Hand Washing Our Laundry (Part 1)

[paullie6719]

"What does the soap do?" :) LOL

[2JobsStillPoorUSA]

Just a complement. You have the most lovely white hair. I have that gene in my family and I hope someday my hair is as beautiful as yours.

[ufoengines]

COOL!

[getrealthen]

all you have to do is put holes in your bathroom plunger. it WORKS~

hey give those other kids one of those plungers too, the laundry will get a good workin.

just hang the soapy clothes up on the line, and let the rain fall rinse them. Why do all that wringing out? Yea, just hang them on the clothes line soapy, when you know it is going to rain. Look, that does make sense!!

[getrealthen]

all you have to do is put holes in your bathroom plunger. it WORKS~

hey give those other kids one of those plungers too, the laundry will get a good workin.

[getrealthen]

all you have to do is put holes in your bathroom plunger. it WORKS~

[cdltpx]

We use to buy clothes for a weeks use that way we went to the laundry mat once a week saved fuel that way. Had I known about this I would have washed at home we had plenty water and I would have done a load a day at home rather than let it pile up.When I went to the laundry I would suffer shock at the prices to wash clothes there. We have a good washer and dryer now but I am getting these tools for when power goes out or I just want to go old school. I now make my own laundry soap saving there.

[Mobilewasher]

Breathing Mobile Washer actually pushes and pulls water through clothes...but does not rust

[Briansgarage]

I was always taught, soap, is an emulsifier. To get the dirt wet. I like the plunger, and tubs. Maybe paint it. Might keep the rust away..

[dressupjesus]

@Briansgarage You're right. Soap is nice for removing body oils and cooking grease or oil. Water itself will remove the majority of the dirt, but maybe not the stain. Milk removes ink stains. Alcohol removes glue.

[badgirl44654]

One poster said they're using a butter churn. It is NOT a butter churn. It is called a Rapid Washer. I've heard the metal ones like this rust, you can get plastic ones, I've never used either, but I might buy one of each and find out. I'm considering a move out of the USA, and they hand wash clothes where I'm going. No washers or dryers.

[pocketsofthefuture]

@badgirl44654 Right. We have a Rapid Washer. Ours is the metal version. It has rusted but that has rarely caused any problems. Never gotten on the clothes or anything. I don't much care for plastic but would be interested in not having any rust.

[blukatzen]

One thing I would suggest, why not try soaking the clothes before washing? I think there is a need to soften up the stains, let them get exposed to wash water/soap mix. I found that when I hand did my laundry and let them soak for at least 5-10 minutes, I had a MUCH easier time washing things, and the stains came out easier. I put vinegar in the rinse water (first rinse) and it gets a lot of the soapiness out. I use natural soap, and Dr. Bronner's Eucalpytus on my woolens or cat bedding (fleas).

[pocketsofthefuture]

@blukatzen Yes, soaking is a very good idea. It is nice to soak clothes outside in the summer because the water stays warm if you put it in the sun. As I am writing this, it is winter and a very cold one. I set some clothes to soak in the house. The wash water got cold almost immediately but the soaking still helped. We may as well put natural forces to work in our favor such as with soaking!

[niamh2739]

can you tell me where you got the wash board and wringer?

[pocketsofthefuture]

@niamh2739 You can get them at lehmans.com

[bigd4xman]

By the way, thats a butter churn you are using as a "plunger"

[thesteveoman]

Good to see everyone helping!

[pocketsofthefuture]

Yes, I think so too. In fact at this very moment that I am typing on the computer, two of the children are finishing up the laundry they did on their own and hanging to dry as much as is possible on a February afternoon. Leslie

[pauluminous]

Wow kids fighting over who gets to do the laundry. Amazing! :D

[pocketsofthefuture]

Thank you for your comment.

[rncmomx2]

You can use a small amount of vinegar to help remove smells, remove soap residue and it will soften your laundry. We have always used white vinegar but ran out recently and used apple vinegar-it made the clothes smell like the outside in a orchard.

