Washing machines not allowed

Dreamcaster51 · Senior Member

Washing machines not allowed

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Unless theres a shortage of water, the only reason I can think of to ban washing machines in caravans is the large amount of sullage water they generate. Its fine in a park that has a proper drains, but pretty yucky when people just allow washing/showering water to flow anywhere.

To add my little washing machine bias... I only like to use public machines in parks where they dont allow dogs, after finding a machine with lotsa dog-hair in it. Sorry, dont mean to offend dog owners, only the one who washed their dog-blanket in a public machine!

jimricho · Guru

Why not ask the park management the reason for having this restriction?

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Haven't run into this problem I must admit. However, as long as the sullage hose is sensibly positioned (especially in a proper sullage pit) what the heck.

I always use the right enviromentally sensible laundry liquid so no harm.

Cheers

John

gold dandelion · Senior Member

you dont say where you are, my guess it has to do with water restrictions.

Dreamcaster51 · Senior Member

Hi Gert,
I hadn't thought of that,where we are are at present there is a good sullage system but not at last park. I knew someone on this forum would have a good reason, p.s. We have a little dog with us but we look after her gear on our machine. I feel ashamed when dog owners use public machines. If I see an owner not pick up after their dog I politely offer them a bag, always got a couple in my pocket, it spoils it for responsible owners.lol

Cruising Granny · Guru

I don't have my own machine. I've used caravan park washing machines since 1998. The price hasn't varied very much in that time, just for info.
However, I am very tired of washing machine sludge which attaches itself to my clean clothes. They come out appearing dirtier than when they went in.
It's caused by over-use of washing powder, in over-loaded machines. The excess fluff and sludge attaches itself to the outside of the tub and washes back in to attach itself on the next load of washing, usually mine. When the clothes are dry I have wipe them over with a damp cloth to remove the fluffy stuff.
I use minimal environmentally-friendly liquid and have done for years.
If there are quite a few permanents in the park who work, they wash their work clothes in the machines with too much powder in too much clothes in an attempt to get their money's worth - $3 here.
I've almost begged the management of this park to do a cleaning cycle at least once a week using the hottest possible water with vinegar only in the cycle. Very cheap, and they get their money back.
No improvement so far.
The reason for no private machines could be something to do with water restrictions and drainage. Using their machines they can monitor usage and output. Other than that it could only be about revenue to cover their costs.
Most parks also don't approve or allow private clothes lines strung between trees, bushes and annexes. There is the personal risk of decapitation, but you could decapitate someone else. It also gives the possums the opportunity to pee all over your clean washing if left out overnight. It also looks very untidy around the park. The mini-hoist or airer-type are acceptable in most places.

MikeMin · Veteran Member

Came across a park here in Broome which charges an extra $3 per day if you have a washing machine. A park we went to in Conway Beach QLD also charged extra per week if you had a machine. I personally think this is a bit rich and in any case, how would they know if you had a machine in your van or not? In the case of the QLD van park, my concience got the better of me and I 'fessed up and paid the extra - but not a happy camper.

Dunco · Senior Member

I can see why....these people run a business and they have to pay water charges and some would be more expensive than others, depending on location. So when they charge you for using THEIR washing machines, they are actually charging for power usage, water usage and machine servicing.

So, why should they pay for your extra water when you use your own washing machine. I think it runs similar to those parks that charge extra if you have a a/c

Nothing is for nothing

But I could be wrong

Cruising Granny · Guru

MikeMin wrote:

Came across a park here in Broome which charges an extra $3 per day if you have a washing machine. A park we went to in Conway Beach QLD also charged extra per week if you had a machine. I personally think this is a bit rich and in any case, how would they know if you had a machine in your van or not? In the case of the QLD van park, my concience got the better of me and I 'fessed up and paid the extra - but not a happy camper.

Which park in Broome? Could it be Vacation Village?

NeilandRaine · Guru

I agree using a park washing machine can sometimes be a bit off putting, what I hate is when we use a WM after someone has washed greasy clothes, the grease clings to the machine waiting for your whites.
However, after saying that as an ex CP manager I can say most parks that charge 3 or 4 dollars a wash are cost neutral, the machines can cost over $2000 and in NSW, at least, the cost of water is twice what it used to be and parks are charged extra if their water usage exceedes the usage of two years prior ( washing machines have became a lot more prevelent in the last 2 years).

biggles · Senior Member

Morning All - Happy to pay when I use anything - agree with user pays - then everyone has a choice to use or not, but in saying that, our little washing machine is only used for towles, soxs & Jocks. We use park machine for anything else. I can see a time when every park power outlet will have a smart meter on it & you pay for any power you use...

blaze · Guru

Where I am at present long term vanners are charged a reduced rate on the site and have a power meter fitted and pay for power, as long as they are sensible with power usage it works out well in their favour. The stay is for a period of 3 months or more.
cheers
blaze

littledick · Senior Member

Last year purchased a 2 ltr washing machine with spin drier after hearing about dog and even a horse blanket being washed in park machines.

