Hand Washing Our Laundry (Part 1)

This is a series of videos about our transition to hand washing our laundry.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Homesteading
• laundry
• hand
• washing

[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

[pauluminous]

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

[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.

[paullie6719]

"What does the soap do?" :) LOL

[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.

[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..