just wondering if anyone else does laundyr by hand like i do- i make my detergent and softener and wash everythign by hand an dhang it to dry is anyone else are crazy as me as my husband would say? also any tips on making the process of squeezing out the water in the clothes easier besides buying something? or any other tips in general?
doing laundry by hand
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you mean like besides buying a wringer washer? cuz that's what you need fer sure...maybe you could ask for one on freecycle?
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i've seen them for used for not too much...but then again i live in amish country (nw pa).....used would be the way to go of course...have you tried ebay (of course you'd want to pick it up)...now i am curious so i'll check it out on-line! don't think you're crazy p.s.....my grandma used her wringer until just a few years ago....i just posted a new blog on myspace on laundry (inspired by your original post)....now i will be searching the web for you...<br><br><a href="http://blog.myspace.com/subversivemommie" target="_blank">http://blog.myspace.com/subversivemommie</a>
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oooh neat...just did a quick ebay search and it seems like there are some available....punch in your zip code and check it out....i see one in NY....also that anchor brand portable wringer looks cool!
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I wouldn't say your crazy, I'd say you are pretty tough <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> do you wash by hand out of nessesity or do you do it because that's the way you want to do it?<br><br>
They make the wringer washer that agitates and wrings, have seen them powered by electric and gas. If you go looking at atique stores and the like, they will be higher, I've seen them priced in the 100-200 range around here but also the 400 plus, but they wee cool colors or weird shapes. I think you can still buy them new, don't know the price range though.<br><br>
some other washing options...<br><br>
Then there is the hand crank wringer which at one time you could get from Lehmans new, don't know if that's the best place to buy from but would give you an idea of what they looked like.<br><br>
Washboard to scrub your clothes.<br>
Plunger to agitate your clothes. (could use a regular toilet plunger I think)<br>
I've also seen some sort of small tub that you put hot water in and you give it a spin and it gets the dirt out of the clothes<br><br>
For a cheap wringer, would have to set up where you wring out someplace so you don't make too big of mess, but what about attaching a clamp of some sort to a wall/post and, I'm thinking a big heavy duty clip of somesort and using that as a spare hand to hold the clothes so that when you wring out you are twisting with both hands. I know that when I have hubby hold one end while I twist the other I can get lots of water out and it's easier, same principle but use a clamp instead of a strong person<br><br>
would want maybe an aligator type clamp, could use a screw type like for holding pieces of wood together while woodworking, but you would have to twist and untwist it w/ each piece of laundry
They make the wringer washer that agitates and wrings, have seen them powered by electric and gas. If you go looking at atique stores and the like, they will be higher, I've seen them priced in the 100-200 range around here but also the 400 plus, but they wee cool colors or weird shapes. I think you can still buy them new, don't know the price range though.<br><br>
some other washing options...<br><br>
Then there is the hand crank wringer which at one time you could get from Lehmans new, don't know if that's the best place to buy from but would give you an idea of what they looked like.<br><br>
Washboard to scrub your clothes.<br>
Plunger to agitate your clothes. (could use a regular toilet plunger I think)<br>
I've also seen some sort of small tub that you put hot water in and you give it a spin and it gets the dirt out of the clothes<br><br>
For a cheap wringer, would have to set up where you wring out someplace so you don't make too big of mess, but what about attaching a clamp of some sort to a wall/post and, I'm thinking a big heavy duty clip of somesort and using that as a spare hand to hold the clothes so that when you wring out you are twisting with both hands. I know that when I have hubby hold one end while I twist the other I can get lots of water out and it's easier, same principle but use a clamp instead of a strong person<br><br>
would want maybe an aligator type clamp, could use a screw type like for holding pieces of wood together while woodworking, but you would have to twist and untwist it w/ each piece of laundry
I like multi-tasking, getting other things done or having fun while the washer does the work. Not need to make baking soda either!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"><br><br>
Hanging our clothes out would result in pollen all over them, and being allergic to all our clothing is not my idea of "good time" either.<br><br>
But if doing that makes you happy, enjoy!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lady.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lady">
Hanging our clothes out would result in pollen all over them, and being allergic to all our clothing is not my idea of "good time" either.<br><br>
But if doing that makes you happy, enjoy!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lady.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lady">
When we first moved in to the house I washed by hand. I didn't have a scrub board, but found rubbing the clothes on themselves got most stains out. The only thing I couldn't get out this way was the grim on DH's collar and wrist bands of his work shirts. Those I would soak overnight in a sunny spot before rinsing. It took the same amount of time to wash by hand and hang them up as it did to wash a load in a washer. During the winter we did break down and buy a washer and dryer because I don't handle cold very well, we both worked full time and I was going through terrible morning sickness with our first due in August. Now that it is getting warmer, I'm really pressing DH to get the clothes line finshed so I can start at least line drying the clothes.<br><br>
Doing the clothes by hand was a huge stress releif for me and I always felt more peaceful afterwards. Its kinda cool to see all the clothes on the line and think "I did that! No machines, no electricity. That was all me!" Not to mention we saved a ton on electriciy and it was so much better for the enviroment.
