49 replies to this topic

[SolaStarr]

I recently tried to do a load of laundry without using my washing machine, and got extremely exausted by the time I got to my third pair of pants - using a washing board. Does anyone have any tips on achieving this without the strain, or maybe I just need to work out more ;-)

[Hayden]

haha! I grew up in an island in the Caribbean where at the time very few people had washing machines. Now everyone has one but thankfully dryers have not caught on. Most people prefer to air dry on clothes lines outside in the breeze. I actually never tried to do a full load by hand. I'll hand wash one or two items or stains. Its good exercise if you have the time. But at home we hang clothes out more than using the dryer. Its so dry here in south Nevada and I think the air dries faster than the dryer lol!

[mariaandrea]

I did this more than once when my kids were babies and the washing machine broke and  couldn't keep up with how much it cost to go to the laundromat - not to mention toting 2 babies around. I washed clothes in the bathtub and hung them out to dry. Actually, I always hung them out to dry, we lived in the South then where it was hot and sunny all the time.

Anyway, it's backbreaking, bending over a bathtub to wash jeans (or a washing board) so what I did was to spot clean any stains first before putting clothes in the water. Then, let them soak a long time, stirring every 5 minutes or so. Same with the rinse. Long rinse, lots of stirring. Save your energy for wringing them out. I found that not only did the clothes not need a washboard type of washing, it helped them last longer to wash them more gently.

[Green Thumb]

Since I presently reside on a boarding house, I wash my clothes by hand. (Actually, all occupants there do since we are not allowed to use heavy electrical equipment.) I don�t do my laundry in one sitting as heavy load of clothing takes so much time to wash. I wash twice a week. I would rinse the clothes with clear water first to remove extra dirt then soak them on powdered soap an hour or two and then scrub the clothes with bare hands. I don�t use detergent bar anymore. The powdered soap could serve as the sole cleansing agent. I also don�t use fabric conditioner. My powdered soap already has fabric conditioner ingredients in it (see if you can minimize the use of detergents and chemicals). Then I hang the clothes on clothesline where the sun and air will dry them. Some clothes aren�t that dirty that you don�t have to put much effort in scrubbing it. Only those with hard to remove stains and filled with dirt are the ones to be brushed earnestly. But then since you already soak it in soap, dirt turned softer and thus won�t give you more time for scrubbing. Only with tough stains will your muscles get tested but then there are now stain removers (or natural stain remover such as calamansi) to assist you. Glad that I was careful not to blemish my clothes with hard to remove stains thus it�s never my problem. I also wash my clothes standing (our laundry area is waist high) just right for my arms reach so I don�t really experience much back or nape aching especially when I make it a point to have a break to stretch or do a yoga for minutes.

[zararina]

I am used in washing clothes without a washing machine. It is true that it could make us really exhausted specially if there are many and heavy kind of clothes to wash. Doing it often could make it less straining. You should allow clothes to be in water within minutes before washing them so that some dirt are "loosen" already and clothes are softer/smoother.

[artistry]

Thanks for giving me a very good laugh. I know it's not funny to you, but the way you wrote it, it was funny. I am strange. I have one suggestion that may make your chore a little easier, but a little longer. I would put the clothes in warm water, with detergent and let them soak for at least a half-hour. Pour the dirty water out and do it once again, swish the clothes around. Let them soak more, pour the dirty water out and then rub them on the wash board, after putting them in clean water with a little detergent. After one last soaking with clean water, rinse them twice. If you use fabric softener, that can be the final step.

[Usty]

I actually tried this in July. Thought it would be a nice way to save money on a weekly basis. I rather hang everything up, and spray it with the garden hose. The washing board method is brutal. It's hard labor, with suds.

[Green Olive]

I washed my clothes, exactly as Mariaandrea stated, when my washer broke last summer. I did not have a washboard, but my method still worked. I do not think there is any easy way, to was clothes without a washer. Now, I have more appreciation towards my ancestors. They had no choice, but to was clothes without a washer. I bet those ladies had super strong arm muscles, after doing their laundry with washboards!

