhaps you find a way to accept it, you have to...something we all have to face or have had to...

wondercollie

Just a couple of things. When we were in Germany the washers could be found in either the kitchen or bathroom.

North American washing machines don't heat the water like the UK ones. They just use hot, warm or cold for the wash cycle and your pick for the rinse cycle. Top loaders are the norm but front loaders are making huge inroads due to the reduced amount of water per load. Maytag or Fridigaire (yes the fridge people) make the best machine.

meritaten

I can remember as a small child in the late fifties using a tin bath, a washboard and a mangle! Nan used to do the 'big stuff' and the delicates and I used to do the smalls! was bluddy hard work - I had to stand on a stool to turn the handle of the mangle and you had to get the thickness of the clothes exactly right - too thick and you couldnt feed them through - too thin and the water didnt get squeezed out!

(I didnt mind using the washboard tho - me and nan used to make up songs or sing the 'hits' of the day and make the washboard 'thrum' in time! a great fave of nans was 'Dont sit under the Apple tree with anyone else but me')

manchestermargo

I remember my mum in the early 50's using a gas boiler to wash clothes in,she had a "posser" to pound the clothes with and a mangle. This was installed in a new council house.

I remember how thrilled she was when she eventually acquired a twin tub!

MM

Justamum

I've had to do without a washing machine on a few occasions before. First when I was living in Africa and living on my own. I woudl have a bath in the morning, then sprinkle washing powder into the water and put my clothes in to soak. When I came back from work I would rinse it all out, then next morning hang it out to dry while another batch was soaking. After work I would bring in the dry clothes and put them away.

The second time we were back in Africa again, this time with two children. More time-consuming, but manageable (I also had no fridge then, which was more difficult to cope with!). Again, dripping wet clothes would dry in a couple of hours.

The last time was about 18 months ago, now with three children. Washed everything in the bath, then hung it out, it froze solid so it could stand up on its own. I had to resort to using the tumble drier to dry it all, which was extremely costly as it was wetter than normal for the TD - and ultimately broke the dryer meaning I had to buy another one!

The moral of the story is, it's only really possible (in my own experience) when it's hot and sunny!

Justamum

manchestermargo wrote: »

I remember my mum in the early 50's using a gas boiler to wash clothes in,she had a "posser" to pound the clothes with and a mangle. This was installed in a new council house.

I remember how thrilled she was when she eventually acquired a twin tub!

MM

Actually I remember my mum having to wash everything by hand. She eventually got a twin tub and mangle! She wouldn't be without her automatic washing machine now!

There are some modern things which I couldn't do without and a washing machine is one of them.

VJsmum

I can't think of many "appliances" I would keep ahead of my washing machine. Possibly the fridge (but it would still be a close run thing). I do 7 or 8 loads of washing a week (in a 7kg washer :eek:) the thought of doing that by hand or take it down a launderette is frighening.

I have to wash mine and DDs bras by hand - OH has banned them from the machine as we have lost so many wires in it - and that is bad enough.