[pocketsofthefuture]

I used to do this when I washed clothes by machine. I don't think I have used vinegar while washing clothes by hand. Good idea. As our laundry water becomes grey water, I have to be very careful about anything I put into the water. Vinegar would be fine, though, I would think. I like the idea of clothes smelling like an orchard! As a matter of fact, I have long wanted to learn how to make apple cider vinegar. Leslie

[heaventime50]

How do you do laundry in the winter?

[pocketsofthefuture]

I have our laundry tub and pails set up on an old desk in the basement where the washer and dryer used to be. I get water from the washer hook-ups and otherwise do everything exactly the same way as outside. Most laundry still gets hung outside even during the winter. On days when that just is not possible, I hang it on an Amish made wooden rack set up in front of the wood burning stove. Thank you for your question! Leslie

[rosrychaplet]

when i wash my clothes by hand my dh and i end up having to rinse it out a handful of times, not just two.

[pocketsofthefuture]

The trick is to use much less soap (this is one of the many ways that hand washing saves on resources) and to use a good, more natural laundry soap that does not foam. Then the soap becomes easy to rinse out and two rinses is plenty. Let me know if you have any questions. Leslie

[Axbent]

I would say centrifuging the laundry between rinsings would help alot to make them soap free.

[pocketsofthefuture]

@Axbent Yes, I do this when washing things like towels that absorb a lot. I basically do it to save on rinse water. Since I don't use that much soap and am careful to use a non-sudsing sort of soap, getting it out has never been that much of a problem. But as much as I can squeeze out between rinses keeps the rinse water much more soap free.

[rosrychaplet]

5:12 the goat comes to drink out of the bucket!!!

[pocketsofthefuture]

Yes, this was always one of my favorite parts. Leslie

[druidess80]

Thank you so much for posting this! I have been considering doing my laundry by hand for a few months now, since I live by myself and would love to cut down the costs of going to the laundry mat. Being in Southern California, I could not ask for better weather to get this done. I am placing my order with Lehmans soon! Best of luck to you and your family!

[pocketsofthefuture]

I often think about how easy it would be to hand wash laundry for one or two or even three people. I am sure that in Southern CA, you could find a beautiful spot outside to both wash and hang your laundry. Enjoy! Leslie

[songbirdsmile]

We are planning on living a very similar lifestyle. We sold our new w/d set and bought an antique rapid washer on craigslist. It has a longer handle, and also has a small handle jutting out from the side of the main handle, about a foot down from the top, which makes washing easier. It works well! We really appreciate all the tips you give in this series. Our children are looking forward to helping with the laundry, as soon as we buy the same washboard and wringer you have. Thanks for vids!

[songbirdsmile]

I LOVE your videos, especially this series on the laundry, and also stuff like when the kids are milking cows, and you make the kefir, etc. My children love to watch your videos, and always ask me to show them "the farm kids" videos, lol. I always point out your daughter in the overalls and say "there's that hard-working girl again...look at her go!" My daughter is looking forward to showing me how hard SHE can work, and is begging me to buy a washboard.

[pocketsofthefuture]

Thank you for your kind comments. We recently hatched some chicks and hope to post videos soon. We hope to have an update video on the hand washing laundry soon.

[okfarmgal]

I love the way your family live. My family is about to embark on a more simple life on a farm as well. I have a few questions after seeing this series:

1. Does the basket wear out faster bacause of the metal agitator?

2. How much soap do you use? Is it homemade or store bought?

3. How often do you change the wash and rinse water?

4. Does the glass washboard chip easily?

Thank you for your time in answering my questions as I am learning like you have done and are doing! Blessing to you!

[ScarletFBL2]

The is GREAT. I've just ordered a glass washing board so that I can wash my sisters' clothes, which I enjoy immensely. Good system you've got going there. Exactly what I was thinking of doing.

[pocketsofthefuture]

I am so glad you found the video helpful. Wait until you see how helpful the glass wash board is! Enjoy your new approach to laundry - Leslie

[pingbns]

What about when it's really cold outside?

[pocketsofthefuture]

We set up a washing area in the basement and have been happily using it all winter. We even have another wood burning stove down there my husband occasionally fires up. Sometimes we hang the laundry out to dry but if it is too cold, then we hang it on a large wooden rack next to our wood burning stove. Thank you for your question - Leslie

[AnnieNM06]

Great job getting the kids to wash their own laundry. I bet a lot of moms would be envious.