[godarna]

Green Olive, on 29 October 2011 - 06:07 PM, said:

Now, I have more appreciation towards my ancestors. They had no choice, but to was clothes without a washer. I bet those ladies had super strong arm muscles, after doing their laundry with washboards!

Rightly said, I still remember my mum using the washing board. She was exhausted, especially after washing some sheets. I used to help her with the wringer. Luckily for her she got a washing machine when I was about seven years old.

[Mon-Jes]

SolaStarr, try this (I haven't used one, but it was recommended to me and it has gotten good reviews):

http://www.lehmans.c...__1138390?Args=

[wneely]

Whenever I've had to wash clothes without a washing machine I used the kids.  I put the clothes in the tub, put on some fun music, and let the girls dance on them.  (The Twist is great for agitating the clothes.)

The only hard part was wringing everything out before hanging them on the line.  

[jasserEnv]

If you really want to save energy, you are far better off to concentrate on the drying of the clothes. The energy required by the drier is significant in comparison to the washer and can be avoided through the use of outdoor or indoor air drying in many places many times of the year. My wife grew up in a country where washing machines are not prevalent and there is a lot of effort required to watch the clothes. As a result, I think that the energy savings from trying to wash clothes by hand are not really worth it.

The other aspect of this is getting a quality, high efficiency clothes drier. If you have one that lasts many years, you'll also ensure that the energy costs of making the product are spread over those years. Just my two bits on the issue.

[kathie_san]

I always use washing machine when laundry is due I have experienced washing with hands when I was younger and it's indeed very exhausting. I still rinse clothes manually though and air dry them but still I get tired and my back still hurts afterwards LOL.

[lovelikewinter3]

Wow, I can't imagine trying to wash my heavy duty clothes by hands (jeans, hoodies, etc). The lighter stuff (socks, underclothes, t-shirts) wouldn't be so bad, maybe focus on those while you build up your strength? Kudos to you for trying to save electrical energy, you will have sick arms in no time at that rate!

[Tom Servo]

Haha, yeah, a full load will wear you out. I only wash certain garments by hand, typically one at a time. I know it's better by hand, but when you own as many clothes as I do, it's just not practical.

[SolaStarr]

Thanks everyone for the tips, im going to try the soak rinse soak rinse etc etc method, I think the hardest part is wringing out the water! I still go to the laundromat, but im trying to train myself to be prepared in case "tshtf" you never know what may happen in the future, gotta learn to live without electricity if necessary.

[SolaStarr]

Mon-Jes, on 29 October 2011 - 08:48 PM, said:

SolaStarr, try this (I haven't used one, but it was recommended to me and it has gotten good reviews):

http://www.lehmans.c...__1138390?Args=

Thanks looks pretty neat, ill try to check out the youtube videos when I get a chance.

[Joshua Amahit]

That's how we do laundry in our home though our helpers would do it and not me. though I have tried it and yes it is exhausting indeed. One thing that can make it more comfortable to do but not entirely easier is to find a chair that can make you at the most comfortable when you're reaching in and out washing your clothes. I don't really tips to make it easy though, washing by hand is indeed hard work and it's a godsend that a washing machine was invented but washing machines I believe still use too much water.

[lucky120]

Yes you will get tired when you have to wash clothing in a tub or something like that. I mean to be honest I just use my washer when I have to wash clothes. I really try not to use it a lot even though I really do not have to pay anything, but on the other hand it is great to just wash sometimes and not all the time. I like to make sure that all the laundry is done, but I do not wash every single day. I will pick a day in the week mostly weekends to wash clothes. Yes I would not try anything else unless I have to really. There were times when I had to, but now days I just use the washer haha. Washing by hand is a lot of hard work indeed especially when pregnant lol. I have to say there are times when I have to wash by hand electronics are so silly now days. Some never want to work haha

[eds]

"Swirl" is a ball shaped laundry basket, washer and water transporter, that's fun to use.

http://www.inhabitot...laundry-ball-5/