Things To Read

Friday, October 17, 2014

Grid Down Laundry

Hello Everyone, Frank here.

We were recently visited by some old friends, and yes, we've known them for a long time, and they are getting older. So, I guess that truly does make them old friends. We were looking at some pictures of their new piece of property, and noticed that they had an interesting set up for doing laundry.

They were using the old rectangular galvanized washtubs. Two of them, with a hand crank wringer in between the two. When I asked about how it performed, they told us it works great. We've thought about and talked about many ways to do laundry over the years, and we have a pretty good stash of round galvanized washtubs. We plan on using regular household toilet plungers to facilitate the agitating. But, again, we've known these people for a long time, so we started doing a little research. 

We found numerous websites with hand crank wringers, but they were all the exact same wringer. The prices varied by $30.00 to $40.00, and guess the average was about $155.00. I was hoping for a little bit more selection. When looking for hand clothes wringers, we also ran across some sites that had complete kits, which included the rectangular washtubs, wringers, stands to set the washtubs on, and in one case even a stand for the wringer to attach to. All this is great, and it's doable. Then I got the idea, how about a double sink utility basin? Lowe's has a couple of them that they show. Most of them are a plastic type product, and one they show as a rigid composite. But, remember, these are online, and I'm not sure if attaching a wringer to the vertical partition between the two sinks would be strong enough.

Then I got this shebam idea! How about stainless steel restaurant type sinks? Better get ready for a price shock. Then I thought, you know, besides doing laundry, we could use this for butchering chickens, not the butchering part, but the clean up part; cleaning up garden vegetables; on the rare occasion, processing fish. So, it could be used for other things besides just laundry. Stainless steel is expensive. I didn't mention above, but all of these ideas about doing laundry will be outside and on the porch. I would feel comfortable attaching a hand wringer to the stainless steel sinks. 



 But then I could just get two single plastic utility sinks and put a homemade stand with the wringer on top of it, between the two sinks. That's not a bad idea.


So, here is where I need your help. I recently did a post about a propane cookstove that the ignitor uses a 9volt battery. After I did the post, a couple of folks sent comments about other brands that also have battery ignitors. By looking at the websites, they have more features than what my cookstove has, and appears to be a higher quality. But at the time, I didn't know they existed. Same thing happened with washing machines. I couldn't find one without all of the monitoring sensors. Well, after that post, I received comments from folks about Speed Queen washing machines, which are manufactured without all of the sensors. 

So, I'm going to try something different this time. For those of you out there that are either doing laundry by hand, or know someone that is doing laundry by hand, could you provide me with some information about what type of system they use? This is one of those times that I don't want to reinvent the wheel again. Now, I'm not interested in using a paddle to beat my clothes on the side of the stream on a rock. I used to watch the ladies overseas do that. All the women would meet at the same time everyday, some of them with babies strapped on their back or their front. They would bring their laundry down to the stream. That was an interesting trip.

If you can help me, share some information about how folks in real world America wash their clothes in an off grid situation. Your help would be deeply appreciated.

We'll talk more later. Frank

22 comments:

  1. Well .. I like the height of my laundry tub sink. It's made of a molded plastic composite and filler .. a bit sturdier than plastic. and the sides seem adapted to hold a wringer. This site also has a double 'plastic'(not specified as composite) sink. http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/foodservice/sinks/specialty/fl1-molded-stone-laundry-tub-with-legs?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=CKKY6qaMtcECFRGBaQod8V4Alw&gclsrc=aw.ds

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    1. Mrs. Mac, I have looked at both of the types of sinks you mentioned here online. I guess I need to go to an actual store and put my hands on. The composite does seem heavier and more durable. Thank you for the link.

      Frank

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  2. I use a rapid washer as an agitator instead of a plunger. Instead of a wringer I use one of those yellow thingies you normally use with a mop and bucket. Sorry, can't remember the name off the top of my head.

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    1. We also have one of those yellow thingies. My problem is, I keep turning it over. I don't see why the mop bucket type thing wouldn't work. I bought mine at Sam's Club. I would hate to wash my delicate things in it, though. Please would use what works for you. Thank you for the comment.

      Frank

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  3. I can't speak from personal experience, but I did read an interesting account of off grid laundry process on a blog named Modern Day Redneck. I just checked the blog, and by using the search bar it can be found under "Hand Powdered Washing Machine" (sp).
    It might give you some different perspectives. Am enjoying this blog.
    judydee

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    1. Judydee, thank you for the link to Modern Day Redneck, an interesting site. Their hand powered washing machine is certainly interesting. Again, thank you.

      Frank

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  4. http://www.dakil.com/upcoming-auctions
    You might try an auction for closed restauants and such. My best friend's sister purchssed a two bin win a long stainless counter, that we delivered to her 100 miles away. I did a quick search and here is an auction house that might help you out. Thanks for sharing your homesteading and radio features with us. Alex in Florida

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    1. Alex, thank you for the recommendation for auctions. This is something I seldom think about, but I also know people that have picked up some great items at auctions and estate sells. We live about 60 miles from the closest place that would have this type of auction.

      My father had a restaurant when I was a teenager, and I would love to have some of the sinks and counters he had years ago. Thank you for the nice comment.

      Frank

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  5. I too like the idea of an actual sink for the outdoor laundry area. I originally got the idea from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dydKMBlIQ8Y
    I'm scoping out the thrift stores, craigslist, freecycle and dumps for tubs and a sink. And saving up money for a wringer and other supplies. I hope to have my laundry area ready by spring.

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    1. F.H., thank you for the video, it was quite interesting. There are always ideas to be picked up from other folks. I think it's interesting how they used a small stock tank. It's something I'll look into. Thank you for reading.

