Off-Grid Laundry

Our washer died! We rented one for a few weeks and then come to our senses and sent it back! Currently we go once a week to a laundry mat. This is a big time eater! And there are always people we would rather avoid there. Derek and I are mulling over our options.

Our options in no particular order include:

• Purchasing a machine and then just run it on a generator when the time comes.
• Buying a James hand washer from Lehman’s
• Plunger-Bucket method
• Washboard-which we already own
• Join a nudist colony to dramatically reduce the amount of laundry
• Buy a Staber washer-lifetime warranty if run on solar power
• Wonderwash

　

Since we have a growing brood of boys and a fair amount of dirt, laundry piles up! I don’t think I could manage our laundry with the bucket plunger method or the wonderwash. I have been washing cloth wipes and kitchen towels with the bucket plunger method and it takes a fair amount of time to get them truly clean. I have never used a wonder wash. We are considering getting one so we can go back to using cloth diapers again and maybe do small loads to reduce the amount taken to the laundry mat.

The washboard is out of the question for now. It honestly would take me all day everyday to keep up with our laundry. Believe me! I have done it! We are keeping the washboard for emergency use and for decoration!

I have read some good reviews of the James hand washer. We are still skeptical considering the amount of laundry and the time factor. We wear a lot of denim and I am kind of afraid it wouldn’t be heavy duty enough.

The stabers are pricey & you didn’t actually think we would join a nudist colony now did ya?

　

I would prefer to do laundry 1 time a week. I can deal with 2 days but definitely not a load everyday. Than is just insanity! I am thinking that maybe a modest new washing machine that we can use now and then run on a generator or solar later is out best bet. Decisions! Decisions!