Laundry - what do you do with it?

Mike Harding · Guru

Laundry - what do you do with it?

villatranquilla · Guru

mini twin tub machine run off generator

rockylizard · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
A question for those of you living in your vans permanently or for
long periods:

How do you wash your laundry?

When camped in the bush for more than about one week I run out of
clothes and need to do some laundry so I hand wash stuff in a bucket
but that is not going to work for clothes and bed linen on a regular
basis.

I'm sure this is a problem you guys have solved...?

Gday...

When I am lucky enough to be camped next to a water source - eg creek, river, lake, dam - or a town water tap - I do washing by hand.

I wash usually about every 5 or 6 days using Wool Wash which doesn't require rinsing after washing. Excellent stuff and the clobber smells nicely of eucalyptus.

I do wash my towel/s and bed linen by hand in Wool Wash as well ... maybe every few weeks ... when near water. I have a 'tub' I use which holds a single sheet (I have single beds).

Failing that, I end up in a van park and use the washing machine in the van - their 240v and their water.

I have enough clobber for seven day - more for undies and sox - but one doesn't have to change t-shirt/shorts every day so that lasts me very well.

Cheers - John

JayDee · Guru

We have a built in W.M.

The Laundry maid uses Woolwash. She just told me that she does not need to rinse and that we save the water, say from the whites to wash the coloured. A laundry day usual cost us 20 litres of water. Plus we fire up the gennie.

Jay&Dee

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I wash in a bucket, using a paint stirrer (some use a funnel with holes drilled in it, attached to a broom handle) -I only use wool wash (Earth Choice brand) - if something has a stain, I soak in another bucket with clothes and nappy soaker (double use - cassette toilet) - works for me - sheets and towels get the same treatment, if we have enough available water - from a lake or dam - whatever.

I have one of those mini Hills hoists for clothing, and run a rope for sheets and towels.

macka17 · Guru

Yea.
I got one of them to.
It has a name too (Di. Shhhhhhhhhh)
I dirty she washes.

it's not often you away from supplies for over a week.
Just take Bedding washing with you. and do while in town.
Everyday wash.
Normally t shirt\jocks go in shower with me.dry on hand rail.
Plus living permanently up North that's about the limit of your clothing.
Thank god.

Dunmowin · Guru

We have a front load washing machine in the van

When free camping, if we have the supply of water, using generator, I do short wash in machine
When free camping, I don't mind paying $4.00 per load for laundromat
When/if we are in caravan park, I do all my washing in own washing machine.
Rarely, do I use caravan park laundry

Sylva · Veteran Member

After being on the road for four years, the washing has been sorted the following ways

If free camping and water is available washing in machine using generator
if free camping and no water - every two weeks laundry mat - we have two sets of sheets and more than enough clothes and bath towels to last that long. If we are long term free camping i find that we have to do water runs at least this much so just spend the day doing the necessities - food shopping, washing and other chores.
if in caravan park - our washing machine - already paid for water and power - i try to washing that days items the next day that way they don't stack up the only thing that doesnt fit is our sheets and donna cover, i that to admit they are 1000 thread court something i just won't compromise not :)

If there is something i really want i will hand wash but i hate doing this so keep it to a minimum.

Side night i have one of the folding hills hoists (brought from Aldi - the first one lasted about 3.5 years and now on to number two $30 each) although Pete hates it cos it takes up room i would not be without it, i just find it easier and I'm the now that does the washing.

Desert Dweller · Guru

Laundromat in a town about every 10 days, the rest of the time out in the bush. We shop for groceries, pick up diesel & fill gas bottles while the washing is going thru its cycle then off to the bush we go again. Simple really.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I'm on my own so find a basin with water and woolwash and wash by hand. If near a laundromat I use those to do sheets, doona cover and towels as needed. When using public washing machines I add 2 capfulls of Canesten or Dettol Hygiene Laundry Rince to the final rince, as you would do with a fabric softner. Elininates 99.9% Germs.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Not an issue . We've used buckets in past . Now have little $89 washing machine . Mainly for the spin dry . Most our cloths don't get dirty . More our sweat etc . Just a little wool eucalyptus washing liquid. Oil stains etc get more attention with 50/50 water, wool mix liquid . Some times while traveling we leave lid on bucket and let the vehicles movement do the work . No no brick . Lol

Desert Dweller · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
I'm on my own so find a basin with water and woolwash and wash by hand. If near a laundromat I use those to do sheets, doona cover and towels as needed. When using public washing machines I add 2 capfulls of Canesten or Dettol Hygiene Laundry Rince to the final rince, as you would do with a fabric softner. Elininates 99.9% Germs.

When we stayed at Greens Lake we used the laudromat at the Elmore Events Centre (with permission from the office staff).

macka17 · Guru

Hmmm.
We mostly use just a single sheet under with sleeping bag.

You only in\on there for a coupla hrs anyway.
I've never understood those that spend half the day in bed.

That's half your life gone. Incognito. zilch. Nozzing. Wasted.

Aged 70. Going on 35 in reality.

Yea well. S'pose.
I/m 75 and feel 27 mostly..
And Mentally. mmmmmmmmmmm maybe 15\17.

Does it show?.

DON'T ANSWER THAT.

-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 17th of April 2017 10:17:51 AM

Mike Harding · Guru

Thanks everyone for your responses and particularly for the Wool Wash recommendations.

This looks interesting - and I think what villatranquilla may have:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-5kg-Portable-Top-load-TwinTub-Copper-Motor-Mini-Washing-Washer-Machine-Caravan-/252762207220?hash=item3ad9cd33f4:g:P-4AAOSwfVpYnTK0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQUZR4S4XlI

It's not too bad size wise but in a caravan every inch counts and it does look to be a pretty flimsy build.

I suspect, for me, it will come down to a large tub and hand washing or the above machine - either is fine by me.

Aus-Kiwi: I looked at the smaller $89 machines on e-bay but it appears they take so few clothes it's hardly worth it - your opinion please? Likewise for the Ezywash hand wash thingie.

Thanks again people - I am gathering a wealth of knowledge from you all :)

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes our is small . Mainly used for our smalls . We've been on road for 7 month last year . Washed things like blankets, jeans etc at camping grounds etc . Any larger it would be a pain even in 8m motorhome . If we have to ! We wash larger items in bottom of our shower . But again water useage ! We carry enough linen to replace when required . Just plan and wash till we have ample water . 300 litres storage sounds a lot . But easy to use up !!

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

We recently installed a 2.5kg washing machine which is powered by the inverter from the batteries and solar.
The bathroom can be heated separately and used as a drying room if the sun is not shining.

Cheers,
Peter

Yaketty · Veteran Member

A different approach to the above laundry methods for our daily clothing wash (as we don't have room in our slide-on for a washing machine) is the Australian made Scrubba wash bag - see here: thescrubba.com.au
We prefer free or national park camping so only use a washing machine if in a caravan park or town with laundromat.

The Scrubba takes up very little room, uses little water & detergent (we use the Earth Choice wool wash so rinsing not necessary). For sheets and towels we would use a laundromat or caravan park washing machine with a scoop of the Canesten or Dettol as Dougwe mentioned.
Cheers, Kay

Tony Bev · Guru

We do not have room for a washing machine in our vehicle

If we have to, we will wash our smalls by hand

We only travel on the bitumen roads, so are usually not far from civilisation

We usually manage to find a laundromat, once each week for normal clothes
We usually also do the sheets etc, in a laundromat once a month

When I travel on my own, I use a sleeping bag, so that I do not have to worry about the sheets