Laundry

[gipsyweaver]

Has anyone actually used one of the portable washing machines like the Wonder Wash? I'd like to buy something space efficient I can use now in a tiny apartment, then later when I'm mobile, but I don't want to pop for $50-$100 for something that breaks after the first week.<br>

 

[Sunny1]

gipsyweaver, I bought the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.laundry-alternative.com/catalog/Washing-5-1.html">Wonder Wash</a> (manual version from Laundry Alternative) when I lived in a tiny apartment several years ago.&nbsp; I loved it.&nbsp; It got my clothes really clean.<br><br>The handle did break off shortly after I got it... but it worked out even better without it.&nbsp; It is so much easier to turn the little tub by pushing the knob on the lid and then when the bottom turns up, to give the drain spout on the bottom a push.&nbsp; It's much less labor intensive.<br><br>The only thing is, if you get it, you really need to also buy their clothes spinner.&nbsp; It wrings out more water than my home washer does.&nbsp; The clothes came out damp dry and would dry quickly when hung on a drying rack or on bungees strung from tree to tree.<br><br>I am camping right now and have switched to the <a target="_blank" href="http://beprepared.com/product.asp?pn=MC W050">Rapidwasher</a> that looks like a fancy toilet plunger because I can also do throw rugs from my camper and blankets with it.&nbsp; I use it with a 5 gallon bucket. It gets an awesome agitation motion going on both the push and pull stroke.<br><br>But I have been wringing clothes out by hand this time, and it hurts and chaps my hands and it also doesn't get enough water out for the clothes to dry quickly.<br><br>If you are just going to do clothes (including sheets, towels and pillow cases) for one person, then I think you would love the Wonder Wash.<br>

 

[Wild_E]

post to keep track of this conversation!

 

[twokniveskatie]

The handle broke on my Wonder Wash also, so I never had much experience with it. It was also pretty big, so I went back to a mini scrub board and then on to the breathing mobile washer:<div><br></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://breathingwasher.com/</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">My rapid washer rusted and was also bulky.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">The breather is plastic.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">The breather breaks down and takes up less space.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">I use it with my 3 gal paint bucket and a lid with a hole cut in it.&nbsp;</span></div>

 

[Nemo]

have you used this alot Katie?&nbsp; been just using a regular plunger, but thats kinda a pain <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br><br>

The handle broke on my Wonder Wash also, so I never had much experience with it. It was also pretty big, so I went back to a mini scrub board and then on to the breathing mobile washer:<div><br></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://breathingwasher.com/</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">My rapid washer rusted and was also bulky.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">The breather is plastic.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">The breather breaks down and takes up less space.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">I use it with my 3 gal paint bucket and a lid with a hole cut in it.&nbsp;</span></div>

 

[twokniveskatie]

The breather is significantly better than a toilet plunger. The turbulence created by the holes, forces the water through so well, it takes much fewer plunges to get clean....half the effort overall, I would say. I use a no- rinse "detergent" called Eucalan Wool Wash so that there is no rinsing. Saves water and time.&nbsp;

 

[Nemo]

Might just have to pick one up )<br>

 

[Skooky]

the "breathing" wonder washer looks pretty handy. I will have to check into getting one of those.<br>

 

[Seraphim]

Sounds interesting!

But don't tell DW, because we all know who will end up on the wet end of the stick.

 

[Sunny1]

Just wanted to add that my Rapidwasher is a very tough plastic -- PVC I think.&nbsp; I never bought the metal one because I read that they rusted very badly if you didn't dry them thoroughly after each use.<br><br>The link I posted above has a picture of the one I got.<br><br>On edit - it also breaks down for storage.<br>

 

[gipsyweaver]

Wow, thanks, all of you!<br><br>Hmmm, Sunny, maybe the clothes spinner is what I really want. I don't mind washing lighter clothes by hand, but wringing them out is a struggle, especially jeans. I have a lot of towels and will save them for a trip to a laundromat every couple of months because I also prefer to run them through the dryer. I wasn't aware they made a separate spinner. I've seen the Pod advertised and was interested in it because it does spin clothes, but I haven't found any person that I didn't suspect was a paid reviewer who's used one.<br><br>

 

[She]

<b><font size="1" face="Tahoma">my last wash....</font></b><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma">5 gallon bucket + soap + water + new toilet plunger....</font></b></div><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma"></font></b>.<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/crazy.gif"></div><div><br></div><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma">total wardrobe....</font></b></div><div><br></div><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma">4 blk t-shirts</font></b></div><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma">4 blk unders</font></b></div><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma">4 blk pairs socks</font></b></div><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma">4 blk shorts</font></b></div><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma">4 blk sheets</font></b></div><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma">4 blk pillow cases</font></b></div><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font size="1" face="Tahoma">2 blk small towles</font></b></div>

<div><br></div><div>Ive done that too! Makes your arms stronger.</div>