[pocketsofthefuture]

Well, I guess they could be envious if they were willing to do their part of hand washing laundry. It is great having the kids be a part of doing the laundry. We do tend to do most things together and make sure that everyone knows how to do most things as it trains for the future and gives us flexibility.

[AnnieNM06]

It does sound great that you spend so much time with your kids when a lot of parent don't do that. And its great that they are learning to do that. Good for you guys

[MonicaLewandowski]

Well, I do think you will be a valuable resource for others when this all goes down, in regards to bartering skills and goods, you have a one up that is for sure. I'm slightly jealous, I've been wasting the last 5 years of my life in College, when I could have been learning some real skills, it is only until This year I realized what is happening, well, partly last year, but I knew for sure the beginning of this year, and I've dropped out in the meanwhile, to try and learn something good.

[pocketsofthefuture]

We wish you well with finding a new direction.

[MonicaLewandowski]

At what point do you think your daughter will realize that what she is doing is work, not play. :) Haha, I remember when I was growing up, and my mom never let me mow the lawn, I tell you when I finally had the opportunity to mow the lawn, it was something of a privilege rather than a chore, my mom Tricked me! This is great, you guys won't have to worry when the economy collapses.

[pocketsofthefuture]

Hopefully she will never realize it is work and not play. Yes, we are trying to turn ourselves into a contented workforce for when the economy is no longer recognizable.

[KARStarla]

Whats the name of that stick thing shes using?

That will be backbreaking, ever think of getting a couple picnic tables to set the washing tubs up higher? I have a bad back so I think of these things lol

[pocketsofthefuture]

That stick thing is a "Rapid Washer" available through lehmansdotcom. You can read more about it and how well it works in a post on our method for hand washing laundry on our blog.

I got the wash tugs higher up since this video was shot. My wife's back is much happier. Thank you for asking.

[KARStarla]

Hey thanks! Its affordable too yahhhh! lol

Yeah that back is a killer in handwash situations thats for sure

[frozentootsiepop]

Do you make your own laundry soap? If so, could you post a video of the recipe?

[pocketsofthefuture]

Thank you for your question. My wife tells me that we are using our old laundry soap so slowly now that it will be a while before we run out. Once we do run out, though, she will start making laundry soap and we will post a video about it.

[KARStarla]

If you do a youtube search on "homemade laundry detergent" theres a few decent recipes just dont use them in your normal washing maching IF your on a septic system the soap flakes clog the septic field.

BUT theres a wonderful natural laundry detergent called "soap nuts" from a tree in China (that can be grown here) called the "soap nut tree" only 5 nuts does around 4 loads of laundry and you can buy them in pounds at amazondotcom, check them out

[frozentootsiepop]

Well that sounds interesting. nuts, eh?

[KARStarla]

Yeah, laundry nuts lol

Sounds nuts actually but folks are raving about them. Buy a bag of soap nuts and be done with laundry detergent for the rest of the year ...then grow your own tree (the new one stop shop tree for all your laundry needs lol)

[DoctorsWife56]

Well, I don't need the exercise now. I have a 80x80 winter garden!

[DoctorsWife56]

I'm so proud of those kids helping. Nobody will be able to fool them about the difference between a need and a want. This is a great video. I often have to catch rain to wash clothes (they are so soft) but, I never thought about keeping the washer out of the picture. My well is not very good. If it does a great job... why not? We all need the exercise!

[pocketsofthefuture]

Glad you enjoyed the video. We look forward to getting set up to catch rain water also.

[CMLovejoy]

You save a lot of water this way.

I know my washer uses 40 gallons every wash, while your probably only using 1o or so gallons.

[CMLovejoy]

well really my washer uses 80 gallons per wash because my washer fills up twice every wash

[pocketsofthefuture]

You are right. Saving water is one of the reasons we are washing laundry by hand. Our water comes from a well that has never run dry but we figure that learning how to save water is nevertheless important.

[VeiledGlory]

Thats quite the setup! How will you carry on through the winter?

[pocketsofthefuture]

We will shift it to the basement where I am setting up another wood burning stove that will help the clothes dry. There is a sink and hot water down there and a laundry line strung up which my wife already uses during rainy weather.