Hey there everyone, its definitely been a journey this trip to Perth. I would have been back in Sydney now working however due to the restrictions I have yet to move past SA. I was super blessed enough to have found an amazing place to be locked down and will continue my journey around the Eyre of Peninsula for a bit longer before making my way back to Sydney.
Once again, thanks for everyone's support who shares info and resources! Always feel free to keep them coming!
Hope everyone else is safe during these harsh times!
My "washing machine" is a 44L plastic box (Bunnings $12) in which I pour 25L of river/dam water and some washing powder, whoosh everything around a few times and leave to stand overnight then wring all out, replace water with new and add 100mL white vinegar, whoosh about again a few times and leave to stand for two hours, wring out and place on line until dry.
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
My "washing machine" is a 44L plastic box (Bunnings $12) in which I pour 25L of river/dam water and some washing powder, whoosh everything around a few times and leave to stand overnight then wring all out, replace water with new and add 100mL white vinegar, whoosh about again a few times and leave to stand for two hours, wring out and place on line until dry.
Thanks Mike!
I have been camped up on the beach however definitely would have done this if by a river. :) I do actually have a portable very small one at families but its probably just ads easy to use the container.
My van also has a small washing machine (3kg?) but it uses potable water from the van's tanks so I only use it for a whole wash when in a caravan park. However I do use its spin facility, powered by a small generator, before hanging the laundry on the line - the spin is brilliant, the clothes come out about 80% dry and even in poor weather don't need much time on the line.
As always, it's a space/weight tradeoff with something like a washing machine, it's not a necessity for sure but it is nice to have.
__________________
"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
My van also has a small washing machine (3kg?) but it uses potable water from the van's tanks so I only use it for a whole wash when in a caravan park. However I do use its spin facility, powered by a small generator, before hanging the laundry on the line - the spin is brilliant, the clothes come out about 80% dry and even in poor weather don't need much time on the line.
As always, it's a space/weight tradeoff with something like a washing machine, it's not a necessity for sure but it is nice to have.
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Thanks Mike, Something to consider when on the road an being self sufficient! Great that there are so many options!
My "washing machine" is a 44L plastic box (Bunnings $12) in which I pour 25L of river/dam water and some washing powder, whoosh everything around a few times and leave to stand overnight then wring all out, replace water with new and add 100mL white vinegar, whoosh about again a few times and leave to stand for two hours, wring out and place on line until dry.
My "washing machine" is a 44L plastic box (Bunnings $12) in which I pour 25L of river/dam water and some washing powder, whoosh everything around a few times and leave to stand overnight then wring all out, replace water with new and add 100mL white vinegar, whoosh about again a few times and leave to stand for two hours, wring out and place on line until dry.
Why the Vinegar Mike?
Commercial washing powders are usually alkali thus the ph balance is out of whack after a wash cycle so adding some acid (vinegar) to the rinse restores things to a natural balance. And your clothes *do not* smell of vinegar :)
This can readily be felt on one's skin after wringing out washed clothes and then putting them into rinse water - the rinse water takes away that slippery, soapy feel. I recommend you use it at home too - toss out that terrible "Fabric Conditioner" and replace it with 100ml of white vinegar in the fabric conditioner compartment of your washing machine. $1.60 for 2L at Safeway in the food isles. White vinegar is a good general purpose cleaner too, it's been used for years (centauries?).
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
We live out of a car only so have no room. We have a bucket with sealing lid from the big hardware store. Use a very small amount of detergent, mostly just to make the water wetter, & leave everything in the bucket overnight or 36 hours if really dirty, then rinse a few times.
The easiest way to avoid elbow grease & unless you break the bucket, not a lot to go wrong.
Patience is required for clean clothes to avoid work.
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Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!
50L custom fuel rack 6x20W 100/20mppt 4x26Ah gel 28L super insulated fridge TPMS 3 ARB compressors heatsink fan cooled 4L tank aftercooler Air/water OCD cleaning 4 stage car acoustic insulation.
We live out of a car only so have no room. We have a bucket with sealing lid from the big hardware store. Use a very small amount of detergent, mostly just to make the water wetter, & leave everything in the bucket overnight or 36 hours if really dirty, then rinse a few times.
The easiest way to avoid elbow grease & unless you break the bucket, not a lot to go wrong.
Patience is required for clean clothes to avoid work.
Thanks some great advice!! Whatever the circumstances there are ways and options of doing things. Will keep this in mind :)
If you are on a tight water budget, wash yourself with flannel out of the bucket, then soak the clothes, then wash the car.
Even at home I use the 2.5 bucket method on the car. Two buckets plus a small container for an extra inbetween cycle.
It is not difficult to use very little water. Also you only need a very small amount of detergent simply to make the water wetter. Then the waste water can go on the garden.
Dolphin Bay drying facilities!
While the clothes are drying watch the whales (the whale & calf is closer that it looks, wide angle lens).
__________________
Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!
50L custom fuel rack 6x20W 100/20mppt 4x26Ah gel 28L super insulated fridge TPMS 3 ARB compressors heatsink fan cooled 4L tank aftercooler Air/water OCD cleaning 4 stage car acoustic insulation.
If you are on a tight water budget, wash yourself with flannel out of the bucket, then soak the clothes, then wash the car.
Even at home I use the 2.5 bucket method on the car. Two buckets plus a small container for an extra inbetween cycle.
It is not difficult to use very little water. Also you only need a very small amount of detergent simply to make the water wetter. Then the waste water can go on the garden.
Dolphin Bay drying facilities!
While the clothes are drying watch the whales (the whale & calf is closer that it looks, wide angle lens).
Ah yes I reuse water wherever I can. Oh wow that's actually amazing! Clothes to ry whilst watching the whales:)
