Hand Washing clothes in a bath tub

**Rhiamon** · 04-20-2011, 08:30 PM

Ok so the laundry in my apartment building has gone up to 3 dollars!!
So is it possible to get clothing really clean if washing them in the bath tub? I know it might be a strange question but my building does not even have full size washers, and seeing as I don't drive and there are no laundry mats close by I am looking for options where I can do it by hand. I don't have a credit card so I can't order anything like they have at lehmans. Any suggestions would be very helpful.

**IndigoMom** · 04-20-2011, 08:55 PM

Yes, they can get clean. You will have to be careful in ringing some things out, wrap more delicate things into a towel and twist the towel and not the garment (sweater, light blouse...) I found an actual washboard at a town-wide yard sale once. A glass one. Check thrift shops, post on free-cycle, craigs list - what have you. You might get lucky, though it may take some time.
It might be worth it to eat the $3 wash for jeans, they take some strength to wring out. Also make sure you shake everything out really well before you hang it to dry, or you'll end up needing to iron even your skivvies

Ok, slight exaggeration - but just slight. Do shake well.
As for the hand machine at Lehmans, you they do take money orders. Just print out the order form and mail it in. I assure you, by the time it arrives - you will be SO glad you did

If you don't want to wait the extra time, you could also purchase a pre-paid credit/debit card at any Walmart. They only charge something like $3 and change to load it, no matter how much you put on. There are others, but that's the cheapest I have found.

**marjorie** · 04-20-2011, 09:12 PM

You can also set up a Paypal account without getting into credit at all if you order from somewhere like Amazon or Ebay.

**zakity** · 04-20-2011, 09:22 PM

We have used two buckets and a new toilet plunger to wash clothes. And, yep, wringing stuff out is quite a workout.

**Spirit Deer** · 04-20-2011, 10:16 PM

PayPal requires two funding sources, so you need a checking account/debit card and a credit card account or two credit accounts.

A pre-paid CC is a good idea.

**Hannahski** · 04-20-2011, 10:21 PM

Colin Beavan, The "No Impact Man" did this in his year of living off the grid. I think it would be a great savings. Maybe you could put a colander or strainer over the drain to drain out the wash water and then refill to rinse. Also, if you have an old-fashioned hardware store nearby or maybe even Canadian Tire you could find one of those wooden drying racks. Colin agitated the wash with his feet, I don't think I would go that far. Hannah

**sunshine** · 04-21-2011, 06:13 AM

We use a new toilet plunger to "agitate" the clothes in the tub, and a janitor's bucket, with mop wringer to squeeze the water out of the clothing.

**xtena** · 04-21-2011, 10:53 AM

My soon to be ex MIL is from China. She's done that all her life, with a washboard. She doesn't think the little washer that we bought in China (nothing near as powerful as the ones we have here) get her clothes clean enough! She's in the States now, with my STBX and I suspect she is washing by hand in his tub, still.

**gmarie** · 04-21-2011, 11:54 AM

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:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/The-Laundry-Alternative-Wonderwash-SpinDryer/dp/B002C8HR9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303401192&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: Wonderwash: Kitchen & Dining@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ESdRj4hTL.@@AMEPARAM@@51ESdRj4hTL[/ame]

**gmarie** · 04-21-2011, 12:06 PM

sorry i missed the part about the credit card.

pre-paid cards are a great idea!

I used to work in a sales job and we had a large number of Canadian customers w/o credit cards, so most of them would just get a prepaid and call us back! They sell them everywhere.

**shoiji** · 04-21-2011, 12:40 PM

Here is an idea that I use. I have enough bras, underwear and socks for two weeks. This way I do not have to do laundry once a week. Any clothes that I put on and wear out in public for only a couple of hours gets hung back up in the closet. I have clothes that I wear around the house and get changed into when I come back home. It has really helped to cut down how many times I need to do laundry.

**gmarie** · 04-21-2011, 12:51 PM

I do the same thing, shoiji. I wear my pants several times, my sweaters/shirts at least twice. I change out of my nicer clothes as soon as I get home. And I use my towels until they smell!

Not sure how that will work in the summer when I am sweating, but we'll see!

**gmarie** · 04-21-2011, 12:52 PM

I think they smell b/c they are not getting dry enough?

**shp1055** · 04-21-2011, 02:18 PM

Septic Tank Systems, Portable Washing Machine, Clothes Dryer
(the spin dryer in the middle)

I bought an older version of this & it works wonders! I have a bad back, so wringing out clothes does a number on me. Use the bucket & the washer plunger or the wonder wash shown above followed by the spin dryer and you're almost doen. At $3.00 a load to wash & how much to dry? it wouldn't take long to this set-up to pay for itself. The pre-paid card is really a good idea also.

**IndigoMom** · 04-21-2011, 02:28 PM

I like the janitor bucket to wring out the clothes sunshine mentioned - if you have access to one that would be great - just make sure buttons and plastic zippers are on the in - fold while running it through or you may end up with lots of mending...We had an old wringer washing machine when I was young, I loved it - but those buttons can FLY when they're snapped, lol!

ETA: I'm really kind of upset I hadn't thought of that myself when I was washing by hand. If I remember correctly, we even had one of those buckets, and kept in the garage because the floor space I had to mop just didn't warrant it. Darn! Noted for future reference though!!