      Frank

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  6. Look for restaurant closure auctions for used stainless tables, sinks and shelving. We got a flier from our local Auction house for a restaurant sale and they had all sorts of great things. The huge deep stainless roasters, stainless bowls in every shape and size, the stainless workstations and of course sinks. I use a wash board for some really bad stains. It is not glamorous but gets stains out without using the harsher cleaners.

    There is just so much we take for granted.

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    1. Fiona, I may contact a local auction house and see how their things work. I've actually only been to one real auction in my life and there were lots of people there of all different shapes and sizes. But, that was before computer days. I assume more modern houses now incorporate online. I'll look into it. Thank you.

      Frank

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  7. I read everything you have to say. I think we are going down parallel roads. Sometimes I'm ahead of you , sometimes I'm not. The kitchen ranges you mentioned or rather didn't mention, I'd be interested in them. I too have looked at wringers and hesitated,,,, I'm waiting on greater Light & Knowledge, which fork in the road to take in regards to laundry ? I'm looking forward to your thoughts. Education is expensive .

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    1. Here is the link to the Premier range site. I wish I had found this site before I had bought my range.

      http://www.premierrange.com/index.php

      As far as how to do laundry, I am in the elementary stages of development. When I have more solid information, I will do a follow up post. Take care.

      Frank

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  8. Hi, it's me again. Tried to post and as soon as I click on "publish" it disappears. Never mind, its not the end of the world.

    But I did want to let you know about Lehman's catalog, if you haven't checked it out. You can read it online, and its full of handy non-electric stuff.

    We bought their hand-cranked little pressure washer, around fifty bucks. It is perfect if you can use it outside, because it gets a bit messy when you take out the clothes, but you are smart enough to figure out how to solve that problem if you want to do laundry indoors.

    When our well went dry, my daughter-in-law put the kids to work, doing their own laundry and they enjoyed it. We had an apartment-sized washer-spinner (tub on one side, the spinner on the other)and we used that to get the water out of the clothes. Hope this helps.

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    1. Thank you for the information about Lehman's. We have been shopping with them since before Al Gore invented the internet. And we still continue to shop at Lehman's, it's where we got our treadle sewing machine.

      Thank you for sharing your experiences. Since I started this search, I have found that many people do laundry in many different ways. We're looking, and hopefully in the near future we will come up with some more solid ideas. Thank you again.

      Frank

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  9. Frank, check out the galvanized water tanks at feed stores. Very sturdy and inexpensive. You can mount them on blocks, and they have a drainage hole usually. Should have no problem mounting the wringer. Enjoy visiting your blog. God bless!

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    1. DJ, using galvanized water tanks will probably be the route that I travel. I just wanted to check out and see if there are any newer materials that would possibly work better. Thanks a lot for the recommendation.

      Frank

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  10. Dear Frank and Fern,

    First, Fern, I pray your surgery went well and that you will have a quick recovery.

    I wanted to share with you about what I have experienced with non-electric washers. I have befriended an Amish family that lives about 10 miles from us. It started with me going there to buy canning lids in bulk (about half the price). Over time, I asked the wife of the family if she would be willing to teach me some traditional skills that she uses everyday. For one of our visits, we had arranged for me to help her with laundry.

    We went to her basement where she has an extra cast iron stove. Using a galvanized tub filled with water, she heated her wash water. Once it warmed to her desired temp, we poured the water into her hand washer with attached wringer. I call it a rocker washer, because you move the agitator by rocking it back and forth. Hers is similar to one that can be bought at Lehman's, but hers is made of fiberglass. These are made in Indiana, and we have considered getting one, but just aren't sure about the shipping.
    Here's Lehman's
    https://www.lehmans.com/p-2400-lehmans-own-laundry-hand-washer-with-wringer.aspx

    She starts with the cleanest load and progresses to the dirtiest, using the same water. The last load was washed in water that was really dirty, but it's what they do. My friend washes each load for 8 mins. The washed clothes are put through the wringer and rinsed in another tub, then put through the wringer again. I would say the washer held about 2/3 of a normal washer load. I thought it did a fine job of washing the clothes. I believe it would be much easier than using a wash board or plunger.


    By the way, one of the newer things we have been doing to prepare is getting into essential oils. I am consistently impressed with their health benefits. I highly recommend the book "Surviving When Modern Medicine Fails" by Scott Johnson. I got the book on Amazon (make sure you get the 2014 edition) where he lists over 300 protocols with using just 42 oils.

    Be blessed, T.

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    1. T., thank you for the detailed information. Would you have a website address or mailing address for the fiberglass tub? It's nice to have someone to teach us how to do things that used to be the norm. I would be very interested in the fiberglass tub information. Thank you again.

      Frank

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  11. I do my laundry almost entirely by hand. I have a James Handwasher, one rinse tub, and a wringer in between.

    I also have a Rapid Washer, which is okay, but I prefer the James HW, as it does a larger load and does it more effectively with less stress. I swish the clothes around for 5 minutes, then wring, push around in the rinse water, wring again, and place in the washing machine.

    The wringer is one I got from Lehman's, and it is okay. It rusts up rather quickly, and it only gets about 75% of the water out. I hang my clothes to dry all year around, and the very damp clothes can make my basement a wet mess.

    Because of that, I put the load(s) into my electric washing machine and do the final rinse and spin. It gets any soap out that might be there, and gets the clothes dry enough to hang indoors without the water everywhere. I hate doing that, but I hate the water and mess more. If I could make a spinner that would get the clothes spun out and not use electricity, I would in a New York minute.

    I do my laundry the same as the person that posted on how the Amish do their laundry. I use the same wash water for several loads, always starting with the cleanest and going to the dirtiest.

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    1. Thank you for taking the time to share your routine. It is very informative and I can incorporate some of your practices into my ideas.

      Fern

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