But I was just recently informed by a fellow nomad who witnessed dirty bandages full of gunk possibly from a nearby hospital belng placed in a park machine.

No park machines for me, if told I could not use, I would move on. bleh

LD

sandsmere · Guru

Agree littledick .

Would never use a CP laundry or Laundromat after seeing dog blankets go in . ( and God knows what else ) .

It's certainly something that happens often judging from the amount of reports you hear .

If we can't use our own machine , we'll hand wash or use the old bucket with a lid solution .

wendyv · Guru

Since 1997, we have spent a total of over 8 years travelling round the country. Always use park washing machines, and not all the parks concerned have been exactly upmarket ones. Quick wipe out, if I am not sure, with cloth and dettol, pineocleen or eucalyptus oil. Only problem I have ever had is the white sludge/fluff already referred to. Would add that I handwash the cotton floor mats we use in van - though at home I put them through my machine. I hand wash them because I am aware that other users might not like them in machines. We have a dog, but I would never wash any of its stuff in park machines. We do carry a smallish plastic wash tub (mainly for bush camp use) and I use that for dog stuff.

Firefly · Guru

A small horror story but not a van park machine.

The town I live in has a lot of heavy industry around it, mines etc, so a lot of the work clothes go to the laundromat and they have allocated machines for those clothes.

A lady took her sons there to be washed on a regular basis and overheard the staff discussing some laundry they were taking out of an everyday machine. They could see this lady looking and they went on to explain that they did the laundry for the local vet, all the sheets etc from animal operations confuse and that some of the solids hadn't come off in that round so they were having to re do it.

This lady rang and reported them and she was told that any waste like that was considered bio hazardous and should NEVER have gone through those machines. Needless to say, she has never been back.

I use the park machines, only ever had one problem and that was at Cameweal years ago.

The one thing that really does irk me, is caravanners emptying their toilets or night buckets and then rinsing them in the laundry tubs. I have witnessed this first hand so NEVER use the tubs guys, always use your own plastic bucket in there.

Dreamcaster51 · Senior Member

Just a follow up from the original thread, how many of the people backing using the CP machines actually have a WM in their van?

Firefly · Guru

We don't have one mate. But this trip we are trying the plastic bucket with the lid in the back of the ute trick, see how that works. wink

I just don't like spending half a day in the laundry when we do use CP's. biggrin

wendyv · Guru

We don't have a washing machine in the van.

Dawn · Senior Member

We have only been on the road since November 2010 and opted NOT to have a washing machine fitted to our van. WELL today I decided I now want one! Spent the morning dong my washing in the CP laundry only to collect off line this afternoon and almost everything is covered with grey/whitish dry sludge. Just awfull!
It has happened at a couple of other parks since we have been travelling and today I said to hubby, enough is enough. Get me a machine of my own.
My reason for not having one in the first place was I used to like to socialise with other ladies whilst in the laundry, I found it a nice social interactive way of meeting other vanners whilst doing this mundane but necessary task. But no more for me, I'm off as soon as possible to avail myself of my own clean machine-no more rewashing and wasting time. Not that I have no time- all the time in the world actually as we are now fulltimer GNs.
Just my ten cents worth folks. We also travel with a small foxterrior and never wash doggy items in the CP machines. Surely those parks who accept dogs could put a bright red painted small 5kg machine for use for doggy blankets and the like anyway and mark in large writing on front of van for doggy washing only! And still charge a fee for this- it would be a great help.
Cheers all Dawn

NeilandRaine · Guru

Dreamcaster51 wrote:
Just a follow up from the original thread, how many of the people backing using the CP machines actually have a WM in their van?

We have a great little washing machine that comes out when the genny is on out bush but we still use CP machines, my wife is a washingolic. All they need is a wipe out first.

trouto · Senior Member

Sorry guys as a ex park owner who never put up our price on our washing machines and did a clean of all tubs while cleaning the laundry block. To let vaners run a washing machine inside or outside of there van is LUDICROUS what next dont pay for your power because you can run your own gennie or ask for a discount because you will cut the grass around your van this is a busness not a charity.If you want to be self sufficient go bush [sorry forgot you will still need to stay in a caravan park now and then to charge up your batteries for free ]