Doing the clothes by hand was a huge stress releif for me and I always felt more peaceful afterwards. Its kinda cool to see all the clothes on the line and think "I did that! No machines, no electricity. That was all me!" Not to mention we saved a ton on electriciy and it was so much better for the enviroment.
thats exactly why i do it - i try to do everything i can to conserve and this is a huge way to do it- i do at least 2 loads a day but i actully love it i love knowing that i did it too all by myself and also knowing what went in to the clothes as i made my own soap. i love the smell of the clothes after they dry and i love going outside hanging them up then going out to fold them. i feel very peaceful doing it! i have never hung outside in winter as it gets below 0 some days and i dont know how well that would work anyone tried it before?
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we've hung up out when it's below freezing, doesn't get to 0 around here often, but the clothes do freeze, talk about pants and shirts that can stand on their own. Thinking about fibers microscopically, it probably damages them somewhat but doesn't harm them in an extreme way, think I've messed up more clothes with sun fading than anything. I have a load out on the line now and everything is flapping in the breeze <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
What other types of things do you do to conserve?
What other types of things do you do to conserve?
i make all our soaps, shampoos, cleaners from scratch to cut down on chemicals and also to not support those companies who ship items from so far away- we use the 100 mile rule and only use products made within 100 miles of us, we dont drive i ride a bike or walk everywhere i go or i carpool or use the bus. we never take baths it uses too much water - we also dont flush the toilet unless its #2 or filled with paper. i make all our blankets, curtains, and pillows from used clothign nobody wats to keep them out of landfills and to cut dont on expenses for us and the enviromenmt really. we unplug anything that is not being used as it still sucks power when not on. i dont know if i can think of anything else
I read about a lot of people using a plunger to get clothes clean as it does the agitation. I'm not ready to go to washing laundry by hand yet as I do so much as it is. I don't get half the things I want to done in a day as it is. As I type, DH came down with at least two loads of his clothes, ugh!!!<br><br>
Utopia, it sounds like you should start using cloth TP is you're flushing paper <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1">
Utopia, it sounds like you should start using cloth TP is you're flushing paper <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1">
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If you are wanting something very simple and cheap, I would get a plunger (as a pp mentioned).<br><br>
If you're looking for a wringer I would go with Lehmans. I really like <a href="http://www.lehmans.com/jump.jsp?itemID=4071&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C673%2C674" target="_blank">this one</a> , but it's kinda expensive (although it may be worth it in the long run). <a href="http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=2778&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=2778" target="_blank">Here</a> are the tubs you can get to go with this wringer.
If you're looking for a wringer I would go with Lehmans. I really like <a href="http://www.lehmans.com/jump.jsp?itemID=4071&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C673%2C674" target="_blank">this one</a> , but it's kinda expensive (although it may be worth it in the long run). <a href="http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=2778&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=2778" target="_blank">Here</a> are the tubs you can get to go with this wringer.
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