Hand Washing clothes in a bath tub

**Rhiamon** · 04-21-2011, 02:38 PM

Thanks everyone!!! I am going to save up my money and hopefully be able to get the washer and the spin dryer!!!!!
Until then I am going to use the plunger idea!! I need a new drying rack so I will be picking up one of those this weekend. My drying rack has pretty much seen its last days! I think this time I will get a wood one as the cheap metal one I bought many moons ago is just real flimsy.

**FrugalKate** · 04-21-2011, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by gmarie

I just bought a Wonderwash for $50 w/ free shipping!

I bought it on Ice Makers, Refrigerators, Wine Coolers, Washers, Dryers, Dishwashers, Air Conditioners & More - CompactAppliance.com, but amazon has more details and reviews:

Amazon.com: Wonderwash: Kitchen & Dining

How Great is that little thing! Could definetly do delicates and socks and underwear in that.

How much water and electric is it using? Does it get the clothes "clean"? I saw that they also had a counter top spin dryer too. Might be a heck of a lot cheaper than firing up the "traditional washer and dryer" all the time.

**gmarie** · 04-21-2011, 09:26 PM

It does not use electricity!

**frugalfranny** · 04-23-2011, 01:39 AM

Yeow.......rhiamon.........that $ sucks. Sorry!

Hope you can get the little washer soon.........sure is a cutie!

Don't forget to check your thrift shops for drying racks......I found both of mine at one. ALSO.........go down the 'laundry aisle' of your dollar store. I found a neat little 'hanging rack' with 6 or 8 clothespin type hooks on it.........good enough for bras and socks.....wouldn't hold heavy stuff.

Good luck..............

**2_at_the_farm** · 04-23-2011, 08:24 AM

Colin, the no impact man, let his clothes soak for three hours in the bathtub before he did the grape stomping agitation. That soaking really does help. I put my washer on the shortest wash cycle, and use the soak feature. The clothes come out cleaner than when I use a longer wash cycle.
When I first read about doing this, they said that you could save almost a dollar a load by doing this. I don't know if the savings are that much, but less electricity (shorter wash cycle) equals lower bill, right?

Ya, I keep looking at those Wonderwash and spin dry things too. I lean towards the cutting edge of low technology and low ele usage. My washer is fine now, but I'd consider them when it dies. I don't know that DH would hang with it, though.

**onencgirl** · 04-23-2011, 10:24 AM

When my kids were younger and I had no washer, (or money), I washed their clothes in the tub and had drying racks. It worked but I sure had to plan ahead in order for them to have dry clothes. LOL

**gmarie** · 04-23-2011, 10:57 AM

The wonder washer was delivered today! That was fast! I just put it together, will let everyone know how it works.

**nuisance26** · 04-23-2011, 09:45 PM

~Our washer broke this week so I was forced to wash cloth diapers in our bathtub. It was easier than I thought. I let them soak for a half hour in hot water then used my swiffer mop as my agitator. Then I rinsed them twice, agitating then as well before wringing them out by hand. I hadn't touched them until then and they wrung out clean and clear water. So it does work but the one load was an hour and a half project. :/
I must admit I liked the 'feel" of doing laundry by hand but I really don't have the spare time in my life right now to do it regularly. I hope it works out for you. At $3 a load I'd be tempted to do it all the time too.
The wringing is the hardest part. Wringing out wet bath towels is horrible(that's what was in the rinse cycle in my machine when it died!). And the work will show on your hands: breaking nails, hangnails, dryness and splitting. Hope you have good lotion.

~

**Libby** · 04-24-2011, 12:00 AM

Rhiamon - tis the yard sale season...keep an eye out for the wooden ones used to display items or that are for sale. My sis saw mine - which I paid $10 for at Canadian Tire/Walmart - and wanted her own and during her garage/yard sale hops, she found that a lot of people were trying to get rid of them. She ended up paying $2-$4/each

A bargain to be had for sure if you have the time to wait for it.

**Rhiamon** · 04-25-2011, 12:42 PM

So today is the first load being done in the tub. It is mostly DD's things. I added some vinegar and baking soda to the load. I agitated them with a plunger, and now am letting them soak before I agitated them again. So I will let you know how it turns out, it is mostly her whites so socks, underwear and a couple white shirts.