Cruising Granny · Guru

Everyone wants everything for nothing. We all have a travel budget, but some people are just tight ass cheap skates who expect to get everything for nothing.
If the system gets abused enough, the rest of us will end up paying when the cheap skates have long gone.
Camping is not the same as living in a caravan park full time. While I am a nomad I'm also a park dweller by necessity. I couldn't free camp full time even if I wanted to.
I don't have a house to "go home" to. So I live in parks. use the park amenities and make the most of my situation. I mow the grass around my van, and I've established a foliage garden/screen for atmospher and to create a little privacy from the cabins next to me.
Whether you're on the road or at home, life costs.
The dirty machines is my big issue no matter where I do the laundry. I don't sit around the laundry when my washing is in progress. I go home, set the timer for about 20 mins, and get on with the housework until the beeper goes off, and then I go and hang the washing.
I then get on with the duties of my day, whatever they are.
Carrying your own washing machine is all very well, but they are usually on the back end of the van in the bathroom area, adding considerable weight and taking up considerable storage room.
I just wish the caravan park cleaners would clean the entire machine, not just wipe out the bowl. The sludge is on the outside of the bowl and washes back in as the cycles continue. It's an accumulation of over-zealous powder users and the gunk which comes out of the really filthy work clothes.
I keep recommending they use the hot cycle with vinegar once a week to clean some of the sludge out. Still the sludge continues, so then I just wipe it off with a damp cloth when the clothes have dried.
It's the only downside of caravan life. And if this is the worst, then life aint half bad.

Firefly · Guru

Most members here aren't worried about paying for the machines trouto, thats just part of the conversation. They are voicing an opinion about the integrity of the machines. Using their own machines seem to be a lot more hygenic than park machines.

If I use, I am more than happy to pay but if I pay, make sure its works as stated its supposed to. That is, if a washing states it washes clothes, thats what I expect it to do, not bring them out worse then they went in.

Oh and a footnote Trouto, I don't need a van park to charge my batteries, I do that on the road as well. And if I do charge anything at a van park, I'm paying my $40 a night for the privledge. That is all costed into the site fee, nothing for nothing in this world mate. wink

jimricho · Guru

trouto wrote:
Sorry guys as a ex park owner who never put up our price on our washing machines and did a clean of all tubs while cleaning the laundry block. To let vaners run a washing machine inside or outside of there van is LUDICROUS what next dont pay for your power because you can run your own gennie or ask for a discount because you will cut the grass around your van this is a busness not a charity.If you want to be self sufficient go bush [sorry forgot you will still need to stay in a caravan park now and then to charge up your batteries for free ]

A 100ah will use about one and a half units of electricity (kilowatt hours) to fully recharge. That's somewhere between 30 - 50 cents!

Members here are relating some experiences they've had at times in different parks, not everywhere.

I've found that many parks do diligently clean the machines regularly, these are the same ones that aren't that bloody tight that they whinge about a few cents to recharge a battery!

Unfortunately it's been my experience that some other parks are a bit slack when it comes to maintaining their machines and I'm not referring to those located in remote areas where they have no control over the water quality.

I would have thought that the reason for discouraging the use of customers' own washing machines would be other than a desire to capture the revenue from the park's machines. I do recognise that the cost of providing and running these machines is not insignificant.

That's why my earlier post suggesting that we ask the parks concerned.

There will always be whinging customers that expect everything for next to nothing as well as tight-*rsed park owners but fortunately in both cases they are in the minority.

-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 18th of June 2011 08:03:16 AM

littledick · Senior Member

Yes Firefly, it didnt take long for someone to miss the whole point re using your own machine. Cost has nothing to do with it.

LD.

glassies · Guru

well said firefly i read that comment and thought ohhh dear but you answered it very well good onya i agree
we pay for a site for electricity and that is what we are paying for .

just wanted to say well said

Dreamcaster51 · Senior Member

Thanks Trouto you actually answered my original question. So it has nothing to do with water shortage, sullage etc it is a way of getting a few more bucks out of an already paying customer. It's like going to a motel and being told you can't have take away in your room?
Never mind, I have never reneged on paying for anything in my life, if truth be known I would be the opposite, like offering to help around the park, something I have done on more than one occasion. I merely stated that I prefer to use our own machine that in the long run, because it is a very economical machine, is probably more efficient than the big park machines. Not all of the traveling public want to rip park owners off, but I do admit there are some. Mate you have a nice life and enjoy your money
Me, well I and others will continue to use our own WM.
Thanks Firefly, Crusing Granny, LD etc you seemed to get the gist of my original post, it was nothing to do with being nasty or a tight arse, it was just an honest question.
Have a great day you guys, stay safe

-- Edited by Dreamcaster51 on Saturday 18th of June 2011 08:33:29 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

I've never had to use a CP washing machine, yet. But sure I will have to in the future. I will not be too pleased if I find dirty sludge over my good clothes. As I would be paying for a powered site I would presume that would include the use of the CP's washing machine, am I right? If not they should be coin operated. And cleaned regularly regardless with a water only wash through by park management at least once a day with a vinegar or similiar mix.
Or I will be sticking to my lidded container in the van with a bit of a shake up now and then.